Digital Waterproof Camera Source

Lens Hood

Posted on Aug 30, 2010 under Disposable Underwater Cameras | No Comment

Lens Hood

What type of Lens hood should I buy?

I want to buy a lens hood for my Canon 40D. I saw 2 different kinds on Ebay. There is the $30 Canon EW-78BII lens hood or the cheap $10 no name ones. Is it okay to buy the cheap one or should I stick with the Canon lens hood?

A lens hood goes on the front of the lens and has nothing to do with the camera body.

There are two kinds of lens hoods first of all, ones that screw into the thread at the front of the lens and those that connect in a bayonet mount. The latter these day tend to be the more common.

The bayonet ones are handy in that they clip on quickly but they also have the disadvantage of loosening up in time to the point where they may not longer seat themselves securely. The screw based ones take time to mount since you have to screw them on. However if you happen to be using filters that are larger than the bayonet mount you're forced to use the screw on type. They also have an advantage when you‘re using a polarizer, that filter has to be turned to get the maximum effect and this is something you can’t do when it’s inside a bayonet mount lens hood.

They also come in two materials, rubber and plastic. The plastic has the advantage of being rigid and thus offering a little protection to the lens, the rubber ones have the advantage of being collapsible and are easier to store in your camera bag.

Aside from selecting a hood that fits either the screw or the bayonet of the lens you want to use it on, you MUST ensure that it's designed for that lens angle of view. If you place a typical telephoto lens hood on a wide angle lens you'll be taking pictures through a dark tunnel. If you place a hood designed for a wide angle lens on a telephoto, you achieve nothing, the hood will not prevent flare. So when you're selecting a lens hood make sure it's designed for the type of lens you have.

Now to answer your question, it makes no difference what brand of lens hood you buy, there is no better or worse lens hood and often the brand name ones like Canon or Nikon are extortionately expensive without offering any better materials or designs. The only real advantage to selecting the Canon hood is that you know right from the start that it's designed for that particular lens which is helpful if you can't be sure of the others that are available. There is no other advantage.

So when it comes to lens hoods, make sure it’s the right diameter, make sure it’s a screw or bayonet type depending on what you need, and make sure it’s designed for the lens you are using it with. Having done this, I’d say buy on price rather than brand.

I hope that helps a little.

Sony - ALC-SH0016 Lens Hood $24.95 Lens hood for Alpha SAL24105 lens.

Sony - ALC-SH0011 Lens Hood $17.95 Lens hood for Alpha SAL50F14 lens.

Sony - ALC-SH0008 Lens Hood $24.95 Lens hood for Alpha SAL18200 lens.

Sony - ALC-SH0009 Lens Hood $24.95 Lens hood for Alpha SAL1118 lens.

67mm Lens Hood $19.95 Sakar 67mm Lens Hood

LENS HOOD FOR SAL85F14Z $122.99 LENS HOOD FOR SAL85F14Z

LENS HOOD FOR SAL1635Z $122.99 LENS HOOD FOR SAL1635Z

LENS HOOD FOR SAL70400G $92.99 LENS HOOD FOR SAL70400G

CANON LENS HOOD $31.99 CANON LENS HOOD

HAKUBA 67MM LENS HOOD $4.99 HAKUBA 67MM LENS HOOD

ET64 II Lens Hood $28 ET64 II Lens Hood

Sony - ALCSH102 Lens Hood $22.95 Sony - ALCSH102 Lens Hood

Sony - ALCSH104 Lens Hood $21.95 Sony - ALCSH104 Lens Hood

Sony - ALC-SH105 Lens Hood $22.95 Sony - ALC-SH105 Lens Hood

Nikon - HB-34 Lens Hood $12.99 Nikon HB-34 Lens Hood

NIKON LENS HOOD HN-CP16 $9.95 NIKON LENS HOOD HN-CP16

Rubber Lens Hood 46mm $21.89 Rubber Lens Hood 46mm

Bower 67mm Lens Hood $6.95 Bower 67mm Lens Hood

Bower 62mm Lens Hood $5.95 Bower 62mm Lens Hood

Bower 58mm Lens Hood $5.95 Bower 58mm Lens Hood

Photo Tip - What is a lens hood, why do we use it?

What type of lens hood should I use?

I recently purchased a Nikon d40 and have been browsing around for lens hoods. I saw some petal shaped and some wide angled ones. Is there a difference between different shapes of hoods? If so, how do they affect your photograhs?

Simply get the hood that is made for your particular lens. You then know there will be no vignetting or fitment problems.

I ALWAYS use a hood. Even the best lens and / or filter can pick up some light under certain conditions that can cause flare or washed out photos. A lens hood is a cheap and easy way to improve your photos in many conditions.

steve