Lens Hood for DA40 Limited

SOldBear · 05-01-2009, 12:00 PM

I just got a pre-owned DA40 limited (and some used M-lenses).

But the seller had lost the dedicated lens hood for the DA40.

The lens hood is $45

One side of me tells me that I don't need the dedicated lens hood. I do have a Pentax hood for 50mm lenses that I can use.

The other side tells me that the DA40 is beautiful, and deserves its own hood.

What do you think? How efficient is the DA40 dedicated lens hood (I've seen its photos, but not a real one)?

deadwolfbones · 05-01-2009, 12:47 PM

Wait, does this mean the 40 has no cap either?

farfisa · 05-01-2009, 12:59 PM

Originally posted by SOldBear

I just got a pre-owned DA40 limited (and some used M-lenses).

But the seller had lost the dedicated lens hood for the DA40.

The lens hood is $45

One side of me tells me that I don't need the dedicated lens hood. I do have a Pentax hood for 50mm lenses that I can use.

The other side tells me that the DA40 is beautiful, and deserves its own hood.

What do you think? How efficient is the DA40 dedicated lens hood (I've seen its photos, but not a real one)?

Congrats on the new glass!

I did see that the replacement hood was $40 from B&H (link) (their listing also says 'plastic'--really? looks exactly the same)

The hood does a great job--I've never seen any flare--and keeps the whole thing tiny. As much as the cap is a pain, I deal with it because the hood's so cool! (maybe not what you want to hear?)

Originally posted by deadwolfbones

Wait, does this mean the 40 has no cap either?

If the dude lost the hood, he definitely lost the cap!

Congrats on yours too, deadwolfbones!

SOldBear · 05-01-2009, 12:59 PM

Originally posted by deadwolfbones

Wait, does this mean the 40 has no cap either?

It has a generic 49mm cap.

What does the "proper" cap look like?

Man, now I starting to doubt whether I really got a good deal

farfisa · 05-01-2009, 01:29 PM

Not the greatest pic of it, but you can see how it screws into the hood here:

The cap, of course, would be useless without the hood anyway.

Don't worry--the most important part is the glass!

deadwolfbones · 05-01-2009, 01:29 PM

Originally posted by SOldBear

It has a generic 49mm cap.

What does the "proper" cap look like?

Man, now I starting to doubt whether I really got a good deal

The cap is screw-on, and also functions as the hood. The center of the cap unscrews and leaves a hole.

http://www.cameralabs.com/reviews/Pentax_40mm_70mm_lens/images/Pentax-40mm-with-and-withou.jpg

On the right in that image, the entire SMC PENTAX-DA... part screws off, but so does the flat center part, which opens the "hood."

deadwolfbones · 05-01-2009, 01:32 PM

Originally posted by farfisa

Congrats on yours too, deadwolfbones!

Thanks! Haven't gotten to really test it out yet... just a few snaps at lunch the other day. Gonna have to develop the RAWs tonight. The few I looked at in JPEG looked suspiciously soft at times, though. Hope I don't have my first FF/BF issue.

I need to decide if it's viable to keep both the DA 35mm (which I adore) and this one as well.

jeffrey r · 05-01-2009, 01:34 PM

Originally posted by SOldBear

It has a generic 49mm cap.

What does the "proper" cap look like?

Man, now I starting to doubt whether I really got a good deal

Was he up-front about it? Was it priced accordingly? If not, then for a lens that had been going for a relatively measly $220 USD new on ebay and Amazon.com (at least as of a few months ago when I got mine), you may have gotten a raw deal. The hood is a screw-on type, and the cap, while not the best design, is this scew-on tiny little cap that you kind of need to see to understand.

In any event, particularly since the DA 40 is such a unique lens, I'd want the whole package if it were me, but if you got a great deal, perhaps you can upgrade bits and pieces. So you know, some people do tweak the DA 40 with different hoods and caps based on their needs and uses of it, so there are work-arounds out there.

tybeck · 05-01-2009, 02:04 PM

$40 isn't so bad. Pentax wants $81 for a replacement FA 31mm Limited pouch. Lost mine in the desert somewhere.

scalewag · 05-01-2009, 02:31 PM

I have the same lens and I don't think you would need the hood, but you need a cap. The front element of the lens is recessed like it is in most macro lenses. If you could get a generic cap, that would be all you would need. It sure is a weird combination of hood and cap.

Transit · 05-01-2009, 02:39 PM

Just took delivery of my DA40.
I didn't know if I would like the hood /cap arrangement

But I do !
The hood is rather clever in that it establishes its opening by converging
Its tapering contributes to the compactness of the arrangement.
The screw on cap is tiny and elegant I'm developing a one finger action to roll it off

hate to lose it though...I may look at a tether adaption

I'd say $40 (US?) is a blinking bargain.
Pete

Fritz · 05-01-2009, 03:06 PM

If it were me, I would spend the money to get the genuine Pentax hood. It works great, and if it wasn't there I would probably be accidentally touching the lens element with my fingers on a regular basis.

I'm sure it's been mentioned before, but a 35mm film canister lid fits perfectly where the metal screw in cap goes. Easy on and off, and if you loose it you are not out much.

jeffrey r · 05-01-2009, 03:13 PM

Originally posted by Fritz

I'm sure it's been mentioned before, but a 35mm film canister lid fits perfectly where the metal screw in cap goes. Easy on and off, and if you loose it you are not out much.

I have seen this mentioned before, but I tried this with a few old rolls of film I had lying around, and none of my canister lids fit the DA 40. Is there any brand of film in particular whose case works well? This would be a nice solution to keep handy with the DA 40, as that screw-on lid can get kind of funky in real-world usage.

SOldBear · 05-01-2009, 03:41 PM

Thanks for the replies and particularly for the photos.

Originally posted by jeffrey r

Was he up-front about it? Was it priced accordingly? If not, then for a lens that had been going for a relatively measly $220 USD new on ebay and Amazon.com (at least as of a few months ago when I got mine)

The current price is somewhere around $265.

The seller was not up-front about it. But it was not her fault. In fact, I don't think she even know what a lens hood is. She inherited the lenses from a relative of her.

The DA40 was not among the lenses in the original deal. When I met her to pick up other stuffs, she told me she had just found the DA40 and it was up to me to buy it or not.

At that time, I didn't know that the lens had it special hood and cap. So I offered what I think a fair price and took the lens.

I think I'll just use a normal 49mm hood for now....

**G_Money** · 05-01-2009, 05:22 PM

Originally posted by jeffrey r

Is there any brand of film in particular whose case works well?

I believe Fuji is the brand of film canister I've heard mentioned.

05-01-2009, 12:00 PM	#1
SOldBear Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Alameda, CA Posts: 3,206	Lens Hood for DA40 Limited I just got a *pre-owned* DA40 limited (and some *used* M-lenses). But the seller had lost the dedicated lens hood for the DA40. The lens hood is $45 One side of me tells me that I don't need the dedicated lens hood. I do have a Pentax hood for 50mm lenses that I can use. The other side tells me that the DA40 is beautiful, and deserves its own hood. What do you think? How efficient is the DA40 dedicated lens hood (I've seen its photos, but not a real one)?

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05-01-2009, 12:47 PM	#2
deadwolfbones Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: La Crescenta, CA Posts: 7,450	Wait, does this mean the 40 has no cap either?

05-01-2009, 12:59 PM	#3
farfisa Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Toronto, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,274	Originally posted by SOldBear I just got a *pre-owned* DA40 limited (and some *used* M-lenses). But the seller had lost the dedicated lens hood for the DA40. The lens hood is $45 One side of me tells me that I don't need the dedicated lens hood. I do have a Pentax hood for 50mm lenses that I can use. The other side tells me that the DA40 is beautiful, and deserves its own hood. What do you think? How efficient is the DA40 dedicated lens hood (I've seen its photos, but not a real one)? Congrats on the new glass! I did see that the replacement hood was $40 from B&H (link) (their listing also says 'plastic'--really? looks exactly the same) The hood does a great job--I've never seen any flare--and keeps the whole thing tiny. As much as the cap is a pain, I deal with it because the hood's so cool! (maybe not what you want to hear?) Originally posted by deadwolfbones Wait, does this mean the 40 has no cap either? If the dude lost the hood, he definitely lost the cap! Congrats on yours too, deadwolfbones!

05-01-2009, 12:59 PM	#4
SOldBear Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Alameda, CA Posts: 3,206 Original Poster	Originally posted by deadwolfbones Wait, does this mean the 40 has no cap either? It has a generic 49mm cap. What does the "proper" cap look like? Man, now I starting to doubt whether I really got a good deal

05-01-2009, 01:29 PM	#5
farfisa Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Toronto, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,274	Not the greatest pic of it, but you can see how it screws into the hood here: The cap, of course, would be useless without the hood anyway. Don't worry--the most important part is the glass!

05-01-2009, 01:29 PM	#6
deadwolfbones Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: La Crescenta, CA Posts: 7,450	Originally posted by SOldBear It has a generic 49mm cap. What does the "proper" cap look like? Man, now I starting to doubt whether I really got a good deal The cap is screw-on, and also functions as the hood. The center of the cap unscrews and leaves a hole. http://www.cameralabs.com/reviews/Pentax_40mm_70mm_lens/images/Pentax-40mm-with-and-withou.jpg On the right in that image, the entire SMC PENTAX-DA... part screws off, but so does the flat center part, which opens the "hood."

05-01-2009, 01:32 PM	#7
deadwolfbones Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: La Crescenta, CA Posts: 7,450	Originally posted by farfisa Congrats on yours too, deadwolfbones! Thanks! Haven't gotten to really test it out yet... just a few snaps at lunch the other day. Gonna have to develop the RAWs tonight. The few I looked at in JPEG looked suspiciously soft at times, though. Hope I don't have my first FF/BF issue. I need to decide if it's viable to keep both the DA 35mm (which I adore) and this one as well.

05-01-2009, 01:34 PM	#8
jeffrey r Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: New Jersey, USA Posts: 337	Originally posted by SOldBear It has a generic 49mm cap. What does the "proper" cap look like? Man, now I starting to doubt whether I really got a good deal Was he up-front about it? Was it priced accordingly? If not, then for a lens that had been going for a relatively measly $220 USD new on ebay and Amazon.com (at least as of a few months ago when I got mine), you may have gotten a raw deal. The hood is a screw-on type, and the cap, while not the best design, is this scew-on tiny little cap that you kind of need to see to understand. In any event, particularly since the DA 40 is such a unique lens, I'd want the whole package if it were me, but if you got a great deal, perhaps you can upgrade bits and pieces. So you know, some people do tweak the DA 40 with different hoods and caps based on their needs and uses of it, so there are work-arounds out there.

05-01-2009, 02:04 PM	#9
tybeck Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 452	$40 isn't so bad. Pentax wants $81 for a replacement FA 31mm Limited pouch. Lost mine in the desert somewhere.

05-01-2009, 02:31 PM	#10
scalewag New Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Indiana Photos: Gallery Posts: 11	I have the same lens and I don't think you would need the hood, but you need a cap. The front element of the lens is recessed like it is in most macro lenses. If you could get a generic cap, that would be all you would need. It sure is a weird combination of hood and cap.

05-01-2009, 02:39 PM	#11
Transit Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Whanganui NZ Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,624	Just took delivery of my DA40. I didn't know if I would like the hood /cap arrangement But I do ! The hood is rather clever in that it establishes its opening by converging Its tapering contributes to the compactness of the arrangement. The screw on cap is tiny and elegant I'm developing a one finger action to roll it off hate to lose it though...I may look at a tether adaption I'd say $40 (US?) is a blinking bargain. Pete

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05-01-2009, 03:06 PM	#12
Fritz Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Tillamook, OR Posts: 1,222	If it were me, I would spend the money to get the genuine Pentax hood. It works great, and if it wasn't there I would probably be accidentally touching the lens element with my fingers on a regular basis. I'm sure it's been mentioned before, but a 35mm film canister lid fits perfectly where the metal screw in cap goes. Easy on and off, and if you loose it you are not out much.

05-01-2009, 03:13 PM	#13
jeffrey r Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: New Jersey, USA Posts: 337	Originally posted by Fritz I'm sure it's been mentioned before, but a 35mm film canister lid fits perfectly where the metal screw in cap goes. Easy on and off, and if you loose it you are not out much. I have seen this mentioned before, but I tried this with a few old rolls of film I had lying around, and none of my canister lids fit the DA 40. Is there any brand of film in particular whose case works well? This would be a nice solution to keep handy with the DA 40, as that screw-on lid can get kind of funky in real-world usage.

05-01-2009, 03:41 PM	#14
SOldBear Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Alameda, CA Posts: 3,206 Original Poster	Thanks for the replies and particularly for the photos. Originally posted by jeffrey r Was he up-front about it? Was it priced accordingly? If not, then for a lens that had been going for a relatively measly $220 USD new on ebay and Amazon.com (at least as of a few months ago when I got mine) The current price is somewhere around $265. The seller was not up-front about it. But it was not her fault. In fact, I don't think she even know what a lens hood is. She inherited the lenses from a relative of her. The DA40 was not among the lenses in the original deal. When I met her to pick up other stuffs, she told me she had just found the DA40 and it was up to me to buy it or not. At that time, I didn't know that the lens had it special hood and cap. So I offered what I think a fair price and took the lens. I think I'll just use a normal 49mm hood for now....

05-01-2009, 05:22 PM	#15
G_Money Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: London, Ontario, Canada Posts: 598	Originally posted by jeffrey r Is there any brand of film in particular whose case works well? I believe Fuji is the brand of film canister I've heard mentioned.