Suppose you have gotten a lens hood for your camera lens and seeking when to use it, then you have come to the right place. The Lens hood helps in preventing sun flares or glares in your photos.
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In this writing, you will learn everything about lens hood, including when and how to use it and its influence or effect on images. After reading every bit of information provided in this article, you will get in-depth knowledge of the gadget and the best one to buy and use.
What Is A Lens Hood In Photography?
In photography, a lens hood is a camera accessory that helps shield the lens from excess and unwanted light, which can cause glare or flare in the photo. Lens hoods are typically made of metal, rubber, aluminum, and plastic and fit over the front of a lens to reduce glare from sunlight or bright artificial lighting and improve image contrast.
A lens hood, also called a lens shade, can also be used to prevent the lens from scratches and other elements like harsh weather conditions (such as rain or storms) without putting on a lens cover. It can also offer some degree of physical shield for the camera lens due to the more outlying extension of the hood over the lens.
However, they are primarily designed to enhance light and safeguard against sun or light flares. Lens shades can help you capture epic pictures at any given moment by reducing the amount of light falling across the front of your lens.
What Are The Types Of Lens Hood?
There are three main types of lens hoods based on their shapes. They include:
- Conical or cylindrical lens hood;
- Square or rectangular lens hood; and
- Petal or tulip or flower lens hood
Realistically, digital cameras are difficult to understand and operate. The Menu systems are filled with several options, making it difficult to get a perfect uniform setting. However, one must understand them to capture good photos.
We know that understanding the various types of cameras, settings, and techniques can be overwhelming if you are new to the photography industry. Thus, we have provided this master article – camera 101, to help all beginners and even experienced photographers understand their cameras.
Click Below to know all about Cameras, From start to end.
1. Conical Or Cylindrical Lens Hoods
These lens hoods have conical or cylindrical lips ideal for zoom or telephoto lenses, particularly those with rotating front elements as you change their focal lengths. Their conical or circular lips block light evenly and allow for better images in light-polluted areas.
A conical or cylindrical lens hood will offer better protection for your lens as it extends further out from the camera body and will also help to reduce glare and reflections. They are less efficient than square or rectangular and petal lenses. However, conical or cylindrical hoods are lighter and more compact.
2. Square Or Rectangular Lens Hood
These lens hoods are more efficient than conical or cylindrical-shaped hoods due to their forms or resemblance to the shapes of photographs. They are effective at blocking stray lights. However, they are unsuitable and should not be fitted onto rotating (zoom or telephoto) lenses, as the hood would revolve along and block some parts of the view.
Note: Square/rectangular lens hoods are particularly efficient and fitting because of their shapes. Photographs come out in similar forms.
3. Petal Or Tulip Or Flower Lens Hood
These are complex-shaped lens hoods. They have petal or flower-shaped edges with varying sections. This arrangement makes it possible for these lens hoods to block stray lights efficiently and prevent vignetting by letting in some light to balance the illumination on the outer corners of the images. They are more suitable for wide-angle lenses.
Note: Petal or tulip-shaped lens hoods are unsuitable for rotating lenses; therefore, photographers should not use them with revolving zoom or telephoto lenses.
Related Article: ” Best Bird Photography Lens For Long Distance Photos. What To Look For? “
When To Use A Lens Hood?
Photographers use lens hoods predominantly for outdoor or sunlight (that is, under harsh sunlight conditions) photoshoots. However, you can creatively use one in any setting and form of photography.
Always keep the lens hood on your camera; otherwise, remember to put on or use one when:
- you are doing backlit photography
- you are capturing pictures of the nighttime skies and stars from light-polluted urban areas
- you are not interested in having light reflections or glares in your photos
- you are capturing nighttime or daytime street photographs
- you are doing camping photography and need to protect your lens from scratches and dust
- you are shooting in the rain and need to safeguard your lens from drops.
In short, you can use a lens hood at any time (including golden and night hours) for any form of photography.
7 Instances Of When Not To Use A Lens Hood?
Although in photography, lens hoods help combat glares by removing unwanted light, they are not needed nor suitable in some cases. You should not use one when:
You want lens flare effects in your photographs
Lens flare, also called light or sun flare effects, can make your images look dramatic and inspiring. Photographers often capture these effects during “golden or magic hours.” However, some people add these effects to their photographs with post-processing or photo editing apps like Photoshop and Lightroom. Suppose you want to capture flares; in that case, you do not need a hood lens.
You want to capture the moment with photographic filters
Photographic filters add more life and quality to images. They produce vibrant tones and reduce illumination from reflective subjects such as water and metals. If the pictures require a filter, you cannot use a lens hood.
You want to use your in-built or pop-up camera flash
A lens hood can block your pop-up flash or create shadows on your subjects, especially in indoor flash photography.
You are in a low light situation
The primary purpose of a lens hood is to maximize light reflections; hence you do not need one when you are shooting in a low light situation.
You are in a windy or stormy situations
Lens hoods are lightweight and can be moved easily by wind. Shooting in a windy situation with one can cause increased vibrations and camera shakes, which can result in image blurs.
You are doing insect macro shooting
You do not need a lens hood when shooting photographs of tiny insects like bugs and spiders. Using one for micro photoshoots means bringing your lens closer to the subjects. But, these creatures are very sensitive to items or other things that move close to them. So, by not using a lens hood, you can capture their images from a comfortable distance without intruding on their privacy.
You are using an Olympus lens
Olympus lenses have strong glare resistance when it comes to shooting directly at the sun or against heavy lighting. So, when shooting with one, you do not need a lens hood.
Note: Not all Olympus lenses come with this feature.
What Does A Lens Hood Do?
In addition to their primary function as guards against unwanted light trying to reach your frame, lens hoods also have other significant benefits and impacts on images. Some of these benefits include:
They add and improve the contrast of your images
Lens hoods are helpful in the prevention of glares and also in the overall improvements of your image contrast and color quality. Unlike some photographic filters, lens hoods do not reduce nor compromise your image quality.
They protect your lens against other elements
Lens hoods also protect your camera lens from things like water, dust, sand, and other related elements capable of damaging the lens. Although lens hoods are lightweight, they can protect the lens from hitting objects when you bump your camera against an obstacle.
Lens hoods serve as bumpers
They provide a kind of physical protection to the front element of your lens. Lens hoods also prevent your lens from bumping or banging into walls when walking around. Many photographers always keep their lens hood fixed to protect the lens from sudden bumps or falls. It is better to have a broken lens hood than a damaged lens.
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FAQs
Are Lens Hoods Really Necessary?
Yes. Lens hoods are a vital accessory for photographers. They are designed to protect the lens from unwanted light coming from any angle, and they also offer some protection against accidental impact.
Some lenses come with a lens hood as part of the kit, but it is not uncommon for photographers to buy lens hoods separately. Although these photographic gadgets are vital for photographers, you can capture good daylight pictures without them.
How Do I Store Or Pack My Lens Hood?
You can store your lens hoods in a padded case or camera bag to protect them from damage. You can easily pack them into your camera bag by stacking them within each other. Another surprising way is by reversing the lens hood on a particular lens. This method is ideal for minimalist photographers.
Note: Lens hoods are ineffective when reversely placed on the lens. Do not walk around or store your lens without a hood on it.
How Do You Fix A Lens Hood On Your Camera?
Anyone can fix or use a lens hood. Snap or screw on the hood onto your lens and ensure you correctly mount it before shooting. When not in use, screw the lens hood to remove it.
What Are The Best Lens Hood?
Some lens hoods are designed to work with specific lenses, while others will work with a wide range of lenses. Some come in different colors and sizes to suit your needs. If you want to get the best lens hood for your camera, you should consider the size of the hood and your lens, how it attaches to your camera, what type of photography you do most often, and your budget (how much money you want to spend).
Before buying a shade for your lens, you must note that shades can either be dedicated or non-dedicated.
Difference Between Dedicated And Third Party Lens Shades
Dedicated lens hoods are designed to match the focal length of a particular lens. They are brand-named photography accessories devised for specific lenses. An example is the Vello LHC-ET60 lens hood which is specifically designed for use with Canon’s EF 75-300mm f/4.0-5.6 USM, II, II USM, III & III USM, and EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS Lenses. Third-party lens hoods are non-dedicated hoods. They are more available and affordable.
What Are The Best Dedicated Lens Shades For Canon And Nikon DSLR Cameras?
Some of the best dedicated Canon lens shades include:
- 58MM Tulip flower lens hood – compatible with Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 lenses.
- Veatree 49mm lens hood-Compatible with Canon EF 50mm f/.1.8 STM lenses.
- 50mm Reversible Lens Hood – compatible with Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM Lens
Some of the best dedicated Nikon lens shades include:
- JJC HB-77 Reversible Lens Hood – compatible with Nikkor 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3G ED VR lens
- 55mm and 58mm Digital Tulip Flower Lens Hood – compatible with Nikon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR AF-P DX and Nikon 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3G ED lenses.
- Screw-on Mount Camera Lens Hood – compatible with Nikon NIKKOR Z DX 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR lens
Conclusion
We hopefully believe that this article was able to satisfy your curiosity about lens hood and how to use them. A lens shade is able to protect your lens from unwanted flares, fingerprints, dust, and damages. They also improve your image’s overall contrast. Lens shades are easy to pack, store, and transport.