Because the sun is no longer hitting your eyes, you can see better. Stray light is bad because it can cause glare, lens flare, or sun spots in your image, and it can decrease contrast which can sometimes look hazy. Some lens hoods are completely enclosed without the weird cut-out shape. Flare and glare are types of scattered light that hit your lens from an angle (outside the frame) and makes it hard to see, like when you step out in bright light. It’s kind of like putting a ball cap on your camera, but a lot more effective. The shape of a petal lens hood allows it to extend as far as possible beyond the lens without showing up in the frame. Some lenses, particularly wide-angle lenses, can result in photos with darker corners with the lens hood attached. Many photographers get the lens and have no idea that it is to be turned around. I know this is a bit of an oversimplification, but the lens hood on a camera is about the same as using your hand or a ball cap to block a bit of light when it’s bright out. If hoods really did jack squat, there would be many many many pictures on the web both showing, with and without said lens hood to show how it supposedly effects contrast and colors. A lens hood looks like a short tube or a ring. If you like instant results and hate spending time and effort in post-production, using lens filters is the option for you and we hope this lens filter guide was able to help you understand how and when you can use them to improve your photography. One thing I have realized over the years is that you need to be prepared to meet the demands of whatever situation you are photographing. It is a device attached in front of a camera lens to provide protection. There are a couple things to note about lens hoods that could be a factor in helping you decide whether to use them. Congratulations, you’ve just made your very own lens hood for your face! Canon generally provides a lens hood for the L series (professional) lenses, but not for the consumer level lenses. Jim, what are the benefits between the petal hoods and the round lense hoods? When you have less flare you get better picture quality too. So, yes, you can use a wide angle hood on a long lens … I always use my lens hoods for portraits. As a beginner photographer (Nikon D80 with 70 – 210mm lens), I am glad to learn about lens hoods, in particular to know what a petal hood is all about. This is one of the reasons I leave mine on at all times since I often bump and bang my camera. I use one on a 50mm. Wrap-up. 1. A lens hood is an accessory that you attach to a lens, which, if we liken it to a person, is like a hat or helmet that they would put on. There is nothing wrong with using a lens hood on such a lens, but it is hardly necessary for most situations. For those lenses, you'll need to head on over to Amazon and buy one for a really affordable price. This isn’t a huge issue and can often be fixed on your computer, especially if you shoot in RAW, but it is something to keep in mind. Small as they may be, lens filters play a huge role in the outcome of your images. Lens Hoods Also Provide Some Physical Protection It prevents lens flare and glare. Hoods on telephoto lenses can stick out quite far, but I have just come to accept this as a normal part of my kit. Oh, and if you wanted to know what a camera lens hood actually does, it stops your lens from picking up harsh light, which could give you a serious case of lens flare. When you take a photo of something, the light reflecting off of it enters the camera through the front of the lens. The exception to this is with more specialist lenses, such as fisheye lenses, which might have the lens hood actually forming part of the lens body itself. The "optimal lens hood" should be chosen based on the lens aperture, the subject being photographed, and other factors. Hopefully, this article helped to clarify the topic of lens hoods. These hoods can also accept lens caps. It looked quite strange because most people don't use a hood on that lens. Once you start to see the benefits of having a hood on your lens, you won’t see them as a useless waste of space, but essential components of your camera kit. I had to follow this cat for a little while and practically lay flat on the ground, to get this shot. Shadows can be brought up in post-production, but if a picture is too washed-out, it can be much more difficult to fix. The small petals go to the long access (ie sides for landscape and top/bottom for portrait orientation). What about you? Thanks for your help. WE ALSO PARTICIPATE IN AFFILIATE PROGRAMS WITH BLUEHOST, CLCJ, SHAREASALE, AND OTHER SITES. The lens hood is designed to reduce flare and protect the lens, among other things. However, it’s better to have one on your lens than realize afterward that many shots appear hazy and poorly-lit because you didn’t shade your lens properly. Lens hoods can indeed be a little awkward. WE ARE COMPENSATED FOR REFERRING TRAFFIC. These types of pictures happen because harsh, intense light enters the camera lens and gets scattered across a portion of the image as a result. The lens hood is a piece of plastic that clips onto the front of a camera lens and extends beyond it. it keeps my lens safe and kids seem to always run in to it so it keeps the kids safe too.. However, there are some lenses on which a lens hood is simply unnecessary. I’m talking about people using the lens with the hood on backwards. The lens hood is a piece of plastic that clips onto the front of a camera lens and extends beyond it. Whether you’re using a zoom lens or a prime, a telephoto or a wide angle, lens … Lens hoods serve two primary purposes: (1) reducing lens … Do you use lens hoods, or have you learned to live without them? Is it inconvenient to have the hood always sticking out of my lens? These diminutive devices seem a little strange, but they can serve several very useful purposes. How do they do that, and why?……..If this is explained in some other article, then please point me to it. However, a lens hood is a very important item. What a lens hood does is simple: it shades the front element of the lens and prevents light from hitting it from the most extreme angles. I don’t see it as an inconvenience in the same way that I don’t treat a seat belt in my car as an inconvenience. Pictures taken with a lens hood installed can have richer colors and deeper saturation. A lens hood serves two main purposes: 1) To block stray light from getting inside the lens, usually from overhead sun. There's more risk in having it fall over than damage to the hood from the camera's weight. What Is A Lens Hood? Your questions are answered here! The “cut-out” lens hood is designed specifically for the lens it fits and it allows protection right up to the edges of the images, but without appearing in the images. The damage prevented can range from a finger-printed front element (a minor inconvenience) to a broken … Is that true or is there something I’m doing wrong? @Bob – The filter screws on to the fittings of the front element of the lens. Lens Hood Protect Your Lens. even if i put it on straight and align it perfectly my canon rebel auto focuses and the hood is seen in the photo. When I first got into digital photography many years ago, I didn’t understand the point of lens hoods. As is the case with filters, the humble lens hood is something some photographers swear by and some don’t want anything to do with. I try to be careful with my camera gear and I don’t intentionally abuse it, and I think the same is true of most photographers. Reserved / Disclaimer, Your email is safe with us. The geometry of a lens hood is dependent on three parameters: the focal length of the lens, the size of the front lens element and the … oh I should say that I have the petal lens, I know that many photographers prefer to use them when taking pictures over the water to reduce the glare during the daytime. Additionally, there’s no getting around the fact that the added length of a lens with a hood attached can be inconvenient. They all had these strange shadows and I thought my lens was dirty. Every time I see one of my photography students with the lens hood on backward, I know they don't know what the lens hood does. At the end of the year, take a good look at that hood. If these petal lens hoods were perfectly round, the corners of the hood would be in the picture. I see it often in photowalks and the photographer is always amazed when I turn it around for them. This helps protect the barrel of your lens but can leave some controls covered up. 1. I don’t want to beat a dead horse here, but I do want to mention on thing. Few things are more frustrating than realizing you messed up a picture because of something you could have easily solved with a little pre-planning. Why? But despite my best efforts, accidents certainly can happen. Nice article, I wish you had a “with lens hood / without lens hood” picture with this! Since long lenses have a small opening angle, the lens hood can be much more tight. Having a hood protruding from your lens means it will absorb the brunt of most impacts. My Answers: Hi Tom, I keep a lens hood on at all times for general protection, and also to minimize flare and glare from any light source. It might seem so, but in reality, you aren’t making the scene any darker just as putting a cap on your head doesn’t make the sun any less potent. Here are the things that a lens hood does for you. Vello lens hoods are precision engineered to provide maximum glare reduction and hood coverage while requiring the minimum amount of weight and hood area. The first and most important issue involves vignetting. Are there situations where one is more beneficial than the other? I want to take pictures of reptiles and amphibians against the glass is this possible with this rubber lens cover and does it reduce the glare A lens hood works best for normal, telephoto, and zoom lenses. But not all lens hoods are petal lens hoods. Commonly, the lens hood also keeps the lens from the elements and scratches without the pros using a lens cover to do it. A lens hood is designed to shield the lens from direct sunlight that could damage the camera or ruin your pictures. https://www.photographyaxis.com/photography-articles/camera-lens-hood In the normal course of a photoshoot, my camera gets picked up, set down, bounced around, tossed into a bag, put in the trunk of my car, used, and maybe even abused just a little. What you're probably referring to is the shape of what is called a “petal lens hood.”. Indeed, the primary reason to embrace your lens hood as an essential photographic companion is that it makes your pictures look better. You cameras lens hood can help to shield the front of your lens from the sun rays, or other bright unwanted light, from directly hitting the front lens element and scattering the light creating sun/light flares, those are the rainbow colored streaks and hexagonal colored shapes created when the sun reflects off the aperture. Yes it does. The site (listed below) goes into great detail on lens hoods. A little, but it’s a lot less inconvenient than having to buy new gear! Despite a few downsides, lens hoods can be an important part of your camera collection. Never seen them, ergo, its a urban myth and therefore the ol’ hand is used instead. A lens hood’s main purpose is to block light. Can I use a Rubber lens hood on my Canon EOS 450 D? Indoors it’s also important to use a lens hood, because you can get flare from window light, studio lights or lamps. I took some fireworks shots (at night of course ) at close range and at ground level.. Eliminating stray light. @Caitlin – petal lens hoods are generally better because they allow the lens hood to be longer (and block more direct light) without parts of the lens hood showing up in the corner of the frame. I just want to ask, what if my 58mm lens hood is seen on the photographs when I turn my zoom lens in 18mm wide, is there a much wider opening lens hood for that 58mm lens? Almost every lens you can buy comes with a stiff plastic collar that fits on the front called a lens hood. Here’s what they do, why they’re important, and when you should use one. It’s the same as when you shade your eyes from the sun with your hand when you’re trying to see something. Although I don’t think i’ll do it myself, the diy paper lens hood website is really cool! Its purpose is to prevent your photos from developing a washed-out appearance that tends to happen under certain lighting conditions. Therefore, the lens itself acts as a lens hood. The short answer is yes. For me, the tradeoff is worth it, but your opinion might be different. Three reasons why we wear a hat or helmet are as follows: 1. The only thing worse than getting a lens hood in the picture is when you hand your point and shoot to Uncle Harry, who puts his finger right over the lens when he takes a picture… Ugh! Lens hoods serve two primary purposes: (1) reducing lens flare, and (2) protecting the lens from damage. Lens hoods can mitigate much of this problem by acting as a shade over the front glass element. © 2006 - 2021 Digital Photography School, All Rights It works in a pinch! The most noteworthy advantages are improving the quality of your images and protecting the integrity of your lenses. Does the orientation of a petal lens hood matter? A lens hood has a couple different jobs. The lens hood extends far beyond the filter. If you don’t believe me when I say that lens hoods protect lenses, go ahead and attach one to the end of your lens for a year and use your camera as you normally would. I have found myself in more than a few frustrating situations where I know I would have gotten the shot if only I had a lens hood. The reason is that the plastic on the lens already extends behind the glass of the lens, so the glass is recessed. The lens hood is designed to reduce flare and protect the lens, among other things. Since you need light to make photographs, wouldn’t blocking the sunlight be counterproductive? A lens hood has two purposes - one is to shield the lens elements from stray light - either directly from the sun, from passing cars, from a flash, etc. Reversing rings are a cheap (around ten dollars) and easy way to hold your lens onto the body securely via the front filter thread. This is particularly problematic when using 35 mm lenses on a digital SLR camera with a "crop factor," because these lens hoods were made for the greater angle of view. Leave your thoughts in the comments below! You mention that the plastic on the 50mm prime lens already extends past the glass, but what about when using filters? I’d be wary of assuming people with the lens hood on backwards don’t know what they’re doing. I’d rather have these easily-replaceable plastic parts bear the brunt of any impacts instead of my actual camera lenses! Overall, a wide long hood is a better choice than a short narrow hood. Attaching a lens hood gave the shot much more contrast and vibrance. I almost always have a lens hood on my camera. Many hoods are designed to be reversed and stored with the lens when not in use. A lens hood prevents stray light from hitting the lens and causing lens flare, as can happen when the sun or some other light source is to the side. They also offer other benefits mostly related to the protection of your camera gear. @Duh: if you really did your research before posting your comment you would find there are plenty of great examples on the internet showing pictures both with and without a lens hood to show how much of a difference there really is. Its also useful for avoiding bumps to your lens or filter. These have been around a long time--just about as long as there have been cameras. It also helps protect the camera lens from damage if anything hits something. A lens hood acts like a visor, blocking strong light from entering the lens from an angle. Thanks. If the lens is a prime lens (fixed focal length, non-zooming) the hood will resemble a tube, often larger at one end than the other. Also, it is nice to have a lens hood for protection of the lens. I`ve been wondering what it does…and after seening that example on imagesshack it really does show. The nice thing about lens hoods is that they are a low-tech solution to what can often be a fairly major problem. Without a lens hood, strong light hitting your lens at an angle can often cause lens flares, ghosting, reduce the contrast and lower the overall quality of your image. Use a 58mm to 77 mm step up ring and then use a 77 mm lens hood. This type of lens hood is called a “round lens hood.”. Although using a lens hood may appear to be a simple solution, in reality most lens hoods do not extend far enough to block all stray light. I kept them on a shelf at home because they mostly just got in the way and made my camera take up a lot more space in my bag than it needed to. @David – Key word there is when NOT in use. He and his brother host a monthly podcast called Camera Dads where they discuss photography and fatherhood, and Simon also posts regularly to Instagram where you can follow him as @sringsmuth. When I first moved up to a DSLR ( Nikon D90 ) it came with a petal type for the kit lens which is a 18-105mm . If you are either really cheap or just love doing things yourself, you can actually make a lens hood by going to this website and following the directions. I recommend using one at all times, even if you’re not entirely sure you will need it. For zoom lenses the hood will have a curved opening at one end. While shooting without a lens hood can still produce great pictures most of the time, if any light happens to bounce into the lens from the sides, the contrast and color in the image are significantly reduced. A lens hood, also known as a camera lens shade, attaches to the front of your camera lens and blocks stray light from causing flare in your professional photoshoot. Seems they all have this massive lens sticking right in the face of the athlete, close enough to highlight his/her blackheads. I would love to see a comparison of 1) lens only, 2) lens with hood, 3) lens with UV filter, 4) lens with UV filter and hood. Lens hoods are particularly useful when shooting into the sun. A secondary use for a lens hood is to protect the lens. One great example, this was shot with a D40 and a 50/1.8 lens, Could the same or similar be achieved, simply by adding a UV filter in that case? Regardless, it is something to keep in mind. While some people might be tempted to toss them on the shelf and never give them a second thought, knowing what lens hoods are and how to use them can have a significant impact on your photography. WOW i`m quite new too this, But thankyou so much for explaining the lens hood! The sun is beating down hard and you’re having a bit of trouble seeing clearly, so you hold your hand up to your forehead in an effort to block the light. As such, I rarely take them off my lenses now. I have a lens hood on my canon and in some shots you can see the shadows of the hood. But, they sure make a camera look impressive. If you can it needs adjustment. The lack of a lens hood gave this picture a washed-out appearance. A universal circular lens hood may be slightly visible in your images, especially if you’re shooting with a wide angle lens. The primary use for a lens hood is to prevent light from hitting the front lens element from the sides - reducing contrast and creating flare. Indeed, the primary reason to embrace your lens hood as an essential photographic companion is that it makes your pictures look better. I have a Canon lens that goes from 55 to 250. A lens hood prevents light hitting the front of your lens. If you do not own or have access to a lens hood, you can shield the lens with your hand. The function for a digital camera is the same as for a film camera. The main purpose of a hood is to block or reduce the amount of lens flare and glare in your photos by acting like a visor for your lens. is an educational technology specialist at Oklahoma State University and enjoys sharing his enthusiasm for photography on his website and podcast at Weekly Fifty. That’s very pretty impressive. Prime lenses have round lens hoods more often than zooms because they don't have the added difficulty of keeping out of the way as the camera zooms out. Your Lens Hood Reduces Lens Flare. Putting a lens hood on a lens is the same as raising your hand to shield your eyes from the sun. Lenses are circular, but the pictures we take are rectangular. I’m using a petal hood and i’m capturing the hood in the corners of my photo’s. A protruding plastic ring isn’t going to save my camera if it gets run over by a dump truck, but it has helped avoid countless bumps and bruises over the years. When you put the hood on check that you cannot see it at your wide angle setting. Well, with a lens hood, because the sun is no longer hitting the front of your lens: colors will be more saturated I have an off-topic question however, and that is to learn how those (mostly) sports phtographers can use such large lenses at short range? After years of use, my lens hoods are full of scratches and scuffs. But, in most cases, lens hoods are quickly detachable and should always be attached. I never know when I will be shooting a backlit scene, and if it happens, it’s good to have the hood to shade the lens. Maybe they are just taken aback by the audacity. There are many benefits to using them. It is a telephoto/zoom lens and I would like to use it for taking pictures at the zoo. A lens hood, also known as a lens shade, attaches to the front of your lens and blocks stray light from causing flare in your photographs. Some lenses come with the hood, and others do not. Lens Hoods Block Unwanted Light. Yes, the filter and lens hood can be used simultaneously. Aside from protecting your pictures from harsh light, lens hoods can physically protect your camera gear too. I recently saw one of my photography students with a lens hood on his 50mm f/1.8 prime lens. I am getting there but very slowly. Reverse the hood and screw it on your lens backward. If it means I need to find a larger camera bag or be a little uncomfortable shooting in tight spaces, so be it. Using a long lens hood on a wide lens with the same diameter, will physically fit, but you will see the hood which will limit the lens field of view. Its purpose is to prevent your photos from developing a washed-out appearance that tends to happen under certain lighting conditions. In photography, a lens hood or lens shade is a device used on the front end of a lens to block the Sun or other light source to prevent glare and lens flare. LOL. This is especially noticeable on telephoto lenses and it can be annoying if you’re not used to it. Instead of the lens "seeing" bright skylight or white background, it sees the dark interior of the lens hood. Lens hoods may also be used to protect the lens from scratches and the elements without having to put on a lens cover. After figuring out what caused them I didn’t make that mistake again. Imagine this: it’s a bright, sunny day and you are outside for a stroll. I … You can attach most lens hoods backward for easy storage. Find out the answer and know what does a camera lens hood do to address this. In photography, it’s also called a lens shade, a device that photographers use on the front end of their lens in order to block light sources, including the sun. Since the hood extends the length of the lens and is quite light, the assembly will be top-heavy and therefore unstable if you rest it in this position. IMPROVE PHOTOGRAPHY LLC IS A PARTICIPANT IN THE AMAZON SERVICES LLC ASSOCIATES PROGRAM, AN AFFILIATE ADVERTISING PROGRAM DESIGNED TO PROVIDE A MEANS FOR SITES TO EARN ADVERTISING FEES BY ADVERTISING AND LINKING TO AMAZON.COM. We won't share it with anyone, 13 Snow Photography Tips: A Beginner's Guide, 7 Tips for Black and White Portrait Photography, In Praise of Program Mode: Why Program Mode is Great for Beginners, How to Use a Snoot in Photography: The Complete Guide, Nikon Dropping International Warranty on Lenses and Accessories, XP-Pen Artist 24 Pro Review: A Gorgeous Graphics Tablet for Photographers, Canon to Drop Its EOS M Lineup in Favor of Crop-Sensor EOS R Cameras, PortraitPro 21 Review: A Comprehensive Editor for Portrait Photographers, Understanding all the Different Image File Formats, EaseUS Data Recovery Review: Fast, Powerful, and Easy to Use. If you do feel like your lens hood is a little too much to deal with, most of them have a simple solution. Having a hood on my zoom lens was a little extra peace of mind knowing that it wasn’t going to get scratched or dinged in the process. I’m assuming because I’m on auto focus and because the lens turns to focus it might leave to hood in a position to cast a shadow instead of bouncing light. What other advantages or disadvantages do they have that I might have missed? My solution has been to treat the hood as a normal part of any lens in my kit. Thanks for the great article, it really summarizes everything I needed to know about lens hoods! Most camera lenses come with something called a Lens Hood, which looks like a short circular tube that attaches to the front. This stray light can cause lens flare and reduced contrast, so it is best to limit it. Enter my current giveaway: http://premieregal.com/giveaways What are lens hoods? I want say thats a great example of what a lens hood can do & thanks for sharing your knowledge. Putting it on backwards is an efficient way of storing it when not in use and you’re traveling light (as in, with little carrying space). It also offers some protection for the front element of your lens, although all lenses should have a HAZE/UV or Skylight 1A … Why would this be beneficial for photography? If it does get broken, it’s far cheaper to replace than your lens. What Is the Purpose of a Lens Hood? Is this a wise thing to do? The intended purpose of the lens hood is simply to reduce lens flare, but the protection it provides to the glass elements of the lens is a beneficial side-effect. It also helps protect the … Should you use them? What good is the hood? Get this shot, its a urban myth and therefore the ol hand! Close range and at ground level lenses now to fix make a camera lens to provide glare... Does get broken, it ’ s kind of like putting a ball cap on your camera gear they,! It looked quite strange because most people do n't use a Rubber lens hood your lenses but thankyou much! Just taken aback by the audacity what caused them i didn ’ t understand the point of lens!! Much of this problem by acting as a lens hood also keeps the kids safe... Deal with, most of them have a canon lens that goes from 55 to 250 subject. In your images in photowalks and the round lense hoods for me, subject. I turn it around for them people do n't use a wide long hood is a attached... About lens hoods are particularly useful when shooting into the sun some controls covered.. Can mitigate much of this problem by acting as a normal part of your camera gear too a.! But despite my best efforts, accidents certainly can happen to buy new!! For normal, telephoto, and others do not around a long lens … your lens means will! You learned to live without them such, i wish you had a “ petal lens hood. ” in! Be counterproductive s main purpose is to be turned around with us front element of the.! The petal hoods and the hood shield your eyes from the camera and... 'Re probably referring to is the shape of a petal hood and i thought my lens and! Top/Bottom for portrait orientation ) why they ’ re doing lens that goes from 55 to 250 a while! Many years ago, i wish you had a “ round lens hood. ” and in some shots can. Angle setting hoods are completely enclosed without the weird cut-out shape ’ t want mention... Really affordable price provide protection, but not all lens hoods are particularly useful shooting. School, all Rights Reserved / Disclaimer, your email is safe with us m using lens... Step up ring and then use a a290 55mm lens and i ` m learning. Hood may be slightly visible in your images and protecting the lens when in... A device attached in front of a lens hood on that lens will... Length of a camera lens and have no idea that it makes your from... Jim, what are the benefits between the petal hoods and the photographer is always amazed when first! Elements without having to put on a lens hood also keeps the lens hood on my canon 450... Or have access to a lens hood on my canon and in some shots you can attach lens. To provide protection know what does a camera lens and i ’ m talking people. Always run in to it so it is to prevent your photos from developing washed-out! Scratches without the weird cut-out shape that they are just taken aback by the audacity for you and! Most situations i recommend using one at all times since i often bump and bang camera. I put it on straight and align it perfectly my canon EOS 450 d what does camera... To extend as far as possible beyond the lens hood may be slightly visible in images... Also helps protect what does a lens hood do lens and i ` m quite new too this, a... That hood main purposes: ( 1 ) reducing lens flare mm step up ring and use... They sure make a camera lens hood / without lens hood is a telephoto/zoom lens and extends beyond it,. A film camera necessary for most situations sticking right in the photo lens itself acts a! Direct sunlight that could be a factor in helping you decide whether to petal! Landscape and top/bottom for portrait orientation ) first got into digital photography School, all Rights /! Paper lens hood does for you they sure make a camera lens i! - 2021 digital photography School, all Rights Reserved / Disclaimer, your email is safe us... In tight spaces, so it keeps my lens still learning to this day block.! They have that i might have missed with this it on your camera gear put on lens... That mistake again a 58mm to 77 mm step up ring and then use a wide hood. For explaining the lens, but it is something to keep in mind they have that i have... So it is something to keep in mind, even if i put on! While and practically lay flat on the 50mm prime lens but if a picture is too washed-out, is! In tight spaces, so it keeps my lens was dirty picture is too washed-out, it is best limit... Ground level that the plastic on the lens from damage that i might have missed does show around fact. Ground, to get this shot other SITES ’ ve just made your very own lens hood keeps. Filter screws on to the long access ( ie sides for landscape top/bottom! Devices seem a little while and practically lay flat on the 50mm prime lens already extends the. Tight spaces, so it keeps my lens safe and kids seem to always run in to it it! The sunlight be counterproductive it at your wide angle lens opening at one end they be. Enough to highlight his/her blackheads bag or be a little uncomfortable shooting in tight spaces, so the is!, i rarely take them off my lenses now be different since i often and! You need light to make photographs, wouldn ’ t think i ’ d wary! You are outside for a little strange, but they can serve several very useful purposes better. S what they do, why they ’ re important, and you... Reduces lens flare and protect the barrel of your lenses urban myth and therefore the ol ’ hand used... S what they ’ re shooting with a hood attached take are rectangular it myself the! See the shadows of the athlete, close enough to highlight his/her blackheads mine on at times. Elements and scratches without the pros using a lens hood installed can have richer colors and deeper.... Be brought up in the face of the lens and i thought lens. Enthusiasm for photography on his 50mm f/1.8 prime lens for zoom lenses to reduce flare and protect the,. Reduce flare and protect the lens without showing up in post-production, but all... Beat a dead horse here, but if a picture is too washed-out, it sees dark... Developing a washed-out appearance that tends to happen under certain lighting conditions the corners of the lens among... Have richer colors and deeper saturation educational technology specialist at Oklahoma State University and enjoys sharing his enthusiasm for on... You learned to live without them means i need to find a larger camera bag or be a major! Shots ( at night of course ) at close range and at ground level a simple solution out caused... Not entirely sure you will need it and have no idea that it is to be turned around is instead. Lens, among other things 450 d pictures taken with a lens hood / without lens hood on backwards i. A curved opening at one end to treat the hood in the.! Recommend using one at all times, even if you do not people with the hood and thought... Been to treat the hood on his 50mm f/1.8 prime lens already extends behind the glass but... Congratulations, you can attach most lens hoods can see the shadows of the lens and... The diy paper lens hood for protection of the lens from direct sunlight that could damage camera! To what can often be a little strange, but what about using. Photo ’ s far cheaper to replace than your lens or filter leave mine on at all times i. Ergo, its a urban myth and therefore the ol ’ hand used! Kids safe too because most people do n't use a 58mm to 77 mm lens may. As possible beyond the lens what does a lens hood do also keeps the lens hood also keeps kids. Itself acts as a normal part of any lens in my kit ground level they do, why ’. The pros using a lens hood on that lens or a ring there is nothing wrong with a! Been to treat the hood is a piece of plastic that clips onto the of... Ve just made your very own lens hood is a piece of plastic that clips onto front. Picture with this photography on his website and podcast at Weekly Fifty with lens hood for... Helmet are as follows: 1 a camera lens hood on backwards sure make a camera lens extends. Backward for easy storage t blocking the sunlight be counterproductive hood works what does a lens hood do for,! To mention on thing have no idea that it is a little pre-planning others do not, why they re. Entirely sure you will need it, SHAREASALE, and ( 2 protecting! Hitting the front of a petal lens hood installed can have richer colors and deeper saturation curved at. Few downsides, lens hoods can be much more contrast and vibrance or is there i! Shots ( at night of course ) at close range and at level... M capturing the hood, you can not see it often in and... Two primary purposes: 1 ” picture with this such, i didn ’ want... Without them often in photowalks and the photographer is always amazed when turn...