Lens Hoods

[Tormentil]

Stumbled on this site Lens Hoods

Those of a "Blue Peter" bent will like it.

Very cheap alternative to what hood makers charge for a bit of plastic tubing.

[beckiscott]

Well, I tried doing them for a one of my lenses... and imho ... they suck. Firstly you need to print on a firm card and spray paint it matt black to avoid any glare, unwanted bouncing light or mis shaping that will cause vignetting. You have to keep them in place with an elasatic band and masking tape - thats a really pro look to have... and makes it near on impossible to swap lenses if you're out and about. They get squashed really easily in your bag and are hard to store in their made up shape; plus they arent very effective when using up against glass as the bend out of shape. I think the hour it took me to print, paint and make would have been best busking down the bus station to earn enough to buy me a proper hood (and I dont sing and I aint very muscial!). I know their site has a load of folks posting how great they are... but for me... its really not worth it!

[Boddie]

Are lens hoods really that dear to buy?

[Andy Warne]

Lost the hood for my Sigma 180mm in Suffolk a couple of weeks ago, list price £20! Replaced it with a much better one off of Ebay for a fiver.

[HowlinWolf]

Originally Posted by Boddie

Are lens hoods really that dear to buy?

Yes, some are. The HK-30 hood for my Nikkor 300mm f/2.8 is £249 (woven carbon fibre). You'd save a considerable amount making your own if you bought a second-hand lens that had no hood, especially if it was a longer focal length than a 300mm prime.

HW

[beckiscott]

Originally Posted by HowlinWolf

Yes, some are. The HK-30 hood for my Nikkor 300mm f/2.8 is £249 (woven carbon fibre). You'd save a considerable amount making your own if you bought a second-hand lens that had no hood, especially if it was a longer focal length than a 300mm prime.

HW

HW, Did you not get a hood with your lens?!
Canon provide hoods with all (ok, maybe most) of their pro range lenses.

Most folks look after their kit too so replacements aren't needed that often; and i would have thought professionals would have their kit covered by insurance? Personally i dont think 10% of the lens price for a hood is that much?!

I do know I wouldn't stick a piece of cut out card on a £2k lens though! Maybe i have more money than sense?! ;-)

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by beckiscott

I do know I wouldn't stick a piece of cut out card on a £2k lens though! Maybe i have more money than sense?! ;-)

I tend to agree - although i also cant see the point in having a woven carbon fibre lens hood - all it is doing is blocking the light so plastic will do nicely - you can get third party lens hoods for nearly every lens if you search the net - for a longish f2.8 lens you are looking at 30-50 notes for most of them.

[HowlinWolf]

Originally Posted by beckiscott

HW, Did you not get a hood with your lens?!
Canon provide hoods with all (ok, maybe most) of their pro range lenses.

Most folks look after their kit too so replacements aren't needed that often; and i would have thought professionals would have their kit covered by insurance? Personally i dont think 10% of the lens price for a hood is that much?!

I do know I wouldn't stick a piece of cut out card on a £2k lens though! Maybe i have more money than sense?! ;-)

beckiscott:

I bought the lens new, and it did come with a hood, as do all pro Nikkors. I suspect the carbon fibre material is used to reduce weight as much as possible with these things while retaining strength, but then I'd have thought that was obvious.

HW



HW

[Hobjob]

Originally Posted by Andy Warne

Lost the hood for my Sigma 180mm in Suffolk a couple of weeks ago, list price £20! Replaced it with a much better one off of Ebay for a fiver.

Thanks for that - been coping without for some time
so just bought new one !!!

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by HowlinWolf

. I suspect the carbon fibre material is used to reduce weight as much as possible with these things while retaining strength, but then I'd have thought that was obvious.

HW

yep , but what is not obvious is why a lens hood should need a lot of inherent strength - presumably one doesnt make a habit of throwing a 2.5k lens arround - and plastic is perfectly strong enough for most normal applications and a lot cheaper than carbon fibre if you do need to replace it.