Differences between lens hoods?

[MinnieForMe]

Hi:
I need to buy a 58 mm lens hood for my Pentax 55-300 lens. Should I buy a cheap, threaded one off of ebay for $3.00 or is it worth it to buy an $18.00 snap on model from B&H?

Does one design (tulip or rubber) make a difference in safety or picture quality?

Thanks for any advice!

Michelle

 

[My2Girls66]

I bought a rubber screw in one for my 70-210 lens. It was ok but it didn't take long for the rubber to start to tear from the base. I also found that it had to be taken off to store the lens, the snap on ones that came with my other lenses can be turned around and snapped on so the can be stored on the lens, it seems to be a much easier process.

 

[Bstanley]

I tried a screw-on lens hood for my kit lens and found that with it installed it became impossible to use my lens cap. The threads on the inside of the screw on hood were not quite the right size to accept the lens cap.

Part of why I use a hood is to physically protect the lens - for me that means a rubber hood wouldn't be acceptable because it I were to bang the lens against something the rubber would give way instead of resisting the shock (although I guess it would offer some protection).

As to the Tulip shape or the barrel shape - I think that only becomes interesting if you are using wider angle lenses - the tulip cutout removes material from the barrel shape that would otherwise be visible to the lens. I would think that with a 55mm minimum it wouldn't be an issue (for example the hood for my 70-200 is a massive barrel and it doesn't block the view).

 

[PhotographyDR]

I have used both the hard plastic and the rubber type. I originally liked the hard plastic type because I could reverse the hood and store with the lens in my bag. For some long lenses this is a must. The only issue with these is they snap on. I was finding myself always picking up my lens hood from the ground or someone else telling me a dropped something.

I did find a lens hood from Mamiya that works great. It is a threaded one that won't fall off. It is also a collapsible one so that is pops down and fits into the bags when I am done. It also protects the lens pretty well. The collapsible portion is pretty tough to push so you would really have to hit it hard for you to actually damage anything. Also rubber has a better absorption rate that actually helps dissipate shocks to things. While hard plastic is good is can transmit shocks to other parts of the lens. I have had good luck with this hood. They make different thread sizes but I put the link to the one I think you are looking for.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/34122-REG/Mamiya_210_271_Lens_Hood_for_55mm.html

As far as picture quality as long as you are preventing the light from entering the sides there is no difference in the pictures.

Good luck and Happy Shooting.

 

[MinnieForMe]

Thank you! I'll check the one suggested out!

 

[Groucho]

I would buy the OEM Pentax hood if it all possible, or a clone of it. They have special channels that the OEM hoods securely snap in to, so it's much faster and easier than one that screws into the filter threads, and you should be able to mount it backwards for storage when not using it.