Lens Hood vs Filter

Sirene · Jul 21, 2009

I'm thinking of buying a lens hood instead of a protective filter for my lens.
Both for the purpose of protecting my lens.

What are your thoughts on this ?

I'm hesitating cause a lens hood is kind of bulky but it does more than a simple protecting filter.

Also lens shades seems less expensive than filter..

Thanks in advance for your input.

CW Jones · Jul 21, 2009

well... if you get a lens hood you can go with whatever you can find that is the cheapest... while with a filter you will have to watch quality of the glass so it doesnt downgrade your IQ too much if at all.

as far as protection goes... I would say the filter would win for a few reasons... spill a drink, the filter will keep it off the front element (not to say it wont ruin the rest of the lens of camera tho!) the filter will also prevent scratches on the lens from lets say sticks on trees where as the hood would only protect things from the sides. its really your call. I personally have looked into both options and I picked a filter because you can get a filter that has an effect on the camera while protecting it.

musicaleCA · Jul 21, 2009

Get the hood. The hood will reduce flare, the filter will increase it (and badly if it's not a good multi-coated one).

CW Jones said:
well... if you get a lens hood you can go with whatever you can find that is the cheapest... while with a filter you will have to watch quality of the glass so it doesnt downgrade your IQ too much if at all.

as far as protection goes... I would say the filter would win for a few reasons... spill a drink, the filter will keep it off the front element (not to say it wont ruin the rest of the lens of camera tho!) the filter will also prevent scratches on the lens from lets say sticks on trees where as the hood would only protect things from the sides. its really your call. I personally have looked into both options and I picked a filter because you can get a filter that has an effect on the camera while protecting it.

Eh? Hoods are designed specifically for each lens. Using off-brand hoods or whatever you can find and slapping it on will risk serious vignetting.

The front element is one of the absolute cheapest parts of a lens to replace. With a filter, that extra gap of air may reduce image quality, regardless of how spectacularly awesome it is.

CW Jones · Jul 21, 2009

still the name brand hoods are not bank breaking like a filter can be lol I dont think i have seen a hood that was more than ~$60 (I am sure there are some out there tho)
pedal shaped ones should also reduce vignetting?

Dao · Jul 21, 2009

Well, the primary function of the hood is for blocking stray light from hitting the front lens element.

And a Filter ... it is a for filtering light. They were designed for different application.

musicaleCA · Jul 21, 2009

And neither were really designed for protection, but in my experience, it's the hood that gets bashed first, not the front element. If anything knocks my lenses, it tends to be coming at it sideways. :-/

CW Jones: Regarding petal vs. round hoods, look here.

As for the cost of hoods, that depends on the lens it's for. If it's a fairly common lens, then the hoods are probably mass produced, and easily. Those can be had on the cheap. However, if you're talking a really special lens (an EF 500mm L, say), then the hood probably needs to be custom made if you need a replacement, and that can cost a lot of money (I've heard something in the range of several hundred dollars).

Sirene · Jul 21, 2009

I was thinking about this hood
Optex 58MM Rubber Lens Hood

It's 58mm so it would fit my 18-55 and 55-250

What do you guys think about this one.
I'm really leaning towards a hood more than the filter now.

At this store http://www.lozeau.com/product.aspx?nav_id=3149&lang_id=E
they were telling me that this filter has only one purpose and that it's to protect the lens and does not do anything else.

....

musicaleCA · Jul 21, 2009

I wouldn't trust it. I've seen other photogs with similar hoods and they've occasionally forgotten to push them back over the lens while we're out shooting and gotten some real bad vignetting. Sure it's cheap, but you do get what you pay for.

PhotoXopher · Jul 21, 2009

I hate filters and only use them when necessary (neutral density filter for example). I wouldn't use a filter for 'protection', I'd use it for its intended purpose.

table1349 · Jul 21, 2009

Sirene said:
I was thinking about this hood
Optex 58MM Rubber Lens Hood

It's 58mm so it would fit my 18-55 and 55-250

What do you guys think about this one.
I'm really leaning towards a hood more than the filter now.

Hoods ALWAYS!!!

Filter only when the conditions call for it.

Those Optex hoods. Worthless for protection.

Only practical uses are to provide access to a CPL filter or when required at certain sporting venues for player protection / not lens protection when shooting on the sidelines or court side. Otherwise they provide little real protection. The OEM usually is not that expensive relative to the lens cost and are desiged for the lens for both the physical protection of the lens and the best stray light protection for that lens.

Sirene · Jul 21, 2009

N0YZE said:
I hate filters and only use them when necessary (neutral density filter for example). I wouldn't use a filter for 'protection', I'd use it for its intended purpose.

So what do you use for protecting your lenses ?

Sirene · Jul 21, 2009

L.L.Lozeau - Nikon neutral colour filter 58mm NC

Does a neutral density filter will really only protect or does it also cuts down light ?

Sirene · Jul 21, 2009

I found this hood
L.L.Lozeau - Canon Lens Hood EW-60C
which is made for 18-55
Would it also fit my 55-250, which has the same diameter 58 ?

Thanks

PhotoXopher · Jul 21, 2009

Sirene said:
N0YZE said:

I hate filters and only use them when necessary (neutral density filter for example). I wouldn't use a filter for 'protection', I'd use it for its intended purpose.

Click to expand...

So what do you use for protecting your lenses ?

Common sense, caution, and once in a while when those fail I'm glad I always have my lens hood and/or cap on :lol:

table1349 · Jul 21, 2009

Sirene said:
L.L.Lozeau - Nikon neutral colour filter 58mm NC

Does a neutral density filter will really only protect or does it also cuts down light ?

That is a neutral color filter. This is a neutral density filter: Lee Filters Neutral Density Standard Filters

Neutral Density filters cut the light that reaches the sensor for very bright conditions.