Lens hoods and the general public

[Scott1970]

With entry-level dSLRs and decent kit lenses becoming more and more affordable, I've been seeing a lot more people carrying around dSLRs.

One thing I have noticed, however, is a tendency for many people with such cameras (if they have a lens hood at all) to have it mounted the wrong way, with the hood over the barrel of the lens.

I mount mine that way for storage, but flip it around when shooting.

I've seen people struggling to zoom their lens, because the hood was in the way.

On a recent vacation to D.C., I commented to one such individual that it would be easier if he flipped the lens hood around, and he replied with a testy, "It's MY camera, and I *know* how to use it!"

Are all these people merely too lazy to flip their lens hood around so it actually protects the lens and prevents lens flare, or do they not understand how it's supposed to be mounted?

[oldfotopro]

They don't know how it is supposed to be mounted.
They don't know about exposure.
They don't know about composition.
They don't know about light
They don't know about shadows
They don't know about posing
They don't know about copyright
They don't know about lenses
They don't know about DOF
They don't know about monopods
They don't know about on camera flash
They don't know about off camera flash
They don't know about RAW
They don't know about Photoshop
They don't know about Lightroom
They don't know about white balance
They don't know about sensor cleaning
They don't know about IS or VR
They don't know about chromatic abberations
They don't know Jack

[TheFantasticG]

On some glass a reverse mounted hood *does* look cool...

Jus' sayin.

2ndly, I'd venture that most don't know what the hood is for besides looking cool mounted in reverse.

[revjvegas]

I don't know, but that ^ seems to be a pretty comprehensive list right there.
:-)

[Scott1970]

Originally Posted by oldfotopro

They don't know how it is supposed to be mounted.
They don't know about exposure.
They don't know about composition.
They don't know about light
They don't know about shadows
They don't know about posing
They don't know about copyright
They don't know about lenses
They don't know about DOF
They don't know about monopods
They don't know about on camera flash
They don't know about off camera flash
They don't know about RAW
They don't know about Photoshop
They don't know about Lightroom
They don't know about white balance
They don't know about sensor cleaning
They don't know about IS or VR
They don't know about chromatic abberations
They don't know Jack

You're right. Most never take the camera off the full-auto setting.

I have had a profusion of friends get bitten by the photography bug in the past year. Many started by asking me questions, and many have gotten better than I by now.

[David Whatley]

Originally Posted by oldfotopro

They don't know Jack

Well I know both Jack Daniels and Jach Shi* so I guess I know more than most

[robert t]

Those are the same folks that use the pop up flash at Reliant Stadium in to take a photo of the entertainer on center stage.

[Wil_Bloodworth]

The general population just does not know why the lens hood is important. I actually had a woman ask me what "that thing on the end of the lens" was. She was a DSLR owner and had very expensive gear as well. I told her it was a lens hood and that all lenses come with them. She evidently never took hers out of the box because she told me her lenses didn't come with them... meaning she was in such a hurry to get the lens out of the box that she completely ignored everything else in the box.

- Wil

[Scott1970]

Originally Posted by Wil_Bloodworth

The general population just does not know why the lens hood is important. I actually had a woman ask me what "that thing on the end of the lens" was. She was a DSLR owner and had very expensive gear as well. I told her it was a lens hood and that all lenses come with them. She evidently never took hers out of the box because she told me her lenses didn't come with them... meaning she was in such a hurry to get the lens out of the box that she completely ignored everything else in the box.

- Wil

Well, at least with Canon lenses, they MAKE them for all their lenses, but they only come with L lenses -- for the others, you have to buy them separately.

Honestly, I find the hood of greater value simply in the protection it offers the lens, than in the prevention of lens flare. To see how dinged up my hood is, you'll realise it's really saved a lot of wear and tear on the lens, itself.

[Wil_Bloodworth]

Originally Posted by Scott1970

Well, at least with Canon lenses, they MAKE them for all their lenses, but they only come with L lenses -- for the others, you have to buy them separately.

Honestly, I find the hood of greater value simply in the protection it offers the lens, than in the prevention of lens flare. To see how dinged up my hood is, you'll realise it's really saved a lot of wear and tear on the lens, itself.

Scott,

Good to know. I thought all lenses came with hoods... guess I was wrong. And come to think of it, she was a Canon shooter so that probably explains why she didn't have a lens hood.

It's really a "cheap ass" thing to do... make a lens and not provide a $1 lens hood with it! Those things are really cheap for the lower-end lenses.

- Wil

[MT Stringer]

For my 70-200 f/2.8, I bought a knock-off clone hood off ebay. I'd rather use it especially when shooting through the backstop, and save the original from getting scratched up.
And like said, it helps protect the front lens element on the telephotos.

I checked the price of a 400 f/2.8 hood from Canon parts dept....$840. I have a paint bucket I think I can cobble into a hood if desperation sets in! :-)

[andyz]

The fellow Scott corrected later probably said "hey, this plastic thingy does come off and fit the other way. Now I can shoot on P(ro)."

And Wil, Canon doesn't sell anything for a buck. I haven't lost a lens hood yet because I know how proud Canon is of them.

[Wil_Bloodworth]

Originally Posted by andyz

And Wil, Canon doesn't sell anything for a buck. I haven't lost a lens hood yet because I know how proud Canon is of them.

Oh, I just meant Canon's cost to manufacture those lens hoods in China. $1 is probably too high!

- Wil

[Wil_Bloodworth]

Originally Posted by MT Stringer

I have a paint bucket I think I can cobble into a hood if desperation sets in! :-)

And it will probably do a very nice job too!

- Wil

[andyz]

Wil, I agree.

I know I've seen the site that has patterns for making your own hood, and in a pinch that might be necessary, but has anyone done that? Think I'd be embarrassed to have black construction paper cut into a hood on the end of some nice L glass.