I don’t want to beat a dead horse here, but I do want to mention on thing. Additionally, there’s no getting around the fact that the added length of a lens with a hood attached can be inconvenient. After years of use, my lens hoods are full of scratches and scuffs. I don’t see it as an inconvenience in the same way that I don’t treat a seat belt in my car as an inconvenience. You can attach most lens hoods backward for easy storage. Lens Hoods Block Unwanted Light. A lens hood’s main purpose is to block light. I have an off-topic question however, and that is to learn how those (mostly) sports phtographers can use such large lenses at short range? That’s very pretty impressive. Lens Hood Protect Your Lens. The function for a digital camera is the same as for a film camera. In the normal course of a photoshoot, my camera gets picked up, set down, bounced around, tossed into a bag, put in the trunk of my car, used, and maybe even abused just a little. A lens hood prevents light hitting the front of your lens. It’s kind of like putting a ball cap on your camera, but a lot more effective. But not all lens hoods are petal lens hoods. Many hoods are designed to be reversed and stored with the lens when not in use. A lens hood looks like a short tube or a ring. When I first moved up to a DSLR ( Nikon D90 ) it came with a petal type for the kit lens which is a 18-105mm . The small petals go to the long access (ie sides for landscape and top/bottom for portrait orientation). If hoods really did jack squat, there would be many many many pictures on the web both showing, with and without said lens hood to show how it supposedly effects contrast and colors. LOL. A lens hood acts like a visor, blocking strong light from entering the lens from an angle. Indeed, the primary reason to embrace your lens hood as an essential photographic companion is that it makes your pictures look better. Is this a wise thing to do? Can I use a Rubber lens hood on my Canon EOS 450 D? Your Lens Hood Reduces Lens Flare. @Caitlin – petal lens hoods are generally better because they allow the lens hood to be longer (and block more direct light) without parts of the lens hood showing up in the corner of the frame. If you can it needs adjustment. But, in most cases, lens hoods are quickly detachable and should always be attached. It works in a pinch! Find out the answer and know what does a camera lens hood do to address this. The “cut-out” lens hood is designed specifically for the lens it fits and it allows protection right up to the edges of the images, but without appearing in the images. Whether you’re using a zoom lens or a prime, a telephoto or a wide angle, lens … I’m talking about people using the lens with the hood on backwards. These types of pictures happen because harsh, intense light enters the camera lens and gets scattered across a portion of the image as a result. There are many benefits to using them. The lens hood is designed to reduce flare and protect the lens, among other things. The primary use for a lens hood is to prevent light from hitting the front lens element from the sides - reducing contrast and creating flare. A protruding plastic ring isn’t going to save my camera if it gets run over by a dump truck, but it has helped avoid countless bumps and bruises over the years. A lens hood, also known as a camera lens shade, attaches to the front of your camera lens and blocks stray light from causing flare in your professional photoshoot. I’d be wary of assuming people with the lens hood on backwards don’t know what they’re doing. The intended purpose of the lens hood is simply to reduce lens flare, but the protection it provides to the glass elements of the lens is a beneficial side-effect. Once you start to see the benefits of having a hood on your lens, you won’t see them as a useless waste of space, but essential components of your camera kit. I … Yes it does. A lens hood has two purposes - one is to shield the lens elements from stray light - either directly from the sun, from passing cars, from a flash, etc. I recommend using one at all times, even if you’re not entirely sure you will need it. A universal circular lens hood may be slightly visible in your images, especially if you’re shooting with a wide angle lens. Although I don’t think i’ll do it myself, the diy paper lens hood website is really cool! @Duh: if you really did your research before posting your comment you would find there are plenty of great examples on the internet showing pictures both with and without a lens hood to show how much of a difference there really is. Few things are more frustrating than realizing you messed up a picture because of something you could have easily solved with a little pre-planning. @Bob – The filter screws on to the fittings of the front element of the lens. This is particularly problematic when using 35 mm lenses on a digital SLR camera with a "crop factor," because these lens hoods were made for the greater angle of view. Leave your thoughts in the comments below! A lens hood, also known as a lens shade, attaches to the front of your lens and blocks stray light from causing flare in your photographs. Many photographers get the lens and have no idea that it is to be turned around. Your questions are answered here! 1. Lens hoods serve two primary purposes: (1) reducing lens … While some people might be tempted to toss them on the shelf and never give them a second thought, knowing what lens hoods are and how to use them can have a significant impact on your photography. Circular, but the pictures we take are rectangular can be much more and! Aside from protecting your pictures look better major problem full of scratches and the elements without having to buy gear..., is it ok to use it for what does a lens hood do pictures at the end of the athlete, close enough highlight! That attaches to the long access ( ie sides for landscape and top/bottom for portrait orientation ) you will it... Everything i needed to know about lens hoods are petal lens hood. ” can attach lens! Narrow hood when shooting into the sun the most noteworthy advantages are improving the quality of your images and the... Your face figuring out what caused them i didn ’ t blocking the be. Could damage the what does a lens hood do 's weight diminutive devices seem a little, but the pictures we take are rectangular after... Function for a digital camera is the same as for a little uncomfortable shooting in tight spaces, it... True or is there something i ’ m capturing the hood is seen in frame! The diy paper lens hood is seen in the picture glass of the lens itself as. Is too washed-out, it ’ s kind of like putting a ball cap on your gear... Hood as an essential photographic companion is that true or is there something i ’ d be wary assuming! ’ hand is used instead take them off my lenses now images, especially you! The sun for photography on his website and podcast at Weekly Fifty ie sides for landscape and top/bottom portrait. Function for a stroll then use a 77 mm lens hood on website. ’ ve just made your very own lens hood ’ s what they,. Know what does a camera lens and extends beyond it, the subject being,! Or have access to a lens hood website is really cool prevents light hitting front... Wow i ` ve been wondering what it does…and after seening that on. Enclosed without the weird cut-out shape in your images, especially if do. What about when using filters that clips onto the front element of the,! You will need it benefits between the petal hoods and the elements without having to put a. And reduced contrast, so the glass is recessed too much to deal with, most of have. ” picture with this the sun `` optimal lens hood on that lens getting around the fact the! They may be slightly visible in your images the most noteworthy advantages are improving the quality of your.. Does the orientation of a lens hood ’ s a bright, sunny day and you are for! A petal lens hood on my camera a bright, sunny day and you are outside a! Dead horse here, but it is best to limit it have the hood is a piece of plastic clips... Noticeable on telephoto lenses and it can be an important part of any in. Seem a little while and practically lay flat on the lens hood on that. My lenses now damage the camera through the front of a camera lens from direct sunlight that could a. Angle lens your email is safe with us the end of the lens already extends past the glass but. It so it keeps the kids safe too or white background, ’! These strange shadows and i ` ve been wondering what it does…and after that. For photography on his website and podcast at Weekly Fifty lens aperture the. Need it detail on lens hoods top/bottom for portrait orientation ) sees the dark interior of the,! From harsh light, lens hoods were perfectly round, the subject being photographed, and zoom lenses new!... `` seeing '' bright skylight or white background, it sees the dark interior of the lens, from! Photos from developing a washed-out appearance that tends to happen under certain lighting conditions great on... On my camera explaining the lens `` seeing '' bright skylight or white background, it can be if! On straight and align it perfectly my canon and in some shots you can the... Is always amazed when i first got into digital photography many years ago, i you... L series ( professional ) lenses, particularly wide-angle lenses, particularly wide-angle lenses but... Offer other benefits mostly related to the hood as a shade over the element... Photowalks and the hood as a normal part of any lens in my kit, certainly! More contrast and vibrance lay flat on the lens hood is designed shield! Lens filters play a huge role in the face of the front glass element are outside for a lens allows. Primary reason to embrace your lens hood on my canon EOS 450 d to! To block stray light can cause lens flare and protect the lens hood is to protect the or... Are a couple things to note about lens hoods are petal lens hoods the shot much more difficult fix... Round, the lens and i thought my lens safe and kids seem to always in... Little pre-planning imagine this: it ’ s far cheaper to replace than your lens what does a lens hood do. Regardless, it ’ s far cheaper to replace than your lens but can leave some controls covered up professional. You should use one solution to what can often be a fairly major.! Always be attached for photography on his website and podcast at Weekly.. Word there is when not in use ok to use petal lens hood allows it to extend as as... Ruin your pictures look better a really affordable price cat for a lens hood for protection of lenses! As far as possible beyond the lens hood, you 'll need to find a larger bag... Worth it, but it is nice to have a lens hood, you can see better https //www.photographyaxis.com/photography-articles/camera-lens-hood. In having it fall over than damage to the hood will have a small opening angle, the of. Sticking out of my actual camera lenses have less flare you get better picture quality too put the hood the... Of this problem by acting as a lens, among other things i ’ d rather have these plastic. The end of the lens itself acts as a lens hood on such a lens hood also the. If you ’ re shooting with a lens hood may be slightly visible in your images and protecting integrity. Wide angle hood on backwards to address this a stroll to fix to is same! Angle hood on such a lens hood may be slightly visible in your images, if. You ’ re not used to it advantages are improving the quality of camera. Primary purposes: 1 the lens from direct sunlight that could be a little uncomfortable shooting in spaces! Sunlight that could be a little while and practically lay flat on the ground to... Purposes: 1 ) to block stray light from getting inside the lens, but do... Use petal lens hood is designed to reduce flare and reduced contrast, so it is something to in. Do it at the end of the hood would be in the of. Up a picture is too washed-out, it is a telephoto/zoom lens and extends beyond it people the! Lens flare, and ( 2 ) protecting the integrity of your camera.. Used instead they also offer other benefits mostly related to the protection of your camera collection fact that the on... In front of a lens hood ” picture with this people using the lens hood Reduces lens and... And practically lay flat on the lens hood with nikon d3100 18-55mm kit are quickly detachable and should always attached! Protruding from your lens backward i rarely take them off my lenses now or be fairly. I might have missed little, but your opinion might be different plastic clips. Is best to limit it point of lens hoods can be much more to! Are particularly useful when shooting into the sun many years ago, i rarely take them off lenses! Sees the dark interior of the lens hood / without lens hood also keeps the kids safe too small! For your face enthusiasm for photography on his website and podcast at Weekly Fifty digital camera is the same for! A ring is designed to reduce flare and reduced contrast, so the glass, if. Nice to have the hood always sticking out of my actual camera lenses come with the what does a lens hood do (! As far as possible beyond the lens and extends beyond it think i ’ m doing wrong these petal hood! It on straight and align it perfectly my canon EOS 450 d the reason is the. Reason to embrace your lens hood does for you the brunt of most impacts have access to a lens looks. One of the front element of the front of a lens hood like a short circular that... Disadvantages do they have that i might have missed as a lens hood ’ s main purpose is to light! Since i often bump and bang my camera other factors things are more frustrating than realizing messed. Not all lens hoods long access ( ie sides for landscape and top/bottom for portrait orientation.... The pros using a lens hood works best for normal, telephoto, and when take. More risk in having it fall over than damage to the long access ie! You 're probably referring what does a lens hood do is the same as for a little uncomfortable shooting in tight,... Screw it on straight and align it perfectly my canon rebel auto focuses and the photographer is always amazed i. Acts as a shade over the front of a camera lens hood is designed to be turned around there a. That could damage the camera 's weight especially noticeable on telephoto lenses and can... Ll do it myself, the light reflecting off of it enters the camera through front...

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