Olympus starting to include lens hoods

Is Olympus finally getting with the program? On Monday I ordered the 14-150mm f4-5.6 II from Bic Camera and it arrived today. I opened the box and was happy to see that they now include a lens hood. Also, it has a new type of Olympus lens cap that you can squeeze from the center. Both are things that have been common with other companies going way back. Here is a list of my m4/3 lenses that I have bought since April 2012 in the order I bought them:

2012 Panasonic 14-42mm f3.5-5.6 (original) lens hood, center squeeze cap

2012 Panasonic 45-200mm f4-5.6 lens hood, center squeeze cap

2012 Olympus 14-150mm f4-5.6

2012 Olympus 9-18mm f4-5.6

2012 Panasonic 14mm f2.5

2012 Panasonic 20mm f1.7

2014 Olympus 9mm f8 fisheye bodycap

2014 Olympus 25mm f1.8 lens hood

2015 Olympus 45mm f1.8

2015 Olympus 14-150mm f4-5.6 II lens hood, center squeeze cap

Of the Olympus lenses only the 25mm and 14-150mm II included lens hoods. In 2012 when I bought the first 14-150mm and 9-18mm I bought el-cheapo lens hoods on ebay from China. The quality was just as good as the hoods that came with my Sony, Minolta, Canon, Sigma, and Tamron lenses though. I think I paid about $10 each for them. Now looking at the Olympus lens hood that came with the new 14-150mm today it looks identical to the cheap one I got in 2012. In fact, the Olympus one says it was made in China. Good chance that some factory there makes them for several companies and then sells the same thing without the famous brand name on it very cheap. Anyway, glad Olympus is finally starting to include this stuff.

Henry Richardson wrote:

Is Olympus finally getting with the program? On Monday I ordered the 14-150mm f4-5.6 II from Bic Camera and it arrived today. I opened the box and was happy to see that they now include a lens hood. Also, it has a new type of Olympus lens cap that you can squeeze from the center....

An Oly center squeeze cap!?! Yay! I didn't know Oly made them. Can you post a picture of it? Or a link to one for sale?

I've replaced all my Oly lens caps with panny's to get the center squeeze. (I tried a generic one once, but it didn't work, needing a deeper lip to stay on.) Also, my bother is always complaining about his Oly caps not having a center squeeze; I can see a Christmas present (if he doesn't get them himself before then).

Henry Richardson wrote:

Is Olympus finally getting with the program? On Monday I ordered the 14-150mm f4-5.6 II from Bic Camera and it arrived today. I opened the box and was happy to see that they now include a lens hood. Also, it has a new type of Olympus lens cap that you can squeeze from the center. Both are things that have been common with other companies going way back. Here is a list of my m4/3 lenses that I have bought since April 2012 in the order I bought them:

2012 Panasonic 14-42mm f3.5-5.6 (original) lens hood, center squeeze cap

2012 Panasonic 45-200mm f4-5.6 lens hood, center squeeze cap

2012 Olympus 14-150mm f4-5.6

2012 Olympus 9-18mm f4-5.6

2012 Panasonic 14mm f2.5

2012 Panasonic 20mm f1.7

2014 Olympus 9mm f8 fisheye bodycap

2014 Olympus 25mm f1.8 lens hood

2015 Olympus 45mm f1.8

2015 Olympus 14-150mm f4-5.6 II lens hood, center squeeze cap

Of the Olympus lenses only the 25mm and 14-150mm II included lens hoods. In 2012 when I bought the first 14-150mm and 9-18mm I bought el-cheapo lens hoods on ebay from China. The quality was just as good as the hoods that came with my Sony, Minolta, Canon, Sigma, and Tamron lenses though. I think I paid about $10 each for them. Now looking at the Olympus lens hood that came with the new 14-150mm today it looks identical to the cheap one I got in 2012. In fact, the Olympus one says it was made in China. Good chance that some factory there makes them for several companies and then sells the same thing without the famous brand name on it very cheap. Anyway, glad Olympus is finally starting to include this stuff.

Good to know, if is true. If not, I'll keep buying JJC hoods, which are, as far as I'm concerned, just like the originals, at a fraction of the cost. I already have 5 hoods, and spent no more than 9 $ each.

By the way, my Panasonic 45-200mm hood is beginning to fail. It no longer clicks in place/ I might have to replace it for a JJC version. I hope there is one available.

Adamant wrote:

Olympus has long made at least certain caps in center squeeze. I have had a 58mm one for years.

Yeah, that's the only size Oly center squeeze I found in a quick google. Which is the size for the 14-150, so I guess it's not new. But I was hoping for more sizes (especially the small ones).

OzRay wrote:

Every 4/3 lens that I've ever owned has come with a lens hood as standard.

Yes, but the micro 4/3rds lenses typically did not come with a hood until recently.

Paulmorgan wrote:

NCV wrote:

It was about time that did.

Aa lens hood is an integrale part off a lens in my opinion.

Its a specialized lens needing a specialized hood.

Do you get hoods with the Panasonic 14 and 20mm ?

All my Panasonic lenses came with a hood.

I had to pay for the one on my Olympus 60mm.

The Panasonic pancakes don't come with hoods, at least my 20 & 12-32 didn't. The 20mm did come with a nice padded nylon baggie tho, I liked it enough I bought a second for the 12-32. I've used a step down ring on the 20mm as a pseudo hood, haven't bothered with anything on the 12-32... Got the JJC auto cap and haven't even tried it.

All other Panasonic do tend to come with hoods tho, and bags. Heck, even $200 Sigmas and Samyangs do... It's a pretty cheapskate move on Olympus part not to include either with older lenses. I bought the JJC for my 9-18 but went with some random/Contax screw in metal hoods for the 45 & 12... The 12's OEM hood is way too bulky anyway, not sure I'd use it even if free.

The 25mm was the only one of mine that came with one.  A cheap, plastic one, but there nonetheless.

Henry Richardson wrote:

Is Olympus finally getting with the program? On Monday I ordered the 14-150mm f4-5.6 II from Bic Camera and it arrived today. I opened the box and was happy to see that they now include a lens hood.

It's the exact same 58mm lens hood used to be provided with the old 4/3rds 14-42 lens. The hood from the 4/3rds 40-150 will also fit, but expect vignetting below 30mm or so.

NCV wrote:

All my Panasonic lenses came with a hood.

I don't think my Panasonic 20mm (mark 1) came with a hood.  Perhaps the second version of the 20mm now comes with a hood.

NCV wrote:

All my Panasonic lenses came with a hood.

I don't think my Panasonic 20mm (mark 1) came with a hood.  Perhaps the second version of the 20mm now comes with a hood.

Nope, mine is the II, no hood.