Hood or no hood?

woonona_butch · 11-08-2010, 04:24 PM

I have a Pentax DA 18-250 lens on my K100D, I recently dropped my camera and fortunately the blunt of the impact was taken by the lens hood which shattered into 3 pieces. The only damage to the camera was the MF woud not work only the auto focus. I am currently having the camera repaired and wandering if I really need to replace the hood; afterall it was because I had it attached that it fell out of my "Lowepro TLZ Mini Bag" when I lent forward. I have a Hoya UV(0) filter attached to the lens also.

Adam · 11-08-2010, 04:38 PM

I suggest you do- hoods really help in more ways than one. There's an article in the articles section on why that is

subeeds · 11-08-2010, 07:30 PM

I vote hood! They have saved more than one lens for me in the past. (never set your camera on the shelf where the cat likes to sleep.)

SpecialK · 11-08-2010, 07:37 PM

Yes, there is a reason hoods are made :-)

opiet70 · 11-08-2010, 07:38 PM

Use a hood. You won't regret it because it'll help in many ways as Adam states.

Ratmagiclady · 11-08-2010, 07:42 PM

Hood. Live it. Love it. If bag does not like the hood, find bag that does.

KxBlaze · 11-08-2010, 07:56 PM

Another vote for a hood. They really do help with flare when shooting during daylight and as you found out first hand they offer extra lens protection. I have bumped into walls, people, etc with a hood on and wondered how things would have been different without a hood on. I might have less lenses.

And like Ratmagiclady said, if it does not fit in your bag, get a new bag.

Docrwm · 11-08-2010, 08:01 PM

I vote yes for the hood. They protect the lens a bit, as you found out, and they improve flare and there is some evidence that they also improve precision of focus from what I am reading.

pop4 · 11-08-2010, 09:32 PM

Hood.

I'd take a lens with a hood and no UV filter over a lens with a UV filter and no hood anytime.

KungPOW · 11-08-2010, 10:59 PM

keep the hood.

ditch the filter.

and never use a filter at night, they create strange reflections.

sterretje · 11-09-2010, 02:40 AM

@woonona_butch: In case you haven't gotten the message: a hood is important.

Originally posted by KungPOW

keep the hood.

Why would one keep a broken hood ??

noblepa · 11-09-2010, 08:01 AM

Your experience is proof-positive of the value of a lens hood. Had you not had one on the lens, the lens might have been completely trashed and there might have been more damage to the camera.

You say that the hood caused you to drop it. That's possible, but it is certainly possible to drop a camera/lens that is not wearing a hood.

A proper hood has no downside, besides perhaps making it a little bit longer. An improper hood can cause vignetting or intrude into the image, but a proper one will not. In many shots, a hood will make no difference, but if you are shooting anywhere close to the direction of a strong light source, such as the sun, it can reduce or eliminate lens flare. If flare is not a danger, the hood will have no detrimental effect on the image. The same can not be said for a filter. Even a really good filter can cause unwanted reflections. A bad filter is almost certain to.

I almost always leave lens hoods on all my lenses, even when shooting indoors, where flare is not likely. I used to keep UV filters on all my lenses, but I've decided that the lens hood offers better protection for the lens, without the possibility of reduced image quality.

Pablom · 11-09-2010, 08:06 AM

Originally posted by woonona_butch

The only damage to the camera was the MF woud not work only the auto focus.

what?! how can that be? does it happen with every lens?
doesn't really make sense

TaoMaas · 11-09-2010, 09:00 AM

hood. There's not a good reason not to use one, IMHO.

woonona_butch · 11-09-2010, 01:52 PM

Thanks for your input everyone. I have already purchased a new bag (Lowepro Slingshot 200). Yes "PABLOM" it happens with every lens!!
My first thread on this (or any forum) and I've got more info than what I have gotten in 12 months of belonging to a camera club. I'd given up taken the K100 out at night because of the yellow tinge produced on my images - never thought of removing the filter!!!. Just following on with the question of hoods - I've just purchased a second hand Pentax FA 50mm 1:1.4 off EBay, should I acquire a hood for this lens also??

11-08-2010, 04:24 PM	#1
woonona_butch New Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Woonona , NSW Posts: 9	Hood or no hood? I have a Pentax DA 18-250 lens on my K100D, I recently dropped my camera and fortunately the blunt of the impact was taken by the lens hood which shattered into 3 pieces. The only damage to the camera was the MF woud not work only the auto focus. I am currently having the camera repaired and wandering if I really need to replace the hood; afterall it was because I had it attached that it fell out of my "Lowepro TLZ Mini Bag" when I lent forward. I have a Hoya UV(0) filter attached to the lens also.

11-08-2010, 04:38 PM	#2
Adam Administrator Site Webmaster Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Arizona Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 51,608	I suggest you do- hoods really help in more ways than one. There's an article in the articles section on why that is Adam PentaxForums.com Webmaster (Site Usage Guide \| Site Help \| My Photography) PentaxForums.com server and development costs are user-supported. You can help cover these costs by donating or purchasing one of our Pentax eBooks. Or, buy your photo gear from our affiliates, Adorama, B&H Photo, KEH, or Topaz Labs, and get FREE Marketplace access - click here to see how! Trusted Pentax retailers:

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11-08-2010, 07:30 PM	#3
subeeds Veteran Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Camden County, Ga. Photos: Gallery Posts: 333	I vote hood! They have saved more than one lens for me in the past. (never set your camera on the shelf where the cat likes to sleep.)

11-08-2010, 07:37 PM	#4
SpecialK Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: So California Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,482	Yes, there is a reason hoods are made :-)

11-08-2010, 07:38 PM	#5
opiet70 Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Dallas, TX Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 499	Use a hood. You won't regret it because it'll help in many ways as Adam states.

11-08-2010, 07:42 PM	#6
Ratmagiclady Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: GA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 13,563	Hood. Live it. Love it. If bag does not like the hood, find bag that does.

11-08-2010, 07:56 PM	#7
KxBlaze Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: California Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,602	Another vote for a hood. They really do help with flare when shooting during daylight and as you found out first hand they offer extra lens protection. I have bumped into walls, people, etc with a hood on and wondered how things would have been different without a hood on. I might have less lenses. And like Ratmagiclady said, if it does not fit in your bag, get a new bag.

11-08-2010, 08:01 PM	#8
Docrwm Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Somewhere in the Southern US Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,285	I vote yes for the hood. They protect the lens a bit, as you found out, and they improve flare and there is some evidence that they also improve precision of focus from what I am reading.

11-08-2010, 09:32 PM	#9
pop4 Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: YMML Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,879	Hood. I'd take a lens with a hood and no UV filter over a lens with a UV filter and no hood anytime.

11-08-2010, 10:59 PM	#10
KungPOW Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Vancouver, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,699	keep the hood. ditch the filter. and never use a filter at night, they create strange reflections.

11-09-2010, 02:40 AM	#11
sterretje Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Roodepoort, South Africa Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,561	@woonona_butch: In case you haven't gotten the message: a hood is important. Originally posted by KungPOW keep the hood. Why would one keep a broken hood ??

11-09-2010, 08:01 AM	#12
noblepa Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bay Village, Ohio USA Posts: 1,142	Your experience is proof-positive of the value of a lens hood. Had you not had one on the lens, the lens might have been completely trashed and there might have been more damage to the camera. You say that the hood caused you to drop it. That's possible, but it is certainly possible to drop a camera/lens that is not wearing a hood. A proper hood has no downside, besides perhaps making it a little bit longer. An improper hood can cause vignetting or intrude into the image, but a proper one will not. In many shots, a hood will make no difference, but if you are shooting anywhere close to the direction of a strong light source, such as the sun, it can reduce or eliminate lens flare. If flare is not a danger, the hood will have no detrimental effect on the image. The same can not be said for a filter. Even a really good filter can cause unwanted reflections. A bad filter is almost certain to. I almost always leave lens hoods on all my lenses, even when shooting indoors, where flare is not likely. I used to keep UV filters on all my lenses, but I've decided that the lens hood offers better protection for the lens, without the possibility of reduced image quality.

11-09-2010, 08:06 AM	#13
Pablom Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Usa Posts: 1,940	Originally posted by woonona_butch The only damage to the camera was the MF woud not work only the auto focus. what?! how can that be? does it happen with every lens? doesn't really make sense

11-09-2010, 09:00 AM	#14
TaoMaas Pentaxian Join Date: May 2007 Location: Oklahoma City Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,574	hood. There's not a good reason not to use one, IMHO.

11-09-2010, 01:52 PM	#15
woonona_butch New Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Woonona , NSW Posts: 9 Original Poster	Thanks for your input everyone. I have already purchased a new bag (Lowepro Slingshot 200). Yes "PABLOM" it happens with every lens!! My first thread on this (or any forum) and I've got more info than what I have gotten in 12 months of belonging to a camera club. I'd given up taken the K100 out at night because of the yellow tinge produced on my images - never thought of removing the filter!!!. Just following on with the question of hoods - I've just purchased a second hand Pentax FA 50mm 1:1.4 off EBay, should I acquire a hood for this lens also??