When to use a lense hood?

[Wrench]

Yup, another noob question. When is the right time to use a lense hood? What effect do they have on the exposure and when will I see the best gains? Thx.

[SkipD]

I strongly suggest using a quality lens hood at all times. There are two definite advantages to doing so.

First, stray light from outside your subject area can be blocked by the hood, reducing flare and increasing contrast, color quality, etc.

The second reason I always use a lens hood is for physical protection of the lens. The hood will generally keep fingers off the front lens element, but it will also provide significant protection against crashes.

Example of crash protection - I dropped a Nikon F with a 28mm lens onto a sidewalk from about four feet while shooting the 1968 Grand Prix of Monaco. It landed on the lens hood and a corner of the body, crumpling the hood. The body sustained a minor ding, but the lens was absolutely unaffected. After replacing the lens hood, both the body and lens are in fine shape today without any repair work necessary (except for a routine cleaning or two of the body's shutter mechanism).

That said, I have never used a filter (UV or skylight) for "protection". I occasionally use a filter for special effect - polarizer or (for B&W film) colored filters. With over 40 years of photography under my belt, I have never scratched or otherwise damaged any of my lenses. All of my lenses have always worn lens hoods.

[blue_max]

It's about keeping unwanted light out of the lens, where it bounces around and competes with the light you do want. Using one will increase contrast, saturation etc. It is most effective when the sun or light source is within the sightline of the front of the lens.

You can use your hand to shade it, but it makes handling more difficult and you risk a picture of your hand!

Worth having in your kit bag, but not essential if you are taking other precautions (such as shading yourself behind a wall or tree etc).

Graham

[GeneMan88]

I use a lens hood just about all the time on my lenses. The only lens I don't do this all of the time is on my 70-200... The lens hood makes this lens really long and there are times when I just don't want to scare people. Use the lens hood all the time, I can't see any harm in it. There were probably a few times where it protected my lens from getting dinged/damaged from accidentally bumping into a solid wall or the like while I have the camera slung over my should. Again, I don't see any harm in using them...

[etaf]

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[Wrench]

Thanks for the input. A couple of my better lenses have come with hoods and I just wasn't sure when they were to be used. I leave them on all the time, just for protection but now I know what they do, I may be able to use the hood to take better photos. Thanks!

[blue_max]

Thanks for the input. A couple of my better lenses have come with hoods and I just wasn't sure when they were to be used. I leave them on all the time, just for protection but now I know what they do, I may be able to use the hood to take better photos. Thanks!

If you undestand why, then it makes you a better photographer. Just doing it because someone told you it was a good idea, won't. Sometimes if you know why, you may elect not to and know why you made the decision (bring attention to yourself/not have time to grab the moment/get shot etc).

Result.

Graham