FA43 hood alternatives

**todd** · 12-05-2014, 09:44 PM

Hey all. A nice shot of DA21 today caught my attention (the hood in particular) and reminded me of how I don't love the FA43 hood and wish there was something better.

It might be that I just need a different cap because the original one I have comes off too easy when the lens is in my pocket. But the hood itself seems to unscrew from lens too easily for me too...

I've sometimes been using one of those cheap rubber hoods for it and don't love that either as it doesn't go in the pocket easily...

I searched and found a thread about using the DA40 hood which I am considering going after. Anybody come up with anything else?

**bpv_UW** · 12-05-2014, 09:49 PM

I've taken off the supplied hood and used a couple step-down rings (49-37, 37-30.5), then a small lens cap on the last step-down ring. That particular set-up is very compact but causes a little vignetting on the Fa 43 (which wasn't a problem for me due to the type of shots I usually took with it). You could probably not got quite as small as 30.5mm and avoid vignetting...there are lots of different step-down ring options out there you could play with.

Good luck
Brandon

**geomez** · 12-06-2014, 12:27 AM

I haven't had the same problems with my hood, but I love the idea of a DIY option. Can you please share the link to the thread where they used the DA40 hood? You can find knock-off DA40 hoods on ebay for around $10-$15.

noelpolar · 12-06-2014, 02:07 AM - **1 Like**

What I do.....ebay DA40 hood and ebay pinch cap.....

by Noelpolar, on Flickr

**geomez** · 12-06-2014, 03:53 AM

Originally posted by noelpolar

What I do.....ebay DA40 hood and ebay pinch cap.....

by Noelpolar, on Flickr

I like that! I always favor a lower profile hood. Have you noticed any vignetting with it? Do you know if it works as good as the original?

noelpolar · 12-06-2014, 04:23 AM

Used it for a few months now.....works well.....including with filters etc.

drypenn · 12-06-2014, 04:31 AM

Originally posted by geomez

I like that! I always favor a lower profile hood. Have you noticed any vignetting with it? Do you know if it works as good as the original?

I ordered the Pentax one. It looks identical except from the branding. Only very slight (unnoticeable if you don't look for it) when wide open.

Nick Siebers · 12-06-2014, 07:14 AM

Originally posted by bpv_UW

I've taken off the supplied hood and used a couple step-down rings (49-37, 37-30.5), then a small lens cap on the last step-down ring. That particular set-up is very compact but causes a little vignetting on the Fa 43 (which wasn't a problem for me due to the type of shots I usually took with it). You could probably not got quite as small as 30.5mm and avoid vignetting...there are lots of different step-down ring options out there you could play with.

Good luck
Brandon

I use the same. Minimal vignetting, low profile. It's basically the same thing as the DA 40 hood.

**todd** · 12-06-2014, 10:14 AM

Originally posted by geomez

Can you please share the link to the thread where they used the DA40 hood?

Originally posted by geomez

I like that!

Yeah me too... It was Noel's post with the same images in the other thread that had the content. He also said:

Originally posted by noelpolar

I use a DA40 hood on mine......a knock off on ebay is $17 plus $2 for a 31mm pinch cap

The first result on ebay for DA40 hood is a 'Replacement Lens Hood LH-RC49' for 11.99 total so that's looking pretty irresistable.. Still looking for a 31mm pinch cap... (Edit: looks like running the query for "DA40 lens cap" got me some results.. The cheapest/best option at this time being the pentax labeled cap for $10 total)

6BQ5 · 12-07-2014, 02:40 PM

Originally posted by noelpolar

What I do.....ebay DA40 hood and ebay pinch cap.....

by Noelpolar, on Flickr

I would be worried about a hood like that vignetting on film applications.

**todd** · 12-07-2014, 03:17 PM

Originally posted by 6BQ5

I would be worried about a hood like that vignetting on film applications.

Good point I've thought about too that makes the step down option possibly more appealing as far as functionality goes. I might have to end up trying both...

12-05-2014, 09:44 PM	#1
todd Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Arizona Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,791	FA43 hood alternatives Hey all. A nice shot of DA21 today caught my attention (the hood in particular) and reminded me of how I don't love the FA43 hood and wish there was something better. It might be that I just need a different cap because the original one I have comes off too easy when the lens is in my pocket. But the hood itself seems to unscrew from lens too easily for me too... I've sometimes been using one of those cheap rubber hoods for it and don't love that either as it doesn't go in the pocket easily... I searched and found a thread about using the DA40 hood which I am considering going after. Anybody come up with anything else?

12-06-2014, 10:14 AM	#9
todd Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Arizona Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,791 Original Poster	Originally posted by geomez Can you please share the link to the thread where they used the DA40 hood? Originally posted by geomez I like that! Yeah me too... It was Noel's post with the same images in the other thread that had the content. He also said: Originally posted by noelpolar I use a DA40 hood on mine......a knock off on ebay is $17 plus $2 for a 31mm pinch cap The first result on ebay for DA40 hood is a 'Replacement Lens Hood LH-RC49' for 11.99 total so that's looking pretty irresistable.. Still looking for a 31mm pinch cap... (Edit: looks like running the query for "DA40 lens cap" got me some results.. The cheapest/best option at this time being the pentax labeled cap for $10 total) Last edited by todd; 12-06-2014 at 10:28 AM.

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12-05-2014, 09:49 PM	#2
bpv_UW Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Rochester, MN Posts: 765	I've taken off the supplied hood and used a couple step-down rings (49-37, 37-30.5), then a small lens cap on the last step-down ring. That particular set-up is very compact but causes a little vignetting on the Fa 43 (which wasn't a problem for me due to the type of shots I usually took with it). You could probably not got quite as small as 30.5mm and avoid vignetting...there are lots of different step-down ring options out there you could play with. Good luck Brandon

12-06-2014, 12:27 AM	#3
geomez Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Roanoke, Virginia, USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,760	I haven't had the same problems with my hood, but I love the idea of a DIY option. Can you please share the link to the thread where they used the DA40 hood? You can find knock-off DA40 hoods on ebay for around $10-$15.

12-06-2014, 02:07 AM - 1 Like	#4
noelpolar Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Goolwa, SA Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,310	What I do.....ebay DA40 hood and ebay pinch cap..... by Noelpolar, on Flickr

12-06-2014, 03:53 AM	#5
geomez Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Roanoke, Virginia, USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,760	Originally posted by noelpolar What I do.....ebay DA40 hood and ebay pinch cap..... by Noelpolar, on Flickr I like that! I always favor a lower profile hood. Have you noticed any vignetting with it? Do you know if it works as good as the original?

12-06-2014, 04:23 AM	#6
noelpolar Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Goolwa, SA Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,310	Used it for a few months now.....works well.....including with filters etc.

12-06-2014, 04:31 AM	#7
drypenn Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Photos: Albums Posts: 963	Originally posted by geomez I like that! I always favor a lower profile hood. Have you noticed any vignetting with it? Do you know if it works as good as the original? I ordered the Pentax one. It looks identical except from the branding. Only very slight (unnoticeable if you don't look for it) when wide open.

12-06-2014, 07:14 AM	#8
Nick Siebers Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Madison, WI Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,165	Originally posted by bpv_UW I've taken off the supplied hood and used a couple step-down rings (49-37, 37-30.5), then a small lens cap on the last step-down ring. That particular set-up is very compact but causes a little vignetting on the Fa 43 (which wasn't a problem for me due to the type of shots I usually took with it). You could probably not got quite as small as 30.5mm and avoid vignetting...there are lots of different step-down ring options out there you could play with. Good luck Brandon I use the same. Minimal vignetting, low profile. It's basically the same thing as the DA 40 hood.

12-07-2014, 02:40 PM	#10
6BQ5 Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Nevada, USA Photos: Albums Posts: 3,348	Originally posted by noelpolar What I do.....ebay DA40 hood and ebay pinch cap..... by Noelpolar, on Flickr I would be worried about a hood like that vignetting on film applications.

12-07-2014, 03:17 PM	#11
todd Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Arizona Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,791 Original Poster	Originally posted by 6BQ5 I would be worried about a hood like that vignetting on film applications. Good point I've thought about too that makes the step down option possibly more appealing as far as functionality goes. I might have to end up trying both...