When do we use a lens hood?

xander5480 · 19th March 2009

Hi everyone.
I just wanna ask when do we use a lens hood? Or can i just attached to it every time i use the lens.

LexLim · 19th March 2009

Originally Posted by xander5480

Hi everyone.
I just wanna ask when do we use a lens hood? Or can i just attached to it every time i use the lens.

Hi-5! we have the same equipments! Er, i leave my lens hood on 100% of the time!

erictan8888 · 19th March 2009

when you want to reduce flare...
and stray lights coming into your lens....

jlkk76 · 19th March 2009

Originally Posted by erictan8888

when you want to reduce flare...
and stray lights coming into your lens....

yup...

Shin Howard · 19th March 2009

Other than that, it may protect the filter or the lens element when you accidentally bump into some stuff.

xander5480 · 19th March 2009

but let say if there are no stray lights coming into my lens, if i still use the hood, will the hood affect the photo?

calebk · 19th March 2009

Originally Posted by xander5480

but let say if there are no stray lights coming into my lens, if i still use the hood, will the hood affect the photo?

Nope.

.Hack · 19th March 2009

Just bring it along, you may not know when you need it.
Anyway, most lens hood are able to fit onto your lens in a reverse way.

Churchwolf · 19th March 2009

Originally Posted by Shin Howard

Other than that, it may protect the filter or the lens element when you accidentally bump into some stuff.

That's exacly why I use it too. As a simple profylactic measure. It stops you from accidentally touching the front of the lens and such. These days the coatings on most lenses are good enough to eliminate flare in all but the most difficult lighting conditions, but the hood will still protect the front element very well.

xander5480 · 19th March 2009

Originally Posted by calebk

Nope.

ok cool. thanks everyone.

catchlights · 19th March 2009

Originally Posted by xander5480

but let say if there are no stray lights coming into my lens, if i still use the hood, will the hood affect the photo?

nope,

my lenshood is always on, day or night, outdoor or studio, the only time I take out is when the hood is getting in the way if I shooting in a tight confine space or with some filters, or I keep my camera into the bag.

Limsgp · 19th March 2009

You can just leave it on 100%.

Worst case.. no effect on pictures (unless you used the telephoto lens hood on the wide lens, or is trying some special flare effects). Other cases, possible improvement to picture quality by reducing undesirable effects like flare.

Originally Posted by xander5480

but let say if there are no stray lights coming into my lens, if i still use the hood, will the hood affect the photo?

Daedalus Trent · 19th March 2009

Besides, with the lens hood on, i can dump my lens into my bag without its lens cap on. Allows to you change lenses significantly faster imho

ahbian · 19th March 2009

I look at it this way, besides taking up space in your bag, there is bascially nothing detrimental a hood can do you your pictures; unless of course you have an incompatible hood, then you might get vignetting.

dision · 19th March 2009

Last yr some sweaty guy bumped into my 70-300 during an outdoor event. From that horrible moment onwards the hood stays on 24/7.

Fotophilic · 19th March 2009

Originally Posted by xander5480

but let say if there are no stray lights coming into my lens, if i still use the hood, will the hood affect the photo?

the hood might block ur built-in-flash when it fires. the result may be shadows appearing on the bottom of ur picture, especially if u are shooting at the widest end. i am not sure if that will be the case for ur 18-55, since it is quite small.

An example from a victim on flickr. (from member neildettwiler)

as a general rule, use it when needed. just dump in ur camera bag. use it as and when u see fit.

Akatsuki · 19th March 2009

i use the lens hood more for protection against accidental bump... it has prove it's worth a few times! recently being the I.T show

zac08 · 19th March 2009

Actually, these days, I tend to be more lazy and due to space constraints... I tend to keep the hood at home unless I anticipate flare issues...

.Hack · 19th March 2009

Originally Posted by dision

Last yr some sweaty guy bumped into my 70-300 during an outdoor event. From that horrible moment onwards the hood stays on 24/7.

Understand how you feel.

Some people just walk without looking.

giantcanopy · 19th March 2009

I dun even bring my hoods out of my Hoods Cabinet. The only time i use them
was when they are inbuilt like my 16mm FE ...

Not overuling the importance of them, they can improve contrast and many other
advantages outlined as above, but for me the use of filters can be pretty inconvenient.
Usually i will just improvise with my hands ..

Ryan

19th March 2009	#1
xander5480 Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Yishun Posts: 188	When do we use a lens hood? Hi everyone. I just wanna ask when do we use a lens hood? Or can i just attached to it every time i use the lens. __________________ raphael xander my flickr

19th March 2009	#3
erictan8888 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Singapore Posts: 2,225	Re: When do we use a lens hood? when you want to reduce flare... and stray lights coming into your lens.... __________________ Hope to learn from everyone here.... http://s28.photobucket.com/albums/c229/TanEric/

19th March 2009	#5
Shin Howard Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: West Region Posts: 920	Re: When do we use a lens hood? Other than that, it may protect the filter or the lens element when you accidentally bump into some stuff. __________________ I'm looking at a different perpective of life.

19th March 2009	#6
xander5480 Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Yishun Posts: 188	Re: When do we use a lens hood? but let say if there are no stray lights coming into my lens, if i still use the hood, will the hood affect the photo? __________________ raphael xander my flickr

19th March 2009	#8
.Hack Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 673	Re: When do we use a lens hood? Just bring it along, you may not know when you need it. Anyway, most lens hood are able to fit onto your lens in a reverse way. __________________ \| Nikon D90 \| 17-50 f2.8 \| 80-200 f2.8 \| 50 f1.8 \| 90 f2.8 \| flickr

19th March 2009	#13
Daedalus Trent Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Singapore, east-ish Posts: 2,146	Re: When do we use a lens hood? Besides, with the lens hood on, i can dump my lens into my bag without its lens cap on. Allows to you change lenses significantly faster imho

19th March 2009	#14
ahbian Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 1,637	Re: When do we use a lens hood? I look at it this way, besides taking up space in your bag, there is bascially nothing detrimental a hood can do you your pictures; unless of course you have an incompatible hood, then you might get vignetting. __________________ myflickr

19th March 2009	#15
dision Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 102	Re: When do we use a lens hood? Last yr some sweaty guy bumped into my 70-300 during an outdoor event. From that horrible moment onwards the hood stays on 24/7.

19th March 2009	#17
Akatsuki Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Serangoon Posts: 750	Re: When do we use a lens hood? i use the lens hood more for protection against accidental bump... it has prove it's worth a few times! recently being the I.T show __________________ Alan - Nostalgia Photography Some Primes, Some Zooms, Some Ls

19th March 2009	#18
zac08 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: East Posts: 10,966	Re: When do we use a lens hood? Actually, these days, I tend to be more lazy and due to space constraints... I tend to keep the hood at home unless I anticipate flare issues... __________________ Michael Lim My Flickr Site APAD 2009

19th March 2009	#20
giantcanopy Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Northerner Posts: 3,976	Re: When do we use a lens hood? I dun even bring my hoods out of my Hoods Cabinet. The only time i use them was when they are inbuilt like my 16mm FE ... Not overuling the importance of them, they can improve contrast and many other advantages outlined as above, but for me the use of filters can be pretty inconvenient. Usually i will just improvise with my hands .. Ryan __________________ Kaleidoscopy & Singapore Shave! Shaving Jedi Last edited by giantcanopy; 19th March 2009 at 11:57 AM.