The lens hood does so many wonderful services for us, so why do so few people exercise a little bit of diligence instead working without one?

What? Me grumpy? It happens. I hear about a variety of camera “issues” on a regular basis and many of these issues could be solved by the simple lens hood.

What Kind?

There are two kinds of lens hoods. The expensive hard plastic one that comes with your lens if the lens is really expensive, or that you can buy as a standalone product for insane sums if the lens is inexpensive, or the simple rubber lens hood that screws to the front of the lens like a filter. It really doesn’t matter which one you use, but you should be using one.

When Should I Use a Lens Hood

All the time. For every image you make.

There. That was easy.

What Benefits Do Lens Hoods Bring?

Glare Reduction - light on our planet does not all come in one direction, it bounces around, it gets reflected and can hit the front element of the lens at an oblique angle causing flare, washouts and hot spots. The lens hood extends past the front element and helps reduce this. This simple step can save you headaches and hours in post processing trying to fix this after the fact. Put the lens hood on.

Front End Damage - the front element of your lens is by its nature, out in front. Thus if the camera is going in a direction, the front element gets there first. Like a low wall, like a door, the neighbour’s kid, your car. Which would you rather be taking the impact? The expensive front element or the inexpensive lens hood. The answer for any thinking creature it the lens hood. Put the lens hood on.

Controlling Reflections - You know when you go somewhere and the subject you want to photograph is behind glass or lexan? You know how that surface seems to be a magnet for reflections? That simple, cheap, collapsible rubber lens hood is your best friend. Simply press the front edge against the glass and BOOM! surface reflections are negated. The hood will not do anything for filthy glass, or guck on the on the other side of the glass, as one might find in a chimpanzee enclosure where the little monsters get such joy from hurling freshly produced poop at the spectators, but at least if one does and you get startled, you won’t smash the front of your lens into the glass. Put the lens hood on.

But It’s Such a Hassle…

So is waiting weeks for repairs and spending hundreds of dollars to fix a lens that could have easily been protected by the 5 seconds it takes to put on the lend hood.

Conclusion

Yes a short article but oh so relevant. Put the lens hood on. Now go make photographs.

Do you have an idea for an article, tutorial, video or podcast? Do you have an imaging question unrelated to this article? Send me an email directly at ross@thephotovideoguy.ca or post in the comments.  When you email your questions on any imaging topic, I will try to respond within a day.

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I'm Ross Chevalier, thanks for reading, watching and listening and until next time, peace.