Lens Hood Questions

[NateNLogansDad]

This morning I realized I really never have used the lens hood for either lens. I googled it and keep getting mixed results on whether or not to use it and when. Some say it can make your colors pop a little more and some say it just get in the way. Why do you use it and when do you leave it in the bag?

 

[zackiedawg]

Personally, I leave all of mine on, virtually all the time, day or night. They don't get in the way for me, they fit in my bag with hoods installed, and are invaluable for cutting flare in strong Florida sunlight.

The only rare exceptions of when I take them off is when I am shooting flash shots, where the hood would get in the way of the flash a bit. But I don't take too many flash shots, so that's rarely a problem.

 

[KarenAylwood]

I use it all the time on my Sigma 30mm f/1.4. I don't think I ever take it off. I mostly use it for protection- I seem to bang it on things a lot

I have an 18-200mm lens too but don't use a hood on it just because the lens is long already and I couldn't put it in the bag with the hood on. With my Sigma I can get away with not putting a lens cap on it all the time because the hood is there for protection.

 

[MICKEY88]

if my camera is out of the bag, the lens hood is on... with my 80-200 I invert it on the lens to fit it in the bag..actually I do that with all my lenses, most actually will attach inverted,,, the 80-200 is a metal screw on hood so it wont invert...

I would never shoot without, they reduce chance of lens flare ad protection agains bumping the front lens element against something..etc...

 

[My2Girls66]

Now that I have lenses with hoods I always use them. When not in use the Nikon hoods snap right on backwards so they will easily fit in the bag. I find them good protection as I hike with my camera sometimes and it does get banged around, only now the hood gets the brunt of the hits rather then the front edge of the lens. When using the onboard flash I get a shadow on the bottom of the photo at wider angles with the hood so it needs to come off then. I don't seem to have that problem with the SB600.

 

[NateNLogansDad]

Any times other than flash where you wouldn't recommend it?

 

[JimbobJimbo]

I have a hood on at all times like others have mentioned. It helps with lens flare plus for the added protection it gives to the lens itself. The only problem I've had, like others have posted, is when using flash.

 

[My2Girls66]

I find that the hood also needs to come off when using a circular polarizer filter. Its more difficult to turn the filter to adjust it with a hood on, especially on my 70-300vr with its longer hood. Its not as bad with the 18-135.

 

[scoot241]

I don't have a hood for the kit lens, but I always have my hood on the Sigma 30mm. It even fits in my bag with the hood on, so I leave it on all the time.

 

[NateNLogansDad]

I find that the hood also needs to come off when using a circular polarizer filter. Its more difficult to turn the filter to adjust it with a hood on, especially on my 70-300vr with its longer hood. Its not as bad with the 18-135.

I learn something every day in this section.....I didn't know you can adjust filters. Some day I'll get there..........right?

 

[NateNLogansDad]

I'm assuming it wouldn't make any difference if it were on or off at night? Is that correct?

 

[MICKEY88]

I learn something every day in this section.....I didn't know you can adjust filters. Some day I'll get there..........right?

not all filters,, but with a circular ploarizer if you rotate it you will see your skies darken,,, helps eliminate blownout skies..

 

[MICKEY88]

I'm assuming it wouldn't make any difference if it were on or off at night? Is that correct?

I still use my hoods at night, still adds layer of protection against bumping lens,, and helps reduce stray light,, such as someone elses flash, coming from the side,,, headlights..etc;;

 

[boBQuincy]

I'm assuming it wouldn't make any difference if it were on or off at night? Is that correct?

Actually... lens flare may be even more likely at night due to the great brightness differences between subjects and light sources. There is also more chance to bump the lens into things at night. Keep the hood on, says I.

If you use a UV filter (I don't) it is also good to remove it at night to prevent reflections.

 

[JoeDif]

I take them off when using a flash......other than that they are always on when attached to the camera body.

 

[YesDear]

Hoods or no hoods is part of a very spirited debate around here that I am not trying to rekindle. Some people swear by skylight filters and some swear by lens hoods to protect the lens.

I always use filters to protect the lens. Just me! Others will tell you it is the worst thing. Just something for you to decide.

Others us the lens hood as you have heard. I understand both camps, I just choose to be in one of them. And yes I will use a skylight filter and a hood! Go figure!

The are designed to light protection and do what they are supposed to do.

 

[NateNLogansDad]

I'm so glad I've gotten all the responses from you guys so far.
The protection factor is probably the most appealing reason to keep one on for me right now but I hope to try multiple situation this weekend both with and without the hood on.
I can't stop thinking about the time a couple weeks ago when I turned around for a second and my 3 year old stole my camera from behind my back and picked it up by the glass The filters may be a good idea also but the hood is in my bag now

 

[Groucho]

This morning I realized I really never have used the lens hood for either lens. I googled it and keep getting mixed results on whether or not to use it and when. Some say it can make your colors pop a little more and some say it just get in the way. Why do you use it and when do you leave it in the bag?

Who is saying that lens hoods just get in the way? I haven't heard that before. I mean, they are a tiny bit of extra work to mount them, but I would hope that no one is saying that there is no benefit to them and they are only a bother.

I find that the hood also needs to come off when using a circular polarizer filter. Its more difficult to turn the filter to adjust it with a hood on, especially on my 70-300vr with its longer hood. Its not as bad with the 18-135.

The modern Pentax lens hoods all have a removable piece on the bottom of the hood to allow you to easily adjust a polarizer without removing the hood. Very handy, I'm not sure why no one else (that I'm aware of) does it - perhaps it's a patent thing. I wonder if the Tokina rebadges of Pentax lenses have them, like their 16-50 and 50-135 lenses.

Actually... lens flare may be even more likely at night due to the great brightness differences between subjects and light sources. There is also more chance to bump the lens into things at night. Keep the hood on, says I.

This can be true, sometimes you can't even avoid the flares even with a hood. Last time I was taking MK photos from the 14th floor fire escape at the Contemporary, I noticed slight lens flare when shooting Space Mountain, even with the hood and with a lens that generally has extremely effective flare resistance. I think I was shooting almost directly into some bright light that was pointing almost right at me.

Hoods or no hoods is part of a very spirited debate around here that I am not trying to rekindle. Some people swear by skylight filters and some swear by lens hoods to protect the lens.

True they're part of that debate but I don't think it's a lens hood vs no lens hood debate, it's a filter vs no filter debate (with the no filter crowd, including me, pointing to lens hoods as good protection to counter that rational for using UV filters.)

To throw in my 2c to the OP's question (in case it wasn't obvious): lens hood, lens hood, lens hood! The only time I don't have one on is if I don't have a hood that fits that lens (like my 55mm F1.2), in which case I'll usually try to hold my hand over the edge of the lens to accomplish the same result (and I will put a hood for that lens on my to-buy list!) For flash, I usually will use a hotshoe or wireless flash if the lens hood is in the way... I rarely use the onboard flash.

Put it this way - the lens hood will never make your photos look worse, it can only make them look better. (Unless you are deliberately going for a "look" with low contrast and lots of flare.)

 

[NateNLogansDad]

Who is saying that lens hoods just get in the way? I haven't heard that before. I mean, they are a tiny bit of extra work to mount them, but I would hope that no one is saying that there is no benefit to them and they are only a bother.

Honestly it wasn't anyone from this site. I hate bugging you guys with every little thing and, although it doesn't always show, I do try to research things on my own sometimes. It seemed like I was running at a 60/40 on people who use the hood vs those who don't and was confused. Unfortunately I don't know who knows their stuff and who is faking it "out there." What I do know is "in here" you guys are the picture gods!

True they're part of that debate but I don't think it's a lens hood vs no lens hood debate, it's a filter vs no filter debate (with the no filter crowd, including me, pointing to lens hoods as good protection to counter that rational for using UV filters.)

To throw in my 2c to the OP's question (in case it wasn't obvious): lens hood, lens hood, lens hood! The only time I don't have one on is if I don't have a hood that fits that lens (like my 55mm F1.2), in which case I'll usually try to hold my hand over the edge of the lens to accomplish the same result (and I will put a hood for that lens on my to-buy list!) For flash, I usually will use a hotshoe or wireless flash if the lens hood is in the way... I rarely use the onboard flash.

Put it this way - the lens hood will never make your photos look worse, it can only make them look better. (Unless you are deliberately going for a "look" with low contrast and lots of flare.)

Hopefully, I'm not stirring the pot. I wasn't aware of the whole lens hood vs filter debate. I'm very thankful to you and everyone else that posted. I was honestly expecting to hear most people say they didn't use one because makes the whole setup to bulky. Every day I learn something new!

 

[MarkBarbieri]

I rarely use a lens hood. I pretty much just use them when I'm using my camera.