Originally posted by danielchtong I am a stealth (non-hood) shooter and my DA200mm hood is stored in the box only. Never bother to use it at all. Using the petal shaped hood to me is very threatening to my subject
The minor advantage that comes from the hood is vastly superseded. For minor protection I have a 77mm blue/brown filter at the front with glass taken out.
Daniel
I am hood agnostic but when out on hike I tent to leave it on just for added protection for the front element. I mentioned reversing the hood in my post because it's important that you reverse or do not even mount it when entering a sports venue here in the US as the folks who check the size of the lens look only at the total length at the moment they see it. Some do not even understand the hood is really not part of the lens once they see it mounted. So, to save the headache, best to just reverse it and if you use it, add it on once inside...though I know folks who have had ushers ask them to remove the hood or even try and tell them the lens is too long. That part I understand for a safety as well as other licensing issues. Not like on can take a big lens into a Broadway show and snap off a bunch of shots...same difference.
But, this lens is on my must-have list for sure!!