MPE-65 Lens Hood & Filter?

[Triptoph]

I'm considering getting a MPE-65, and I see that there is a lens hood for it. Does anyone have experience with this; Is the lens hood beneficial or does it get in the way at some magnifications?

Also, can you use both the lens good and a filter at the same time? I ask just because this is such an unusual lens, and the hood looks fairly unusual as well.

Hood pic from B&H:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/images/items/239657.jpg
Any opinions on whether this are useful for this lens? I usually use good quality UV filters for protection on other lenses.

hope its okay to post here, this section seems more specialized and therefore relevant than the EF/EF-S lens section I thought.

[LordV]

Tony- think very few shooters use this or a filter with the MPE-65. Think the hood can be useful with the MT-24 to prevent shooting flash straight into the lens. Although a few places show these apparently very few have them in stock.
Brian V.

[alliec]

I believe John (dalantech) has used one of these so it might be worth contacting him.

[Triptoph]

Thanks guys, I'll try him.

[Dalantech]

I'm getting better contrast in my photos now that I've started using it, and I think that the light meter in the 40D is a little more accurate with it -probably stops a lot of reflected light from getting back into the lens.

[Triptoph]

Thanks John. Do you use a filter as well, or is this not possible with the hood on?

[John_B]

Triptoph,
I use just a filter B+W 010 f-pro just to protect the lens. When shooting at 5x you get so close to the subject you might accidentally touch the lens (I have a few times). :)

[pturton]

Since the Lens Hood for MP-E65 was out of stock when I purchased my lens, I made my own lens hood using an old 58-49mm step down ring, a plastic pipe end cover, a piece of black anodized aluminium tube from a broken lens, some 5 minute epoxy and some balck exhaust manifold paint. It looks bad enough that no one would steal it but works well at protecting the front element and minimizing light causing flare from the MT-24.

Total cost was just my time since I had everything in my workshop. To purchase this From B&H would cost me $37.95 + 24% (exchange) + 13% (taxes) = $53.17 CDN plus shipping which would be about a dollar if I included this item with my lens. But to now purchase this from a popular Canadian internet retailer could cost me $69.84 + $10.00 (shipping) + 13% tax = $90.22 CDN.

[Triptoph]

Nice one! I have no appropriate step-down rings though and no time to do that. I like the idea of making it look less valuable than it is too.

[Skonk]

I'm tempted to make one myself, perhaps using an old UV filter (minus the glass) as a base for it.

[Lester Wareham]

Yes I use the hood with the twin flash but to be honest it does not seem to do much - some tests I did here.

http://www.zen20934.zen.co.uk/photography/Macro_Equipment.htm#The%20Hood%20available%20for%2 0use%20with%20the%20MP-E%2065mm