Lens hood?

[Snurk71]

After reading in another post poking fun of someone taking a picture with the hood on backwards and realizing that could be me (no offense taken), I thought I should ask for the do's and don'ts of the lens hood. I thought there was a time when you shouldn't use it with the flash, but I don't remember the "rules". So I just always have the hood on backwards (it is easier to pack/store with it on backwards).

Thanks in advance for the advice.

 

[ukcatfan]

After reading in another post poking fun of someone taking a picture with the hood on backwards and realizing that could be me (no offense taken), I thought I should ask for the do's and don'ts of the lens hood. I thought there was a time when you shouldn't use it with the flash, but I don't remember the "rules". So I just always have the hood on backwards (it is easier to pack/store with it on backwards).

Thanks in advance for the advice.

The person with it on backwards very well could have been storing it that way so whoever made fun of them should not have. You should not use it with the flash if it casts a shadow that is visible in your shot. Other than that, I do not think it can ever harm the image in any way. Plus, keeping it on protects the lens.

Kevin

 

[fitzperry]

I usually store mine that way too and have been known to pull it out of the bag and shoot a quick picture that way if I'm in a hurry. I've also been known to forget I've got the hood on and turn on the flash. In fact, we were in the bell tower at Notre Dame last fall, and I was taking pictures and looking at them in the lcd and just couldn't figure out what that stupid shadow was. Finally as we were about to climb back down, I glanced at the lens-- .

Anyway, as I understand it, that's the only time the lens hood will cause a problem. I have wondered if it is better to leave it off when shooting in low light (i.e., whether you can get a faster shutter without it) but I've not bothered to test that theory.

 

[handicap18]

I find it hard to take a pic with the lens hood on backwards. It makes it very difficult to zoom in and out. I find myself keeping it off more recently. I've taken many pictures indoors with the lens hood on while using the built in pop up flash. The shadow shows up mostly in the wider angle pics. It is a pain. I don't get that shadow so much with the speedlight flash attached because the light of the flash is well enough above the lens and also not as far back from the lens as the pop-up.

More often than not I'll take the lens hood off when its in the storage position and leave it off.

 

[Snurk71]

All righty then. It sounds like the only time to not use the hood is when it might shadow.

So why should you use a hood - is protecting the lens the only reason? Or is there some optic enhancement to using one?

Thanks

 

[boBQuincy]

After reading in another post poking fun of someone taking a picture with the hood on backwards and realizing that could be me (no offense taken), I thought I should ask for the do's and don'ts of the lens hood. I thought there was a time when you shouldn't use it with the flash, but I don't remember the "rules". So I just always have the hood on backwards (it is easier to pack/store with it on backwards).

Thanks in advance for the advice.

Perhaps I should not be so quick to have a little fun with someone misusing their lens hood, it just seemed funny to me. As handicap18 mentioned, if the hood is on backwards it often blocks the zoom ring, making the lens difficult to use.

The hood protects the lens from bumps but it's real primary function is to block any stray light coming in from the sides, light which can cause flare and reflections. If the hood is on backwards it does not do anything, except maybe get in the way.

Like some others, I store and pack my lenses with the hood on backwards but as soon as the camera comes out of the bag the hood goes on, the right way. Some hoods can partially block the built in flash so for flash photos I attach the hood to my camera bag strap with a piece of velcro strap.

I consider a lens hood to be required piece of equipment, even for a P&S. If you see someone with a Kodak DC4800 with a hood on it, that probably is me. Feel free to point and make fun! Then introduce yourself and I'll buy you a beer!
See, I'm not that bad!

 

[0bli0]

i almost always store the hood in shooting position - especially if the lens is on the body. if i cannot put the lens and body in the bag with the hood out, then time for a bigger bag! the hood never gets in the way of the built in flash - because i don't have a built in flash on any of my cameras.

the only real exception is my 120-300 2.8. it is just too large and i don't ever carry the lens with body attached. also it's impossible to put on and take off the 110mm diameter lenscap (which btw, they do not provide?!?!!!).

i even have, where possible, lens hoods on my rangefinder lenses - talk about strange looks. just yesterday someone asked 'what in the heck kind of camera is that?' and then proceeded to tell me i should get a digital camera 'becuase they take better pictures!' oh boy did a fun conversation take place after that comment - but i digress...

 

[jann1033]

i did have some problems with the lens hood in low light the other day( getting toward dusk in a wooded ravine ) so i just stored it on my wrist( the one benefit of having puny hands that can hold a rebel, i can also wear a lens hood as a snappy accessory

 

[Groucho]

I thought about the storage thing, too... but forget the zoom ring, how can you get to the focus ring? All my years with my manual-only camera mean that I still look to use manual focus regularly...

 

[deletedpenguin]

I store mine backwards as well.

 

[mhutchinson]

All righty then. It sounds like the only time to not use the hood is when it might shadow.

So why should you use a hood - is protecting the lens the only reason? Or is there some optic enhancement to using one?

Thanks

A lens hood is designed to reduce lens flare in the image. It offers some protection, but mostly to let someone know that they just bumped in to your new custom $120,000 1800mm L-glass lens.

I store mine backwards as well to fit it in the case better and have pulled the camera out quickly to snap off a couple shots with the hood on backwards as well. Typically when my camera is on my neck, it will have the hood on and the lens cap off (which I do tend to forget too remove from time to time).

Mike

 

[deletedpenguin]

A lens hood is designed to reduce lens flare in the image. It offers some protection, but mostly to let someone know that they just bumped in to your new custom $120,000 1800mm L-glass lens.

I store mine backwards as well to fit it in the case better and have pulled the camera out quickly to snap off a couple shots with the hood on backwards as well. Typically when my camera is on my neck, it will have the hood on and the lens cap off (which I do tend to forget too remove from time to time).

Mike

Hehe, I love the look when they see they bumped into my white lens. It just looks expensive (even though it's just a 70-200 f/2.8L)