a reconsideration of lens hoods

[Yisehaq]

Just one thing to add, lens hoods make you look more pro since long lenses either intimidate or impress people.
In my case, these kind of impressions make me more nereous thinking peoples expectation will be higher.
Anyways, if you want to MAKE cheap lens hoods on your own. check this out

http://www.lenshoods.co.uk

[JAS_Photo]

I just read that article and it's cool and all but a)no self-respecting photographer is going to put a paper hood on his 7000$ lens and b) I have not seen a Nikon lens that did not come with a lens hood and c) a quick perusual of eBay and I see lens hoods are anywhere from about 10$ to 40$. Not exactly bank breaking prices.

[Yisehaq]

Okay raiven points well taken.
But its very different where I live in. No e-commerce and no one with 7000$ lens I know of around here.

But again I cannot yet blame my bad pictures for the paper lens hood as I haven't tried it. but appreciated that I can get a solution for my lens hood woes.

[Marko]

You can also use your hand to shield the lens from stray light in a pinch...but getting a real lens hood is highly recommended.

[F8&Bthere]

I just read that article and it's cool and all but a)no self-respecting photographer is going to put a paper hood on his 7000$ lens and b) I have not seen a Nikon lens that did not come with a lens hood and c) a quick perusual of eBay and I see lens hoods are anywhere from about 10$ to 40$. Not exactly bank breaking prices.

lol, yes this may be getting a bit off topic, but it's curious how you see these sites, posts, or blogs with the MacGuyvers of photography, like how to make a Gary Fong Lightsphere out of an empty margarine tub, etc. when most of the accessories they have created are in the under $30 category from many (3rd party) sources anyway. And juxtapose that against the self-professed newbies on other popular photo forums posting: should I buy the 300/2.8 lens or upgrade to the D700?

I also find the hoods clumsy at times, and I understand what you mean Jabber about their possible down-side for street photography. I also believe in the protection they offer, so I guess for me it's another one of those situational choices we have to make. I do have one retractable rubber hood that threads into the filter threads of yours lens. I guess that makes it a little more portable, and only extends the look the lens when it needs to be in use. And a few of my lenses also have built in telescopic hoods which is really cool. The worst is my Nikon 85/1.8 which comes with a solid metal, not-petal type, THREADED hood. That one drives me nuts as there's almost nowhere I can put it without it potentially scratching the lens (body, not glass) when it's in my bag. Talk about clunky.

[scorpio_e]

Just one thing to add, lens hoods make you look more pro since long lenses either intimidate or impress people.
In my case, these kind of impressions make me more nereous thinking peoples expectation will be higher.
Anyways, if you want to MAKE cheap lens hoods on your own. check this out

http://www.lenshoods.co.uk

I love DIY. Very interesting.
Thanks for sharing !!!

[epatsellis]

[QUOTE=F8&Bthere;28932And a few of my lenses also have built in telescopic hoods which is really cool. The worst is my Nikon 85/1.8 which comes with a solid metal, not-petal type, THREADED hood. That one drives me nuts as there's almost nowhere I can put it without it potentially scratching the lens (body, not glass) when it's in my bag. Talk about clunky.[/QUOTE]

All of the metal Nikkor lens hoods I have can be reversed on the lens and clipped into the front threads.

[F8&Bthere]

All of the metal Nikkor lens hoods I have can be reversed on the lens and clipped into the front threads.

Not this one, unfortunately, it actually threads into the filter threads so when reversed there is nothing on the hood or the lens that can grab it or hold it in place.

[burntpixel]

Depends on what your shooting or it does for me anyway.

If I'm shooting landscapes I can't use a lens hood. No way the EW-83E works on the following;
EF-S 10-22
Hoya CP
Cokin Z-PRO Holder
Singhray 4x6 GND

However, my 24-70 L f/2.8 and 70-200 L f /2.8 IS are used most of the time with respective hoods.

[Todd5DII]

If you use polarizers (or any other screw on) they are a pain

If you use Grad ND they are a non-starter

I find fixing flare pretty easy since I always carry a wide brim hat and can use that if I need to.

The one area where I do wish I had one when I dont is when there is lite mist, rain, or snow, a good hood will keep the front element dry and allow a lot more shooting vs. wiping.

So my rule is, keep it in my larger utility pack, and if conditions warrant attach, else leave it in the utility pack. This assumes you arent hiking any distance, else I just add it on (if I think I will need) and deal with the irritation)

I often thought a collapsable telscopic hood would be awesome to avoid or at least mitigate the pitfalls (push it in when not needed, pull out when nessecar) but the mfg's dont seem to be interested in
useability on these things.

Todd