Backwards mounted lens hoods

I leave the hood on my Sigmalux a lot, simply because I don't want to lose it. It won't fit in the bag well if it's on the right way around. It really is just motivated by a desire not to lose the thing, though.

I think it's equally silly for people to leave their hoods on the right way in grey weather/after sunset. For every clueless dSLR owner who doesn't know what their hood does, there's another who keeps theirs on when it's unnecessary because it makes their camera look cooler! (Though as the guy above me wrote, they can be excellent for damage prevention).

I do it to look different...

Nah, I usually do that because I took a lens out and it was on backwards to fit in my bag and I just leave it on backwards to get some shots and then once I get the shots I want, I'll either go back to another lens or turn the hood to the right side if needed. If not then I just leave it.

cptrios wrote in post #12859339
I think it's equally silly for people to leave their hoods on the right way in grey weather/after sunset. For every clueless dSLR owner who doesn't know what their hood does, there's another who keeps theirs on when it's unnecessary because it makes their camera look cooler! (Though as the guy above me wrote, they can be excellent for damage prevention).

But why do you assume the former? It can only help the lens, not hurt it.

I would say it's laziness more than anything.

I guess some people don't feel the need to use the hood for that specific time, and the OP feels different about it.
Doesn't give you the right to assume they don't know how to use the hood, or what it's for, or call them ignorant, or even suggest they might be.

I leave mine on backwards fairly often if it is just a quick snapshot. Take it out of the bag, lens cap off, shoot, cap on, back in the bag. Not every shot has to be one for the wall.

TheBurningCrown wrote in post #12859378
But why do you assume the former? It can only help the lens, not hurt it.

Do you mean leaving the hood on properly at all times? Yeah you're right...but I think for me it's that I generally carry my camera around my neck and shoulder, hanging around my hip, and an extra 1-3 inches of hood makes it much more likely to bump into stuff. On the other hand it also protects it when bumping into stuff...so it also has a bit to do with me being lazy!

cptrios wrote in post #12859569
Do you mean leaving the hood on properly at all times? Yeah you're right...but I think for me it's that I generally carry my camera around my neck and shoulder, hanging around my hip, and an extra 1-3 inches of hood makes it much more likely to bump into stuff. On the other hand it also protects it when bumping into stuff...so it also has a bit to do with me being lazy!

I'd rather the lens hood bump something, than my lens or camera.

Try using a CPL with the lens hood on....

cptrios wrote in post #12859569
Do you mean leaving the hood on properly at all times? Yeah you're right...but I think for me it's that I generally carry my camera around my neck and shoulder, hanging around my hip, and an extra 1-3 inches of hood makes it much more likely to bump into stuff.

Yes that's what I meant - sorry if it wasn't clear. You're right - having a bigger object hit on stuff means it will probably hit things more often. Then again, I would rather have a bunch of scuffs on my lens hood than even one good whack at the side of the lens itself.

So I'll take my chances with the big plastic bumper .

cptrios wrote in post #12859569
On the other hand it also protects it when bumping into stuff...so it also has a bit to do with me being lazy!

So very true.

Cliffbsa wrote in post #12859668
Try using a CPL with the lens hood on....

That's a good reason to take it off completely, but leaving it reversed serves no purpose, IMO. Maybe all of my lenses just don't work well with reversed hoods... they always cover up something useful.

I don't think I've ever shot with a hood on backwards. If I'm carrying it it's because I have a use for it - if I don't want to use a hood then it stays at home. Besides the bayonet hoods can be twisted off in the same time it takes to remove the lens cap.

I've recently replaced my lens hoods with short metal screw-on hoods with the plan of leaving them on all the time. Makes the lenses about 20mm or so longer but that's not much in the scheme of things, and then I don't feel concerned about dropping them back into the bag without a lens cap on. Am yet to actually get out and shoot with them yet so not sure if I'll stick with them, but I figured it was worth giving it a go.

There actually is a good reason to have it reversed (besides keeping it from being lost). When you use the on-camera flash and you zoomed very wide, the hood creates a shadow.

actually, i'm suprised by this thread... i didn't know such a simple topic could have such varied opinions

I always put my hood on backwards when
a) im purposely wanting flare and i've set up the shot (when it was either NOT ON, or on correctly)
b) shooting in darkened venue when on photo walk... just because I don't feel like taking the bag off to put the hood back in.

Other than these two situations, I just leave it mounted correctly.

Josh_30 wrote in post #12859927
That's a good reason to take it off completely, but leaving it reversed serves no purpose, IMO. Maybe all of my lenses just don't work well with reversed hoods... they always cover up something useful.

The problem then is that the lens hood is off drifting someplace. Sometimes it's just easier to leave it reversed, though obviously that doesn't work for some lenses.

chantu wrote in post #12860088
There actually is a good reason to have it reversed (besides keeping it from being lost). When you use the on-camera flash and you zoomed very wide, the hood creates a shadow.

Actually I think that's just a good reason to not use the on-camera flash .