Lens hoods with CPL cut out openings

[msowsun]

I read somewhere that both Nikon and Pentax have some lens hoods with cut out openings so that you can use your fingers to rotate a CPL with the hood attached.

I couldn't find any photos of these Nikon or Pentax hoods, but I decided to hack a cheap third party EW-78B for my 15-85. It now has a fairly large hole in the bottom, but it has to be better than not using a hood at all......


http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y17/msowsun/photo%20stuff/Photo1/IMG_3025_800.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y17/msowsun/photo%20stuff/Photo1/IMG_3026_800.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y17/msowsun/photo%20stuff/Photo1/IMG_3030_800.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y17/msowsun/photo%20stuff/Photo1/IMG_3035_800.jpg

[Todd Lambert]

Ha... nice. Did you have to make the hole that big? I'd think you only need a small rectangle at the end?

How did you cut the hole, Dremel?

[msowsun]

Ha... nice. Did you have to make the hole that big? I'd think you only need a small rectangle at the end?

How did you cut the hole, Dremel?


Yes, I used a Dremel with a fine tooth rotary saw blade set at low speed so I wouldn't melt the plastic.

I've got big fingers and also found I needed a little extra room because the filter is not all that easy to turn with only one finger.
How big is the hole on a Nikon or Pentax? Anyone know?

[Todd Lambert]

Gotcha... yeah, that'd be me too... I have sausages for fingers. ;-)

[msowsun]

I found a reference to the Pentax 18-55 hood on DPreview.....

http://www.dpreview.com/lensreviews/pentax_18-55_3p5-5p6_p15/page2.asp

http://a.img-dpreview.com/lensreviews/pentax_18-55_3p5-5p6_p15/Images/hood2-001.jpg

The hood also features a slide-out ‘window’ for the easy operation of polarising filters. Just take care not to lose it!

Credit where credit is due to Pentax here, this hood design puts all of the other manufacturers to shame, and is genuinely effective at helping to minimise flare.

[Bob_A]

Clever idea.

I'd really like to see Canon and Nikon have an optional hood where you can just rotate a thumb-wheel on the barrel of the hood to rotate the filter inside. For your third image imagine a small rubber wheel inside the hood contacting the top of the filter and a larger wheel protruding outside of the hood where you have your cut-out. A smart Engineer would devise a way to adjust the pressure on both sides to ensure that it rotates smoothly.

[Bob_A]

I found a reference to the Pentax 18-55 hood on DPreview.....

http://www.dpreview.com/lensreviews/pentax_18-55_3p5-5p6_p15/page2.asp

http://a.img-dpreview.com/lensreviews/pentax_18-55_3p5-5p6_p15/Images/hood2-001.jpg

I like the "slide-out window", but it's too bad it doesn't just slide into the inside of the hood (pop it in slightly at one end then slide it ... then slide it back to reset it in the hole).

[Daniel W.]

Clever idea.

I'd really like to see Canon and Nikon have an optional hood where you can just rotate a thumb-wheel on the barrel of the hood to rotate the filter inside. For your third image imagine a small rubber wheel inside the hood contacting the top of the filter and a larger wheel protruding outside of the hood where you have your cut-out. A smart Engineer would devise a way to adjust the pressure on both sides to ensure that it rotates smoothly.


Bob, you mean like this?
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/447639-REG/Tokina_BH725_BH725_Lens_Hood.html

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/images/largeimages/447639.jpg

[Bob_A]

Bob, you mean like this?
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/447639-REG/Tokina_BH725_BH725_Lens_Hood.html

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/images/largeimages/447639.jpg

Exactly like that. Nuts! There goes my chance to retire early :lol:

[alduin]

I've seen some Olympus hoods that have a sliding window in them just for that purpose, too.

[crn3371]

Great idea. I've always been tempted but could never bring myself to try it on the factory hood. I would imagine it would work just fine in landscape mode but that you would have to be careful when using it in portrait mode. I wish that the mfgs. would do something about this. Either the Tokina thumbwheel or the rotating ring like the Tamron 200-500.

[tvphotog]

But aren't you defeating the purpose of the hood by having the cutout openings through which glare might enter? I like the B&H ones, but it's not clear to me if they fit various Canon lenses.

[Jon]

Well, if it's between a lens hood with cutouts to adjust the filter or no lens hood at all, which would you prefer? I have long fingers so I can even actually reach the polarizer on my 100-400 with the hood on, but even then my hand masks part of the picture while I'm trying to adjust the filter.

[msowsun]

But aren't you defeating the purpose of the hood by having the cutout openings through which glare might enter? I like the B&H ones.

OK, what is your method for using a CPL?

I find it impossible to use a CPL with a hood on. (big short fingers) One small hole near the bottom has to be better than using no hood at all. (which I have been doing until now)

[H20boy]

I did the same to my old 70-200 hood, also an aftermarket one, couldn't bring myself to cut the original one. Great minds...and all that.

http://matt.zenfolio.com/img/v3/p317647856-4.jpg