Written by: Rachel Durik
A lens hood. Do you need one?
My answer is yes. And here’s why:
Their original purpose is to keep out sunflare. So if that’s your goal, bingo. Already useful. But most of us like a little flare now and then. So what is their purpose then?
Well, if you’re a guy, it makes your lens look bigger. Ah hem.
But the most important reason to keep it on is that it protects your lens. Take a look at some of my lens hoods:
Even my little 50mm has one. And it’s a good thing. All this damage would be on my lens if it weren’t for that nifty little piece of plastic at the end!
But wait! There’s more!
Lens hoods can keep little fingers off your lens. Even as I was shooting these pictures, a little hand next to me went for it.
Thank you, lens hood!
I also find them handy for changing lenses. I can stand one lens up on its hood without a lens cap on while I’m taking the other lens off my camera.
The expensive lenses come with lens hoods. Less expensive ones require you to buy it separately, usually around $30. Definitely worth the money if you’re a protecting a lens worth hundreds of dollars.
Rachel Durik is a photographer located in Southwest Florida. You can learn more by visiting her photography site, Savor Photography, Naples Wedding Photographer, the Savor facebook page, and her personal blog.
{ 36 comments… read them below or add one }
Great article but it’s really important for people to realize that each lens has a hood that is appropriate for that specific lens. When I’ve gotten my hoods mixed up I go to a camera site that sells the lenses, look up the specific hood that comes with it, and then use a label maker to put the lens size on the hood; that way when I look at a stack of them I know which hood belongs to which lens. If you have on the wrong hood you could get some vignetting in your shots. Hood are like a great insurance policy, protecting the value of the lens!
Thanks for sharing this. I am sharing this now with all my photos buds that don’t think it is necessary to use their hood
Barb Phillips recently posted..Sunny Rules
This cracks me up: http://www.iheartfaces.com/2010/07/the-importance-of-a-lens-hood/ (via @iheartfaces)
I was thinking about a lens hood for my next accessory purchase and you just sealed the deal for me!
Lynda recently posted..Close-Up Macro Lens Filter Set
I so much agree with your article shared here! Sounded like I was reading the words from my husbands mouth. Sometimes I forget to put my lens hood on so to keep me NEVER forgetting nowdays I just put my entire camera away with the lens hood still attached on the end. Don’t know if any Pro’s would recommend against doing this, but just as you mention the ‘protection’ clauses in your article this can’t hurt anything as I see it ‘eh?
We recently just purchased a lens hood for our little 50 ML as well, and it’s definitely worth those extra dimes! Thanks for sharing!
Blessings † ,
Sarah
Mine have paid for themselves over and over. The number of times kids have run into me during a session…
Pol recently posted..Saying ‘I Do’
I NEED one of these! I dont have extra money to be spending on myself being a sahm with 4 kids. I tripped with my camera in my hand and broke my lens. Luckily I had another one which is a zoom lense so I am still stuck using THAT! It makes things very difficult just taking simple pictures, I have to always stand so far back!! I am certain that my lense would still be here if I had a lense hood!!
Michelle M recently posted..The Animal Fair
I have lense hoods that I never use. I will be using them now though. Thanks
ahhh…If only had a fancyshmancy camera to put one of these babies on. I have a Kodac Easy share, lol. Maybe you could stop by and let me know what you think of my photos (?) I just started venturing into the photography world!
I have the hoods…need to actually put them on my lenses now!
Thanks for the reminder Rachel!
Angie recently posted..“Down On The Farm” • Northeast Ohio Family Photographer
Great article. I have lens hoods for all my lenses. You also don’t have to get the “Name” Brand ones either. Mine are off brands. Work great. They are fitted for a Canon.
Good stuff!
Excellent points…many newbies often ask me why I shoot with them and protection is the number one reason I give, too!
Love that little hand!
Good to know – thanks!
Kelly recently posted..How I met my Husband
But I can’t keep mine on. It is a nice one but within 30 min. of getting out the camera it just falls off.
I have always wondered why some people have them on their cameras. My telephoto lens came with one but I thought it looked massive so I never used it (I am not a guy
) but it doesn’t fit my smaller lens which I couldn’t understand at the time. I’m going to find a smaller hood and possibly take off my lens cover. I had no idea it could adversely affect my pictures. Good to know. Great post for a beginner like me! 
Pink Martinis and Pearls recently posted..Summer Party Invitations
Liz and Beth, I don’t ever use filters. I think unless you have a filter that is at least the same quality of the lens, you’re potentially downgrading the quality of your lens. However, I’ve seen a few instances where filters have saved a lens as well. Like here: http://neilvn.com/tangents/2010/02/27/using-filters/#more-2595
Rachel Durik recently posted..Next Stop
Great information, thanks for sharing. I have one, and never use it go figure…I will from now on though. tAke Care, Carrie
Er I never use the lens cap…you know what I mean!
Screwed Up Texan recently posted..I Refuse to Call It a Diet
I always use my lens hoods on both my lens. Another photographer taught this to me early on that it helps protect my lens. In fact, I never use the lens cover–never.
Screwed Up Texan recently posted..I Refuse to Call It a Diet
Great post, I always wondered if I should be using one as well. Liz asked this as well, but can you help with the difference in a hood and a filter?
I know just what you mean. Mine is currently on my 2nd lens in my bag because I lost my lens cap, oops.
Ahh! I need to use mine more often to keep off those sticky finger prints!!
Amy recently posted..Disguise Kit Free Printable
Good point! I have one lens without a hood and it fell off the couch and the lens cap dented part of the lens and while the actual lens itself is in tact the autofocus has never worked the same because it doesn’t slide in and out smoothly anymore. A lens cap would have prevented that!
Haha! I was just telling my friend why I always use a lens hood, and why she should get one!
Lolli recently posted..Cub Scout Day Camp
I never use my lens hood since I love some sun flare! I thought the filter I put over the lens would help protect the lens from damage, finger prints, etc.
Thanks for sharing. I need to make this my next investment as far as equipment goes.
Heather @ Pedersen Photography recently posted..I Love My Country
Thanks so much for this post! I just looked at lens hoods the other day for my “little”50mm and wondered if I should.
I did see notice different sizes, does that matter?
Thanks for sharing.
Lala @ Lenz Love recently posted..Blue & Green Eyes- Oh Boy!
Thanks for sharing! This was very helpful…hopefully, I’ll come around buying one soon!
Awesome! Now if I could just figure out how to put mine on ….
Holly and Cheryl, I haven’t found it to affect the pictures at all.
And Shana, seriously, right?
Congratulations on the new release! They look lovely! Hope you are well, too!
Rachel Durik recently posted..Next Stop
Boo Hoo! I lost my lens hood at a concert recently! : ( I guess I’ll have to go get another one when I buy my 50mm lens.
Rebekah @ It Only Gets Betterg recently posted..Rock On-
Crack me up, Rachel! That comment about men was too funny! Yes, I use my hood for all the same reasons you do… Hope you are well!
One came with my telephoto lens but I thought it might affect the outcome of my shots. So, same question from me: will it affect the shot at all?
Cheryl recently posted..Your good deeds arent going unnoticed
Thanks for that! I have one for all my lenses, but I stopped using them because I really didn’t know why I had them. Now I see the importance. You can’t go wrong with more lens protection. Oh…and size does really count.
Hey cool! I was wondering what those were for! LOL
I’m looking to move into a DSLR and am wanting to get a 50mm prime lens. Does the hood affect the outcome of your shot?
{ 2 trackbacks }