I've now got at least two lens hoods. One has a kind of crenelated edge, well, it just out at the top and bottom and juts out less prominently on the two sides. I think this one came with the 50-200 lens. The other is a simpler tube-like design (well, a conical section). Pretty sure that one came with the 75-300 lens.
What's the point of these things, other than to make the camera look bigger and thus perhaps frighten off bears? I can see that they must block light from hitting the lens on the side and I presume that they do this by design, but what's the problem with light hitting the lens from the side? And why does the one hood have a sort of cut-out design while the other does not?
I also presume that lens hoods are intended for use outdoors in bright sunlight. What if I'm not outdoors or at least not in bright sunlight? Would it be a mistake (or at least a faux pas) to leave the hood on while shooting my daughter playing basketball? I mean, if someone from this group happened to be there at the game, I would not want to look like a doofus who doesn't know enough about photography to take his lens hood off inside.
Do you use a hood? All the time? Even in the house, when ladies are present?
WP
Last edited by WMBP; 12-22-2006 at 03:20 PM.
Reason: Changed second word in post from "not" to "now"