Do you use your lens hood?

rustynail925 · 03-26-2010, 12:39 AM

Do you use your lens hood?
I couldnt see the reason of using a lens hood, i tried shooting in the sun and comparing pictures taken with using a hood and no hood. Am i missing something here?

axl · 03-26-2010, 01:14 AM

There are many reasons to use lens hood:
a) protection of the front element (I don't use the filters)
b) preventing strait light entering the lens and therefore reducing contrast and maybe offsetting the exposure
c) preventing flare... SMC lenses are quite good with this anyway, but good lenshood makes difference. Imagine room with many spotlights scenario

frankly, the only lens for which I don't use lens hood all the time is my 31ltd and the only reason is that I haven't found one that I would like yet...

rustynail925 · 03-26-2010, 01:30 AM

Have you try testing shots w/ hood and without hood?
Cant see any difference in the pictures

axl · 03-26-2010, 01:50 AM

Originally posted by rustynail925

Have you try testing shots w/ hood and without hood?
Cant see any difference in the pictures

yes I have and I do see difference...

henzo · 03-26-2010, 02:07 AM

only time i use it is to reduce lens flare

RioRico · 03-26-2010, 02:13 AM

I also see difference when I shoot with or without hood. I use a hood on EVERY lens except those that can't mount a hood: DA 10-17 and Zenitar 16/2.8 fisheyes. I even hood a macro lens whose objective is deeply recessed. I don't yet have a 72mm hood for my Sakar 500mm mirror, so I improvise with black paper held on with a rubber band.

The hoods are various sorts, and from various odd-lots sales. Built-in or supplied hoods with those lenses that have them; folding rubbers of assorted sizes; metal hoods. I found a little 26mm series-whatever hood to slip on my MF folders.

Why? Stray light is the enemy. Even with super-multi-coating up the yazoo, stray light does not improve the recorded image. Sometimes you may want flare, for drama. I have a nice shot (frame-grabbed from an old camcorder) of flare that looks like a UFO beaming-up some cars. But usually you just lose contrast and depth.

Also, solid hoods offer some protection. I generally don't use filters, except in blowing dust and flying mud. A hood keeps the outside world just a bit further away from the glass. This has saved certain lenses more than once.

rustynail925 · 03-26-2010, 02:19 AM

Maybe i tested it wrong. Can you show me how to test so i can see the difference

Nass · 03-26-2010, 02:26 AM

I always add the hood onto any lens that has one. Colour intensity, flaring & protection.

RioRico · 03-26-2010, 02:40 AM

Originally posted by rustynail925

Maybe i tested it wrong. Can you show me how to test so i can see the difference

That should be rather easy with a rubber hood. Fold the hood back. Frame a picture so that a nearby open light is just outside the frame. Shoot. Now fold the hood out. Frame the same picture. Shoot. Compare.

**Ash** · 03-26-2010, 02:48 AM

Essential in every circumstance.
Even when trying out flare effects, I have found hooded lenses render the best images.

VaughnA · 03-26-2010, 06:00 AM

I always use my hood. If not for flare reduction then just for the extra bit of protection they provide. It shocks me to be wandering around in a crowd and see folks with high end lenses without a hood or cap on. I'm borrowing a friends 10-20 for a shoot this weekend and he forgot the hood. I'm feeling like I'm walking on glass by not having that protection.

Ben_Edict · 03-26-2010, 06:09 AM

Originally posted by rustynail925

Do you use your lens hood?
I couldnt see the reason of using a lens hood, i tried shooting in the sun and comparing pictures taken with using a hood and no hood. Am i missing something here?

Yes, you are missing something. Obviously the hood will not help against flare, if you shoot directly into the sun. Easy enough to understand. BUT if you have the sun (or another bright light source), just outside the field of view, it will cause flareing, which you can reduce or eliminate with the hood. These situations arise much more often, than shotting directly into the light source.

On top, the hood will offer some mechanical protection against bumps. I mostly use metal hoos and they have saved lenses quite a couple of times from damaging the front element.

Ben

Ira · 03-26-2010, 06:09 AM

I always use a rubber hood because it gives me an extra 2 inches.

Lens envy.

**gofour3** · 03-26-2010, 08:23 AM

Yes 100% of the time. A hood is probably the most important lens accessory that you can use to improve picture quality. There is a reason Pentax has a hood designed for every lens, either built-in or as a clip/screw-on attachment. Even the fisheye lens has a tiny built-in hood.

Phil.

Pentaxor · 03-26-2010, 08:52 AM

you lose cotrast when the front element is strucked by the sun at certain angles. I think the error here is you might had thought that a lens hood would work if you shoot directly at the sun which would obviously hit the front element.

the idea of having a lenshood is to block the streaking stray light.

View Poll Results: Do you use your lens hood
Yes always	75	80.65%
Never	8	8.60%
Only when needed (state your reason)	10	10.75%
Voters: 93. You may not vote on this poll

03-26-2010, 12:39 AM	#1
rustynail925 Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Philippines Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,551	Do you use your lens hood? Do you use your lens hood? I couldnt see the reason of using a lens hood, i tried shooting in the sun and comparing pictures taken with using a hood and no hood. Am i missing something here?

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03-26-2010, 01:14 AM	#2
axl Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Nove Zamky, Slovakia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,183	There are many reasons to use lens hood: a) protection of the front element (I don't use the filters) b) preventing strait light entering the lens and therefore reducing contrast and maybe offsetting the exposure c) preventing flare... SMC lenses are quite good with this anyway, but good lenshood makes difference. Imagine room with many spotlights scenario frankly, the only lens for which I don't use lens hood all the time is my 31ltd and the only reason is that I haven't found one that I would like yet...

03-26-2010, 01:30 AM	#3
rustynail925 Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Philippines Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,551 Original Poster	Have you try testing shots w/ hood and without hood? Cant see any difference in the pictures

03-26-2010, 01:50 AM	#4
axl Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Nove Zamky, Slovakia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,183	Originally posted by rustynail925 Have you try testing shots w/ hood and without hood? Cant see any difference in the pictures yes I have and I do see difference...

03-26-2010, 02:07 AM	#5
henzo Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 37	only time i use it is to reduce lens flare

03-26-2010, 02:13 AM	#6
RioRico Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Limbo, California Posts: 11,263	I also see difference when I shoot with or without hood. I use a hood on EVERY lens except those that can't mount a hood: DA 10-17 and Zenitar 16/2.8 fisheyes. I even hood a macro lens whose objective is deeply recessed. I don't yet have a 72mm hood for my Sakar 500mm mirror, so I improvise with black paper held on with a rubber band. The hoods are various sorts, and from various odd-lots sales. Built-in or supplied hoods with those lenses that have them; folding rubbers of assorted sizes; metal hoods. I found a little 26mm series-whatever hood to slip on my MF folders. Why? Stray light is the enemy. Even with super-multi-coating up the yazoo, stray light does not improve the recorded image. Sometimes you may want flare, for drama. I have a nice shot (frame-grabbed from an old camcorder) of flare that looks like a UFO beaming-up some cars. But usually you just lose contrast and depth. Also, solid hoods offer some protection. I generally don't use filters, except in blowing dust and flying mud. A hood keeps the outside world just a bit further away from the glass. This has saved certain lenses more than once.

03-26-2010, 02:19 AM	#7
rustynail925 Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Philippines Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,551 Original Poster	Maybe i tested it wrong. Can you show me how to test so i can see the difference

03-26-2010, 02:26 AM	#8
Nass Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The British Isles Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,402	I always add the hood onto any lens that has one. Colour intensity, flaring & protection.

03-26-2010, 02:40 AM	#9
RioRico Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Limbo, California Posts: 11,263	Originally posted by rustynail925 Maybe i tested it wrong. Can you show me how to test so i can see the difference That should be rather easy with a rubber hood. Fold the hood back. Frame a picture so that a nearby open light is just outside the frame. Shoot. Now fold the hood out. Frame the same picture. Shoot. Compare.

03-26-2010, 02:48 AM	#10
Ash Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toowoomba, Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,920	Essential in every circumstance. Even when trying out flare effects, I have found hooded lenses render the best images.

03-26-2010, 06:00 AM	#11
VaughnA Banned Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Virginia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,363	I always use my hood. If not for flare reduction then just for the extra bit of protection they provide. It shocks me to be wandering around in a crowd and see folks with high end lenses without a hood or cap on. I'm borrowing a friends 10-20 for a shoot this weekend and he forgot the hood. I'm feeling like I'm walking on glass by not having that protection.

03-26-2010, 06:09 AM	#12
Ben_Edict Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: SouthWest "Regio" Photos: Albums Posts: 3,309	Originally posted by rustynail925 Do you use your lens hood? I couldnt see the reason of using a lens hood, i tried shooting in the sun and comparing pictures taken with using a hood and no hood. Am i missing something here? Yes, you are missing something. Obviously the hood will not help against flare, if you shoot directly into the sun. Easy enough to understand. BUT if you have the sun (or another bright light source), just outside the field of view, it will cause flareing, which you can reduce or eliminate with the hood. These situations arise much more often, than shotting directly into the light source. On top, the hood will offer some mechanical protection against bumps. I mostly use metal hoos and they have saved lenses quite a couple of times from damaging the front element. Ben

03-26-2010, 06:09 AM	#13
Ira Inactive Account Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Coral Springs, FL Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,216	I always use a rubber hood because it gives me an extra 2 inches. Lens envy.

03-26-2010, 08:23 AM	#14
gofour3 Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 8,090	Yes 100% of the time. A hood is probably the most important lens accessory that you can use to improve picture quality. There is a reason Pentax has a hood designed for every lens, either built-in or as a clip/screw-on attachment. Even the fisheye lens has a tiny built-in hood. Phil.

03-26-2010, 08:52 AM	#15
Pentaxor Veteran Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Vancouver, B.C. Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,513	you lose cotrast when the front element is strucked by the sun at certain angles. I think the error here is you might had thought that a lens hood would work if you shoot directly at the sun which would obviously hit the front element. the idea of having a lenshood is to block the streaking stray light.