plastic thingy connected to end of lense on slr cameras

[figment97]

what is it?

you can turn it around and have a half inch "tunnel" to shoot from... what does this do?

just curious...

 

[jann1033]

can you post a photo of it?

 

[figment97]

it's the ring on the very end of the lense. it's more like 1/4 of an inch.

 

[jann1033]

i'm not sure if i'm looking at the right thing but the device on the very end looks like a lens hood..does it unscrew or maybe just pull off? if it's a hood it protects your lens and cuts down on glare/flare from the sun. lots of times hoods are larger but sometimes they are just about 1/2 " or so ( see the link if you want egs http://www.pictureline.com/category.php?mid=1&cid=130)

 

[jenseib]

It looks like a hood to me as well, but most are bigger than that from what I have seen. I have hoods, an have yet to use them, but I should. I have been told that it wil lhelp keep the dust off the lense a bit, and reduce glare. I haven't had my camera long, so I am still playing with it.

 

[figment97]

yep! "lense hood" makes sense.

didn't realize what purpose it served... but anti-glare i can see.

thanks for the info!

 

[0bli0]

this almost borders on the lens hoods vs. filters debate
a lens hood does provide glare and haze reduction by reducing the direct light hitting the elements at oblique angles. often, hoods for zooms will have a 'flower' shaped end, instead of a round one. this is to maximise glare reduction, without the hood entering the field of view. note that with digital cameras, you can often use a larger (deeper) hood, since the sensor is smaller than 35mm film and is less likely to be obstructed by the hood.

also, lens hoods are excellent for protecting the elements from scratches and can even help save them if the lens is dropped.

 

[boBQuincy]

...note that with digital cameras, you can often use a larger (deeper) hood, since the sensor is smaller than 35mm film and is less likely to be obstructed by the hood...

Yep, I use a 24-105 hood with my Canon 10-22 on my 30D and get no vignetting at all.

 

[jann1033]

this almost borders on the lens hoods vs. filters debate
a lens hood does provide glare and haze reduction by reducing the direct light hitting the elements at oblique angles. often, hoods for zooms will have a 'flower' shaped end, instead of a round one. this is to maximise glare reduction, without the hood entering the field of view. note that with digital cameras, you can often use a larger (deeper) hood, since the sensor is smaller than 35mm film and is less likely to be obstructed by the hood.

also, lens hoods are excellent for protecting the elements from scratches and can even help save them if the lens is dropped.

so maybe to be PC i should have said it is "reported by some to protect the lens" rather than that it "protects it" a big "sorry" to the uv filter gang