Hood for 50mm prime lens?

iht · 08-16-2009, 11:23 PM

Hi there,

I read a review on the FA 50mm 1.4, and noted the following:

Quote:

Countless reviews on the FA1.4 complaining about it being "a little soft wide open". This is the reason why. Once I installed a nice lens hood, the lens became much sharper wide open. Almost as good as a FA1.7 (a lot bigger though with the hood). Pentax is partly to blame for this because they don't include lens hoods with the 50mm's, as a result, most people run around without one and they complain "the lens is a little soft wide open".

This got me thinking about getting a hood. I've got/am planning to get the following 50mm lenses:
- Super Tak 1.4
- Pentax M 1.7
- Pentax M 1.4
- Pentax FA 1.4

My questions:
- Can everyone verify that quoted statement?
- Do hoods need to be custom made for a particular lens? I assume an incompatible hood would produce vignetting?
- Is there a hood that can be used for all these lenses? If so, where can I get them from?

Thanks a lot!

pbo · 08-16-2009, 11:37 PM

Any 49mm thread hood will fit on the the ones you listed, and will likely not cause vignetting. I use a hood that was originally designed for a 135mm lens - and it doesn't vignette. That hood probably is the longest I've seen for a 49mm filter thread. So you can just do a search for a "49mm telephoto hood"
And yeah, hoods are good. They help you a bit with contrast and detail, and obviously flare (though SMC coatings cope with that surprisingly well) - I've seen a test somewhere on this forum that shows some pretty significant difference in sharpness between using/not using a hood.

iht · 08-16-2009, 11:41 PM

Hey Mr. pbo - it's you again! You must be the quickest replier on this forum!! I'm you should be studying or something!

Thanks for that. Great. I've got that hood, so I'll have a go at using that.

Cheers.

pbo · 08-17-2009, 12:03 AM

Well, I'm done with studying for now until September

But the fact that it's still summer hasn't changed...

pbo · 08-17-2009, 12:22 AM

Oops, wait up. Are you using those 50's on your ME? I'm not sure how they'll behave with a 35mm camera vignette-wise. I know they do just fine on DSLR.

iht · 08-17-2009, 05:19 AM

Oh no, I'll use it on the *ist DS. Thanks for checking.

So can you confirm if using a hood does actually make the lens sharper?

séamuis · 08-17-2009, 06:01 AM

Originally posted by iht

Oh no, I'll use it on the *ist DS. Thanks for checking.

So can you confirm if using a hood does actually make the lens sharper?

I doubt anyone can or rather has definitively confirmed whether using a hood adds to sharpness. I think reduction in flare and possible added contrast can look like added sharpness, but I know of no test that can confirm this. your best bet for a hood for all of these lenses for use on a Pentax digital, is the Takumar 135mm 3.5 hood. it will fit all of your lenses being 49mm threaded and will not vignette on a digital. this hood can be found on ebay pretty much all of the time for rather cheap (the 135 3.5 is a common lens) so this is what I would recommend.

here is what it will look like compared with a Takumar 'standard' lens hood for 50 and 55's. (note, this is with the 55 1.8 (m42 Takumar) not 50, but that is irreverent given the subject.)

raymeedc · 08-17-2009, 07:31 AM

My favorite hoods have always been/continue to be the collapsible rubber type, for some reason out of fashion nowadays.

Marc Sabatella · 08-17-2009, 09:33 AM

Originally posted by iht

This got me thinking about getting a hood. I've got/am planning to get the following 50mm lenses:
- Super Tak 1.4
- Pentax M 1.7
- Pentax M 1.4
- Pentax FA 1.4

All of them? Why?

Anyhow, it is true that hoods can increase sharpness, at least indirectly - they actually improve *contrast*, which improves the *appearance* of sharpness if not necessarily the actual measured resolution (some ways of measuring sharpness take contrast into account, others don't). But the extent to which the hood actually makes a difference depends on where the light source is relative to what you are shooting. If it's close to the frame, flare is a big problem, and a hood helps a lot. The further your scene is from the light source, the less of a problem you'll have with flare, and the less the hood helps.

Quote:

- Do hoods need to be custom made for a particular lens? I assume an incompatible hood would produce vignetting?

Custom made, no, but they have to be basically the right diameter & length. Too far are in one direction produces vignetting; too fsr off the other way and it is isn't very effective.

**Kerrowdown** · 08-17-2009, 11:47 AM

Hoods also provide valuable protection for lens front elements, increase contrast, reduce flare, basically use 'em all the time.

Leaf Fan · 08-17-2009, 01:00 PM

On my FA50 f1.4 I just use the hood from an old 135mm Tak, works like a charm. Wouldn't know if it increases sharpness or contrast as I've never used the 50 without it. Maybe I should try...........

impact · 08-17-2009, 02:19 PM

Hmm, I am torn. It's huge, but if it helps to get better pictures...

séamuis · 08-17-2009, 02:28 PM

Originally posted by impact

Hmm, I am torn. It's huge, but if it helps to get better pictures...

not as big as you think. remember that its mounted to a Takumar, which is pretty dang small even compared to the FA. that's also a istD that its mounted to, which is a small camera. it will basically double the length of your lens though. not sure about the FA, but for a Takumar or an M series lens, yea.

just FYI I actually use the standard lens hood because I don't like the look. even on my non-multi-coated Auto Takumars.

raymeedc · 08-17-2009, 05:36 PM

Originally posted by impact

Hmm, I am torn. It's huge, but if it helps to get better pictures...

Try a folding rubber hood. "Not huge", folds into & out of position in a fraction of a second, protects your lens like a rubber bumper in either position, looks great (IMO), & can be had at outlets like Adorama & B&H for just a few bucks.

GerryL · 08-17-2009, 05:42 PM

Originally posted by raymeedc

Try a folding rubber hood. "Not huge", folds into & out of position in a fraction of a second, protects your lens like a rubber bumper in either position, looks great (IMO), & can be had at outlets like Adorama & B&H for just a few bucks.

There are even versions now that folds in 3-stages.
You can extend or fold depending on how much bright the sun is or the light source is.

08-16-2009, 11:23 PM	#1
iht Veteran Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Sydney, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 528	Hood for 50mm prime lens? Hi there, I read a review on the FA 50mm 1.4, and noted the following: Quote: Countless reviews on the FA1.4 complaining about it being "a little soft wide open". This is the reason why. Once I installed a nice lens hood, the lens became much sharper wide open. Almost as good as a FA1.7 (a lot bigger though with the hood). Pentax is partly to blame for this because they don't include lens hoods with the 50mm's, as a result, most people run around without one and they complain "the lens is a little soft wide open". This got me thinking about getting a hood. I've got/am planning to get the following 50mm lenses: - Super Tak 1.4 - Pentax M 1.7 - Pentax M 1.4 - Pentax FA 1.4 My questions: - Can everyone verify that quoted statement? - Do hoods need to be custom made for a particular lens? I assume an incompatible hood would produce vignetting? - Is there a hood that can be used for all these lenses? If so, where can I get them from? Thanks a lot!

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08-16-2009, 11:37 PM	#2
pbo Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 891	Any 49mm thread hood will fit on the the ones you listed, and will likely not cause vignetting. I use a hood that was originally designed for a 135mm lens - and it doesn't vignette. That hood probably is the longest I've seen for a 49mm filter thread. So you can just do a search for a "49mm telephoto hood" And yeah, hoods are good. They help you a bit with contrast and detail, and obviously flare (though SMC coatings cope with that surprisingly well) - I've seen a test somewhere on this forum that shows some pretty significant difference in sharpness between using/not using a hood.

08-16-2009, 11:41 PM	#3
iht Veteran Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Sydney, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 528 Original Poster	Hey Mr. pbo - it's you again! You must be the quickest replier on this forum!! I'm you should be studying or something! Thanks for that. Great. I've got that hood, so I'll have a go at using that. Cheers.

08-17-2009, 12:03 AM	#4
pbo Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 891	Well, I'm done with studying for now until September But the fact that it's still summer hasn't changed...

08-17-2009, 12:22 AM	#5
pbo Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 891	Oops, wait up. Are you using those 50's on your ME? I'm not sure how they'll behave with a 35mm camera vignette-wise. I know they do just fine on DSLR.

08-17-2009, 05:19 AM	#6
iht Veteran Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Sydney, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 528 Original Poster	Oh no, I'll use it on the *ist DS. Thanks for checking. So can you confirm if using a hood does actually make the lens sharper?

08-17-2009, 06:01 AM	#7
séamuis Banned Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Savannah, U.S./Baguio City, P.H. Posts: 5,979	Originally posted by iht Oh no, I'll use it on the *ist DS. Thanks for checking. So can you confirm if using a hood does actually make the lens sharper? I doubt anyone can or rather has definitively confirmed whether using a hood adds to sharpness. I think reduction in flare and possible added contrast can look like added sharpness, but I know of no test that can confirm this. your best bet for a hood for all of these lenses for use on a Pentax digital, is the Takumar 135mm 3.5 hood. it will fit all of your lenses being 49mm threaded and will not vignette on a digital. this hood can be found on ebay pretty much all of the time for rather cheap (the 135 3.5 is a common lens) so this is what I would recommend. here is what it will look like compared with a Takumar 'standard' lens hood for 50 and 55's. (note, this is with the 55 1.8 (m42 Takumar) not 50, but that is irreverent given the subject.)

08-17-2009, 07:31 AM	#8
raymeedc Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Brooklyn, New York Posts: 951	My favorite hoods have always been/continue to be the collapsible rubber type, for some reason out of fashion nowadays.

08-17-2009, 09:33 AM	#9
Marc Sabatella Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Denver, CO Photos: Gallery Posts: 10,685	Originally posted by iht This got me thinking about getting a hood. I've got/am planning to get the following 50mm lenses: - Super Tak 1.4 - Pentax M 1.7 - Pentax M 1.4 - Pentax FA 1.4 All of them? Why? Anyhow, it is true that hoods can increase sharpness, at least indirectly - they actually improve contrast, which improves the appearance of sharpness if not necessarily the actual measured resolution (some ways of measuring sharpness take contrast into account, others don't). But the extent to which the hood actually makes a difference depends on where the light source is relative to what you are shooting. If it's close to the frame, flare is a big problem, and a hood helps a lot. The further your scene is from the light source, the less of a problem you'll have with flare, and the less the hood helps. Quote: - Do hoods need to be custom made for a particular lens? I assume an incompatible hood would produce vignetting? Custom made, no, but they have to be basically the right diameter & length. Too far are in one direction produces vignetting; too fsr off the other way and it is isn't very effective.

08-17-2009, 11:47 AM	#10
Kerrowdown PEG Moderator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Highlands of Scotland... "Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand" - William Blake Photos: Gallery Posts: 57,860	Hoods also provide valuable protection for lens front elements, increase contrast, reduce flare, basically use 'em all the time.

08-17-2009, 01:00 PM	#11
Leaf Fan Inactive Account Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Canada eh! Photos: Gallery Posts: 673	On my FA50 f1.4 I just use the hood from an old 135mm Tak, works like a charm. Wouldn't know if it increases sharpness or contrast as I've never used the 50 without it. Maybe I should try...........

08-17-2009, 02:19 PM	#12
impact Inactive Account Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 115	Hmm, I am torn. It's huge, but if it helps to get better pictures...

08-17-2009, 02:28 PM	#13
séamuis Banned Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Savannah, U.S./Baguio City, P.H. Posts: 5,979	Originally posted by impact Hmm, I am torn. It's huge, but if it helps to get better pictures... not as big as you think. remember that its mounted to a Takumar, which is pretty dang small even compared to the FA. that's also a istD that its mounted to, which is a small camera. it will basically double the length of your lens though. not sure about the FA, but for a Takumar or an M series lens, yea. just FYI I actually use the standard lens hood because I don't like the look. even on my non-multi-coated Auto Takumars.

08-17-2009, 05:36 PM	#14
raymeedc Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Brooklyn, New York Posts: 951	Originally posted by impact Hmm, I am torn. It's huge, but if it helps to get better pictures... Try a folding rubber hood. "Not huge", folds into & out of position in a fraction of a second, protects your lens like a rubber bumper in either position, looks great (IMO), & can be had at outlets like Adorama & B&H for just a few bucks.

08-17-2009, 05:42 PM	#15
GerryL Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: CA Posts: 2,731	Originally posted by raymeedc Try a folding rubber hood. "Not huge", folds into & out of position in a fraction of a second, protects your lens like a rubber bumper in either position, looks great (IMO), & can be had at outlets like Adorama & B&H for just a few bucks. There are even versions now that folds in 3-stages. You can extend or fold depending on how much bright the sun is or the light source is.