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Bvo99

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Hey everyone,

So ah...are there any benefits to put the len hood on? Does it block the sunlight? protect the len? or it just look cool? I took some pics with it on indoors and you can see the hood shadow in the pictures when ever the flash is use. So do I have a defective hood or I shouldn't use the hood for indoors?

Thanks
B
 
Hi there, not an expert on the subject, but here's my take on lens hoods.

Does it block sunlight?

Yes and No, it can help lens flare, i.e. when the sunlight hits the lens at some angles it will show in the photos. It does not however reduce the amount of light hitting the sensor like a filter would.

Protect the lens?

Somewhat, a lens hood adds a wall around your lens, helpful for small bumps, twigs, and the like, but dosen't offer enough protection for me to keep mine on all the time. For protection I'd recommend a UV filter.

Just look cool? :)
I think so, especially the butterfly ones.

They don't work well with the flash, and seeing as they are ment for situations where there is a great deal of sunlight, I can't see needing the flash and hood at the same time.

I rarely use mine, as my camera with lens and hood attatched dosen't fit in my camera bag, Nova 1 AW. I only pull 'em out when getting undesirable lens flare.

Cya, Jason
--
Autofocus? Whats Autofocus?
 
should ALWAYS be used IF mounted properly.
It helps prevent flare
It assists in protection of the front element of the lens

If you're storing it in your "bag" revrerse mount it and it takes up no more space. (RTFM)

--
Regards,
(afka Wile E. Coyote)
Bill
PSAA
Equipment in profile.
Eschew obfuscation.

 
Not with the built-in flash... it WILL cast a shadow.
Bill_Turner said:
should ALWAYS be used IF mounted properly.
It helps prevent flare
It assists in protection of the front element of the lens
If you're storing it in your "bag" revrerse mount it and it takes
up no more space. (RTFM)
Click to expand...
 
I will now stand on my Lens Hood soapbox!

Though maybe the lens hood does not completely shade your lens in all positions it does in most.

The lens hood protects the lens. Maybe not from all direct hits from the front, but from most.

As a retired professional photographer I would NEVER use a UV lens to protect my lens, except in an abrasive or caustic environment. A UV lens, no matter what type or quality of multi-coating is only going to degrade your images. It adds two more surfaces to keep clean.

I have accidently dropped a few lenses in my life and the lens hood protected the front element, where a UV filter would have just broken along with the front element of my lenses.

I have been shooting for over 46 years and have never scratched a front element because I didn't have a UV filter on.

How often do you see a pro shoot without a lens hood?

Bottom line...

Use the lens hood at all times, make it a habit;
Only use a UV filter in extreme environments;
treat your equipment well.

--
Sincerely,

James A. Rinner
 
Bvo99 said:
Hey everyone,

So ah...are there any benefits to put the len hood on? Does it
block the sunlight? protect the len? or it just look cool?
Click to expand...
ROFLMAO, didn't you know Olympus include lens hoods so they can charge you a few more cents / pence for the lens.

Seriously, lens hoods reduce stray light striking the lens which can reduce contrast. They also provide a bit of physical protection as a by product. You should always use the proper lens hood whenever possible. Please note that lens hoods on zooms have reduced effectivess at the long end of the zoom as they must be designed not to vignette at the short end.

Not using a lens shade looks decidedly un-cool.
Bvo99 said:
I took
some pics with it on indoors and you can see the hood shadow in the
pictures when ever the flash is use. So do I have a defective hood
or I shouldn't use the hood for indoors?
Click to expand...
The lens hood is just fine, the flash is too close to the axis of the lens. You should use a lens hood whenever possible, but it sounds like your flash set up will not allow you to use the hood.

Regards,
Scott

--
As we celebrate mediocrity all the boys upstairs want to see
How much you'll pay for what you used to get for free
  • Tom Petty
 
I'm using the built in flash on the E500(auto and fill in mode). The shadow appears only in some pics and those were all at low light.
 
I don't use the built in flash on my E-300 so the lens hood will not cause a shadow even indoors with flash. For those who use the on-board flash, my suggestion would be to test and adjust.

--
Regards,
(afka Wile E. Coyote)
Bill
PSAA
Equipment in profile.
Eschew obfuscation.

 
Denny,
I didn't read that in any of the OP's posts on this thread.
Sorry for the assumption.
--
Regards,
(afka Wile E. Coyote)
Bill
PSAA
Equipment in profile.
Eschew obfuscation.

 
Given the OP's experience level (it was his first post) and his statement that the hood cast a shadow, I concluded he must be using the built-in flash, and didn't want him to think anything was defective.
Bill_Turner said:
Denny,
I didn't read that in any of the OP's posts on this thread.
Click to expand...
 
I use both a hoods and a filters. I use the filter becuase it's much easier to clean than a front element, I have have scratched filters many times but I've never seen the difference between photographs with a good UV filter and no filter at all. Caviat - don't buy a cheap UV filter - buy the best.
  • Joe
--
Joseph Ellis
Joseph Mark Photography
Dallas, TX
http://www.josephmark.com
 
The lens hood could cause some shadows with the built in flash. The FL-36 stands taller, and should work fine. However, at close distances, the effect is greater, so be careful (advantage of digital). As for protection, they do provide protection from falls and from touching the lens surface. However, unlike some, I still use a quality (multicoated) filter on my lenses. Having run a local camera store chain and having been a professional film photographer, I have seen many lenses damaged from unintentional scratches, water spots, coating blemishes, and stains. Yes, if you use single coated or uncoated filters, you may see some loss of contrast and possible flare, but most qualtiy multi-coated filters will not do this. Stay with the better brands, and buy multi-coated filters. B+W, Hoya, Heliopan, Minolta (yes, they make filters), and even the high end Quantaray (made by Hoya) will work (I do like the B+W MRC filters the best).

Wayne
 
It's not about low light...

It's about focal length...

the 14-45 with a lens hood on will cast a shadow on the lower edge of the scene if you are at 14mm and slightly beyond, zooming in of course will zoom in past the shadow and it won't show up in your scene. Even the FL-50 on a Stroboframe bracket casts a shadow on the lower edge of the scene with the 8mm Fisheye!! :)

It is perfectly acceptable to remove the lens hood to shoot these wide angle shots. Even if it looks totally uncool while you do it. If you're quick enough, you can remove the hood, shoot the photo, and replace the hood before anyone notices you had it off. ;)

--
JLM



E-300 Gallery http://aerialantix.smugmug.com/
http://community.webshots.com/user/aerialantix
E-300 / HLD-3 / FL-50 / 14-54mm / 50-200mm
 
Alright, this is a good thread because I just ordered my E500 2 lens kit and will be taking it to Ocean City MD in a couple of weeks. What are some recommended brand filters? I was assuming just getting a "skylight" filter to protect the lens, but should I get a UV filter? Same brand?

Any suggestions are appreciated.
 
You're right on only one to clean, but there are still two extra surfaces that light would have to pass through. The surfaces are also larger, with more area to collect dust or fingerprints. They are also more prominent. Use them if you like, but as a professional I took care of my equipment and never scrtached the front element. Why add the extra "add-on" glass on a perfect lens! Whether a filter is used or not, use the lens hood!
--
Sincerely,

James A. Rinner
 
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