Lens hood - when is it necessary?

**Ash** · 09-06-2009, 07:00 PM

Originally posted by esman7

would you then reccomend hoods for lenses that don't come with them? Ie. 50mm FA 1.4?

Yes, most people opt for the collapsable rubber hood for this lens - easy to find and cheap.

paulelescoces · 09-07-2009, 04:51 AM

The 50-135 does have an enormous hood... I also try and keep it mounted whenever practical...
I do find a need to remove it when shooting flash reasonably close (otherwise get a strong shadow on the lower side of the image)...

Paul

séamuis · 09-07-2009, 05:06 AM

Originally posted by paulelescoces

The 50-135 does have an enormous hood... I also try and keep it mounted whenever practical...
I do find a need to remove it when shooting flash reasonably close (otherwise get a strong shadow on the lower side of the image)...

Paul

a lot of hoods will cause shadows with a flash, even smaller ones. thats the only time I can recommend not using one. there is no good solution with this lens im afraid. with a smaller prime lens, the hood can be used always and be like it isn't even there, or a part of the lens. for you... well I guess you will have to decide whether or not is worth using in most situations.

pingflood · 09-07-2009, 05:20 AM

I always use a hood. Keep in mind that even though you may not have visible flare in the image, you can still lose contrast from it.

esman7 · 09-07-2009, 09:37 AM

Originally posted by Ash

Yes, most people opt for the collapsable rubber hood for this lens - easy to find and cheap.

Any recommendations for this one?

(reference to FA 50mm f1.4)

stevebrot · 09-07-2009, 10:51 AM

How about something like this:

B+W | 49mm Screw-In Folding Rubber Lens Hood #900 | 65069598

Your friendly neighborhood camera shop would generally have something equivalent. If you want a rigid metal hood, I generally recommend heavystar on eBay. He sells a good quality metal hood in three different depths (wide, standard, and tele) for a reasonable price.

Or if you insist on the real thing:

Pentax | 49mm Rectangular Lens Hood | 34021 | B&H Photo Video

Pentax | 49mm Round Rubber Lens Hood | 34260 | B&H Photo Video

Steve

**Ash** · 09-07-2009, 01:45 PM

Plenty of variety of these on eBay (be weary of quality).
That's where I went (no specific seller).

Dom · 09-07-2009, 04:45 PM

When to use a lens hood? All the time.

betamax · 09-07-2009, 07:57 PM

For the FA 50mm, based on comments here I got the hood that was meant to be used on the Takumar 135mm 3.5. I will use it more often from now on I guess as I was leaving it off in some instances given my wrong preconceptions.

I have one question though. I just got here in the marketplace a FA 28mm 2.8, and while it's 49mm as well this hood will probably cause vigneting, right? Do all those others 49mm hoods mentioned above by Steve work well for it?

Marc Sabatella · 09-07-2009, 09:18 PM

I've tried a couple of different collapsible rubber hoods with my M28/2.8, and neither is very effective. I've also tried a couple of solid metal hoods, and both caused vignetting. The only hood I've found that actully works well with my M28/2.8 is, strangely enough, the hood that comes with the DA70. It vignettes when extended, but in the collapsed position, it does not, and is much more effective thn the rubber hoods. But the FA28/2.8 is a different lens.

bniece · 09-11-2009, 11:48 AM

This is very helpful information. I have a FA 50 f/1.4 and have been wondering what lens hood to get for it. Now, for another one. I have a sigma 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 lens that came with its own lens hood. But . . .

The lens hood bayonet is on a fixed part of the lens barrel. It doesn't move in and out with the front element. This lens is shortest at 50mm where it looks like the hood might do some good. At 28 mm & 80mm the front element is pretty close to the front of the hood. It's definitely not helping. So, how do I decide what size hood to get? I know I need a 55mm thread, but I don't know how to pick the length.

Maybe if I get decent hoods for all the lenses I'll have the nerve to throw away those UV filters.

audiobomber · 09-11-2009, 07:03 PM

Originally posted by Marc Sabatella

I've tried a couple of different collapsible rubber hoods with my M28/2.8, and neither is very effective.

Try a hood made for a standard lens (50mm). Works great on my Image A 28mm.

Originally posted by bniece

I have a sigma 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 lens that came with its own lens cap.

At 28 mm & 80mm the front element is pretty close to the front of the hood. It's definitely not helping. So, how do I decide what size hood to get? I know I need a 55mm thread, but I don't know how to pick the length.

I believe the 3-stage collapsible rubber hood readily found on eBay would work.

09-07-2009, 10:51 AM	#21
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	How about something like this: B+W \| 49mm Screw-In Folding Rubber Lens Hood #900 \| 65069598 Your friendly neighborhood camera shop would generally have something equivalent. If you want a rigid metal hood, I generally recommend heavystar on eBay. He sells a good quality metal hood in three different depths (wide, standard, and tele) for a reasonable price. Or if you insist on the real thing: Pentax \| 49mm Rectangular Lens Hood \| 34021 \| B&H Photo Video Pentax \| 49mm Round Rubber Lens Hood \| 34260 \| B&H Photo Video Steve

09-11-2009, 11:48 AM	#26
bniece New Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Westborough, MA Posts: 51	This is very helpful information. I have a FA 50 f/1.4 and have been wondering what lens hood to get for it. Now, for another one. I have a sigma 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 lens that came with its own lens hood. But . . . The lens hood bayonet is on a fixed part of the lens barrel. It doesn't move in and out with the front element. This lens is shortest at 50mm where it looks like the hood might do some good. At 28 mm & 80mm the front element is pretty close to the front of the hood. It's definitely not helping. So, how do I decide what size hood to get? I know I need a 55mm thread, but I don't know how to pick the length. Maybe if I get decent hoods for all the lenses I'll have the nerve to throw away those UV filters. Last edited by bniece; 09-11-2009 at 10:37 PM.

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09-06-2009, 07:00 PM	#16
Ash Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toowoomba, Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,920	Originally posted by esman7 would you then reccomend hoods for lenses that don't come with them? Ie. 50mm FA 1.4? Yes, most people opt for the collapsable rubber hood for this lens - easy to find and cheap.

09-07-2009, 04:51 AM	#17
paulelescoces Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Switzerland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 252	The 50-135 does have an enormous hood... I also try and keep it mounted whenever practical... I do find a need to remove it when shooting flash reasonably close (otherwise get a strong shadow on the lower side of the image)... Paul

09-07-2009, 05:06 AM	#18
séamuis Banned Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Savannah, U.S./Baguio City, P.H. Posts: 5,979	Originally posted by paulelescoces The 50-135 does have an enormous hood... I also try and keep it mounted whenever practical... I do find a need to remove it when shooting flash reasonably close (otherwise get a strong shadow on the lower side of the image)... Paul a lot of hoods will cause shadows with a flash, even smaller ones. thats the only time I can recommend not using one. there is no good solution with this lens im afraid. with a smaller prime lens, the hood can be used always and be like it isn't even there, or a part of the lens. for you... well I guess you will have to decide whether or not is worth using in most situations.

09-07-2009, 05:20 AM	#19
pingflood Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Borås, Sweden Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,169	I always use a hood. Keep in mind that even though you may not have visible flare in the image, you can still lose contrast from it.

09-07-2009, 09:37 AM	#20
esman7 Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 322 Original Poster	Originally posted by Ash Yes, most people opt for the collapsable rubber hood for this lens - easy to find and cheap. Any recommendations for this one? (reference to FA 50mm f1.4)

09-07-2009, 01:45 PM	#22
Ash Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toowoomba, Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,920	Plenty of variety of these on eBay (be weary of quality). That's where I went (no specific seller).

09-07-2009, 04:45 PM	#23
Dom Guest	When to use a lens hood? All the time.

09-07-2009, 07:57 PM	#24
betamax Closed Account Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Toronto Posts: 46	For the FA 50mm, based on comments here I got the hood that was meant to be used on the Takumar 135mm 3.5. I will use it more often from now on I guess as I was leaving it off in some instances given my wrong preconceptions. I have one question though. I just got here in the marketplace a FA 28mm 2.8, and while it's 49mm as well this hood will probably cause vigneting, right? Do all those others 49mm hoods mentioned above by Steve work well for it?

09-07-2009, 09:18 PM	#25
Marc Sabatella Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Denver, CO Photos: Gallery Posts: 10,685	I've tried a couple of different collapsible rubber hoods with my M28/2.8, and neither is very effective. I've also tried a couple of solid metal hoods, and both caused vignetting. The only hood I've found that actully works well with my M28/2.8 is, strangely enough, the hood that comes with the DA70. It vignettes when extended, but in the collapsed position, it does not, and is much more effective thn the rubber hoods. But the FA28/2.8 is a different lens.

09-11-2009, 07:03 PM	#27
audiobomber Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Sudbury, Ontario Photos: Albums Posts: 6,806	Originally posted by Marc Sabatella I've tried a couple of different collapsible rubber hoods with my M28/2.8, and neither is very effective. Try a hood made for a standard lens (50mm). Works great on my Image A 28mm. Originally posted by bniece I have a sigma 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 lens that came with its own lens cap. At 28 mm & 80mm the front element is pretty close to the front of the hood. It's definitely not helping. So, how do I decide what size hood to get? I know I need a 55mm thread, but I don't know how to pick the length. I believe the 3-stage collapsible rubber hood readily found on eBay would work.