Lens Hood

[robbykh]

Gents,

Let me start by saying that I'm in diapers in the DSLR world. I am taking the time to read as much as time allows me to learn to shoot one day in M mode. I am taking one step at a time.

Excuse the ignorance but is a Lens Hood for?

My current setup is Canon Rebel T1i - EFS 18-55mm - EFS 55-250mm - Speedlite 270EX - Speelite 430EXII.

I also have another question, for what I have been reading, I know that if I'm shooting indoors at night or in poor lighting I should increase my ISO to about 800. The question I have isn't that a little high even if I'm using a flash?, I have two flashes by the way.

[JWright]

A lens hood blocks extraneous light from entering the lens at an angle, thus preventing flare.

[sapearl]

In addition to blocking harsh light coming in at an angle which will diminish apparent image sharpness, saturation and contrast, it will also act as a great "shock absorber" should you run the lens into something.

Also, think of a baseball player on the field, in the bright mid day sun. Notice how they like to bend the brims of their ball hats into a narrow "snoot" over their eyes, plunging that part of their face into partial shadow? They're creating a FACIAL LENSHOOD. It blocks the glare from their eyes, so they can have a sharper, clearer, better view of that incoming fly ball. Same difference. And welcome to POTN Robb. - Stu

[TheBigDog]

It can also be used as a method of lens protection, along with filters. Lens hoods, however, do not involve potentially degrading your image as some filters can do.

As for your other question, it really does depend on what you are shooting. But, if you are going to use the existing light chances are you will need to get the ISO to 800 or even 1600 to produce a usable image. Yes you can use your flashes, in that case you can turn the ISO back up to 100. But keep in mind that flashes do not help you after so much distance...

[bps]

I never shoot without a lens hood. Indispensable in my opinion...

Bryan

[robbykh]

Under what conditions should I use a lens hood?

Should I only use the lens hood in my EFS 55-250mm IS ? or Can I use it in both of my lenses?

Sorry guys, I feel kind of dum asking these questions.

[Erik_L]

Under what conditions should I use a lens hood?

Should I only use the lens hood in my EFS 55-250mm IS ? or Can I use it in both of my lenses?

Sorry guys, I feel kind of dum asking these questions.

All conditions - :). why not?

if the hood fits, use it. note that on some lenses, a particular hood may fit but it may cause vignetting or not completely block glare. if the lens comes with a hood, use that hood.

[robbykh]

I just saw a lens hood in ebay for ten bucks. Does that sounds about right?

See below.

http://cgi.ebay.com/58mm-Flower-Lens-Hood-for-Canon-18-55mm-f-3-5-5-6-IS_W0QQitemZ160397117789QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLens_Ac cessories?hash=item255869c95d

[nuffi]

Under what conditions should I use a lens hood?

Should I only use the lens hood in my EFS 55-250mm IS ? or Can I use it in both of my lenses?

Sorry guys, I feel kind of dum asking these questions.

Don't feel one bit self conscious or dumb. At one time, everyone here didn't know the answer to the questions you ask.

And we're here to help :-)



Each lens hood belongs to a particular lens. If they have the same diameter it might fit another lens but you will have to make sure that it doesn't obscure some of what you're photographing.

Putting a lens hood designed for a 50mm lens on a 24mm lens would mean that the edges of the shot would see the hood. (I hope you follow me there...)

Anyways, easiest way is to take some shots and see how it works out. :-)

[robbykh]

Thanks Gents & Gals,

They are selling on Ebay an snap on lens hood and a UV lens filter that fits my lens.
What is a UV filter for?

http://cgi.ebay.com/58mm-UV-Lens-Filter-Cap-Hood-for-Canon-EOS-18-55mm-Lens_W0QQitemZ280455045184QQcategoryZ15219QQcmdZVi ewItemQQ_trksidZp4340.m263QQ_trkparmsZalgo%3DSIC%2 6its%3DI%252BC%26itu%3DUCI%252BIA%252BUA%252BFICS% 252BUFI%252BDDSIC%26otn%3D5%26ps%3D63

[msowsun]

You should not use a "generic"petal type hood for your 18-55 lens. These types of hoods just screw into your front filter threads. The problems is the 18-55 has a front lens element that rotates when you focus. This will cause the "petals" to move and be in the wrong position with wide angle photos.

This type is MUCH better. It is a copy of the original Canon EW-60 hood. http://cgi.ebay.ca/Lens-Hood-fr-Canon-18-55-28-80mm-f-3-5-5-6-EW-60C-EW60C_W0QQitemZ180330218676QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLens _Accessories?hash=item29fc84c4b4

http://imgs.inkfrog.com/pix/yespainting/EW-60C2.jpg

[itzcryptic]

I almost always use a hood, except when shooting macro. It can block the flash if you have it on-camera as well (but you should try not to have it on-camera anyway).

[xarqi]

What is a UV filter for?


Not much, and a cheap one will do more harm than good.

Where a neutral filter (such as a UV) can be handy is when working in a very harsh environment, where it can protect the front lens element from, for example, flying sand.

As far as actually using it for the purpose for which it was designed, filtering out UV, there is no need, since this is already filtered out by coatings on your sensor.

[sapearl]

They were extremely useful back in film days, filtering out the UV somewhat from light and improving image quality. This is no longer the case with digital. Either use a high quality filter or none at all.

A $10 filter will just degrade your images as it has little or no multicoating at all, and will just be a waste of money. The (expensive) high quality coatings minimize and eliminate much reflection, glare and flare. They really show their abilities under extreme lighting conditions.


Thanks Gents & Gals,

They are selling on Ebay an snap on lens hood and a UV lens filter that fits my lens.
What is a UV filter for?

http://cgi.ebay.com/58mm-UV-Lens-Filter-Cap-Hood-for-Canon-EOS-18-55mm-Lens_W0QQitemZ280455045184QQcategoryZ15219QQcmdZVi ewItemQQ_trksidZp4340.m263QQ_trkparmsZalgo%3DSIC%2 6its%3DI%252BC%26itu%3DUCI%252BIA%252BUA%252BFICS% 252BUFI%252BDDSIC%26otn%3D5%26ps%3D63

[robbykh]

Thanks msowsun,

I should use one of these in both of my lenses.??

[guntoter]

Thanks Gents & Gals,

They are selling on Ebay an snap on lens hood and a UV lens filter that fits my lens.
What is a UV filter for?



A word of caution. I have bought some of the cheap hoods, and some of them have a tendency to pop off the lens with the least pressure. I did this on my 85m f1.8, and it is embarrassing to have a hood hit the floor right in the middle of a wedding or other occassion where silence is better.
I had to buy a more expensive hood for that lens, and happy trails after that.
If you get a cheap one, see how solidly it fits on the lens. Try brushing it from the side and see if it pops off easily. The one I had was a total nuisence. Even if I wasn't at an important event, it was just a lot of trouble having it pop off the lens all the time.

[msowsun]

Thanks msowsun,

I should use one of these in both of my lenses.??

Yes, but you will need a copy of the ET-60 for your 55-250: http://cgi.ebay.ca/ET60-Lens-Hood-for-Canon-Rebel-T1i-Xsi-Xti-XT-Xs-55-250_W0QQitemZ390142237067QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLens_A ccessories?hash=item5ad64a198b


http://i17.ebayimg.com/06/i/001/42/8d/662a_35.JPG

[msowsun]

A word of caution. I have bought some of the cheap hoods, and some of them have a tendency to pop off the lens with the least pressure. I did this on my 85m f1.8, and it is embarrassing to have a hood hit the floor right in the middle of a wedding or other occassion where silence is better.
I had to buy a more expensive hood for that lens, and happy trails after that.
If you get a cheap one, see how solidly it fits on the lens. Try brushing it from the side and see if it pops off easily. The one I had was a total nuisence. Even if I wasn't at an important event, it was just a lot of trouble having it pop off the lens all the time.

The 85mm 1.8 uses a clip on style hood. Even the expensive original Canon ET-65 clip-on hood can pop off.

Most canon hoods now use a "Bayonet" style mount, that twist on and lock. I have had a few of these cheap ebay bayonet mount hoods, and if anything, they tend to fit more securely, and can sometimes be a little difficult to install. As a result they will never come off accidentally.

[msowsun]

Here is a close-up of the bayonet mounting flanges on a 18-55 and 55-250 lens. As in the 18-55, the front of the 55-250 lens also rotates when focusing, so a petal style hood is pretty useless.

18-55 bayonet mount
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y17/msowsun/photo%20stuff/Photo2/_1-1.jpg

55-250 bayonet mount
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y17/msowsun/photo%20stuff/Photo2/_55-250mm-is.jpg

[rral22]

A lens hood will provide real protection for you lenses, and will only improve the image quality. A filter will provide some protection from some things, and will only degrade image quality, sometimes not much, but UV filters do not ever improve image quality.

Ever shade your eyes with your hand to see better in bright light? That's what a hood does. Use a hood all the time, if you can, on all your lenses - it is the cheapest way to "improve" the quality of your pictures. The next cheapest way to improve your lenses is to use a tripod.

[guntoter]

The 85mm 1.8 uses a clip on style hood. Even the expensive original Canon ET-65 clip-on hood can pop off.

Most canon hoods now use a "Bayonet" style mount, that twist on and lock. I have had a few of these cheap ebay bayonet mount hoods, and if anything, they tend to fit more securely, and can sometimes be a little difficult to install. As a result they will never come off accidentally.

Even in the clip-on styles there are different quality hoods. The newer and more expensive one I got for my 85 has never popped off on me yet. The other cheap model was constant trouble.

I agree that the boyonet style is better.

[IUnknown]

A filter will provide some protection from some things, and will only degrade image quality, sometimes not much, but UV filters do not ever improve image quality.

A polarize filter would improve your image quality on certain images though. Anyone seen an image comparing side by side the difference of a shot with a lens hood and without?

[robbykh]

What do you recommend for my EF-S 55-250mm IS. ??

[msowsun]

You can buy a Canon hood or go for a cheaper Chinese "clone" that are sold on ebay and elsewhere. The Canon hood for the 55-250 is the ET-60.

ebay.. http://cgi.ebay.ca/ET60-Lens-Hood-for-Canon-Rebel-T1i-Xsi-Xti-XT-Xs-55-250_W0QQitemZ390142237067QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLens_A ccessories?hash=item5ad64a198b

http://i17.ebayimg.com/06/i/001/42/8d/662a_35.JPG

[Hogster]

The lens hood also keeps bugs off the lens while your camera is slung on your back while riding a motorcycle! :-)

[channel_49]

Always have the proper hood for every lens, always keep it on.
Lens cap on the other hand just slows you down, don't bother putting it on.

[Pmolan]

I also have another question, for what I have been reading, I know that if I'm shooting indoors at night or in poor lighting I should increase my ISO to about 800. The question I have isn't that a little high even if I'm using a flash?, I have two flashes by the way.

ISO 800 buys you 3 stops of light from 100. So a night time photo at ISO 100 - 1/15th will turn into ISO 800 - 1/125th.
When shooting with flash, you dont need to keep the ISO so high. When talking flash, that is done in stops also. So if at ISO 100 you need full power then the same exposure would be ISO 800 at 1/8th power, which means a faster recycle time between shots.

[itzcryptic]

ISO 800 buys you 3 stops of light from 100. So a night time photo at ISO 100 - 1/15th will turn into ISO 800 - 1/125th.
When shooting with flash, you dont need to keep the ISO so high. When talking flash, that is done in stops also. So if at ISO 100 you need full power then the same exposure would be ISO 800 at 1/8th power, which means a faster recycle time between shots.

And less dead batteries. :)