Spend time at any event photography enthusiasts congregate and you’ll notice a lot of nude lenses … lensless lenses. That’s pretty weird, considering that almost all quality lenses ship with a lens shield specifically designed for that lens. It’s not about being able to afford a hood; it is almost impossible to buy a decent lens without a matching shade. So all those photographers already own lenses for lenses; they just don’t bother to use them.
There are certain situations where a lens screen is unnecessary or even detrimental to good images. Most of the time, however, using a shade will result in superior images.
Most photographers know that lens shades exclude glare and reduce hot spots. Additionally, lens shades increase contrast, improve sharpness, and preserve color fidelity. Consider the fact that many photographers spend large sums of money on high-quality lenses because they know that excellent glass will produce better images. Yet many of these same photographers don’t bother taking ten seconds to attach a lens hood, although that’s essential to get the most out of that expensive lens.
There are two types of lens flares. The first is an obvious flash. It is often referred to as a ghost image because the appearance is similar to the images that paranormal investigators are excited about. It is characterized by distinct ghostly areas caused by reflected light inside the lens. These reflections may be visible in the viewfinder, although sometimes you will not notice the flare until you process the images on your computer. This type of flare can be deadly to your images, because it is almost impossible to repair the effects of an obvious flare.
The other type of flare is more subtle. Instead of a prominent ghostly area, the reflection occurs across the entire surface of the front lens element. The result is a subtle loss of contrast and color fidelity. You may not even realize that the flare has affected your image, because the difference is very delicate. However, there is a difference. If you remove the flare, the image will appear sharper and richer.
Suppose a respected lab advertised that a specific lens has five percent more contrast and sharpness than any other lens in its class. That lens would immediately become a highly sought-after optic. Photographers would talk about it quietly and be willing to spend huge sums of cash for the privilege of saying they shoot with that lens.
However, many photographers who invest hundreds of dollars in specialty lenses cannot be bothered with a shadow. Buying an expensive lens for sharper images with better color? Of course. Spend a few seconds putting up a sunshade? Who has time for that?
What if your original hood is lost or cracked? You have several options. If the lens is still in production, you can always order a new one from the manufacturer. This is often the best route, because the lens hood will match the lens. Unfortunately, original replacement hoods are not cheap. In some cases, the list price for an original equipment lens hood may be twenty percent or more for a brand new lens – a fairly high label for a plastic cylinder or a stamped piece of aluminum.
You can search for a used hood on one of the online auction websites, but if the hood is for a popular lens, you may find it difficult to get a second-hand lens display. That narrows your choice down to one of the many hoods available on the aftermarket. Unfortunately, one size hood definitely doesn’t fit all focal lengths. A longer shade will be more effective, but long caps cannot be used with wide angle lenses because the cap will produce vignetting. Zoom lenses can be even more problematic, as it can be difficult to find a generic hood that offers the right combination of sun protection without vignetting in the corners.
Aftermarket hoods are available in metal, plastic, and flexible rubber. A generic lens hood may not be as effective as one specially designed for a particular lens, but aftermarket shades are much more affordable.
A final source for replacement bells are printable bells that can be downloaded from the Internet. Type in “printable lens shades” into your favorite search engine and you’ll find dozens of paper shades designed in the shape of specific OEM lens shades. Print them on stiff card stock, cut them out, and attach them to your lens.
So when should you give up on a parasol? Sometimes you may want to introduce lens flare as a creative element. Hollywood movies often go to great lengths to show dramatic flash effects. You may want to include this technique as well.
You must be careful when using an electronic flash lens screen. Lens hoods can block light from shoe-mounted flash units or built-in flashes. This is not a problem with longer focal length lenses, but with a wide angle lens, there is a real chance that the shadow will cast a dark shadow on the bottom of the frame. It is a good idea to check the performance of the hoods of wide-angle lenses with hot shoe-mounted flashes.
A good lens hood is a simple and effective way to enhance your digital photography. Don’t let your glasses get naked!
