Lense Hood

I'm using a Canon Ftb, getting used to it and

have 50mm 1.8 S.C and a 50mm 1.4 S.S.C lenses.

I use both with a skylite cap on the front of each

lense.

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My questions,

1.Do the skylites affect the picture quality or are they just for protection of the lense.

2.What is a lense hood and how does it work? How does it fit on the lense? Why do I need one.?

3.What is the best way to take a picture of the

full moon on a clear, crisp winter night (hand held).

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thanks,

Tom:

1. A skylight filter is a UV filter with some slight warming added.

A UV filter reduces the effects of atmospheric haze produced by

UV light. For the most part, these filters are used to protect

the front element of the lens. Some experts say not to use these

filters for protection because the add surfaces that could

cause problems, but I was at the camera shop the other day and

saw a SMASHED filter that protected a front element. I have

them on ALL of my lenses.

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2. A lens hood projects from the front of the lens and is used to

keep stray light from entering the lens where it can reflect from

surface to surface causing image-degrading flare.

Generic lens hoods usually screw into the threads on the front of

the lens. Canon hoods twist onto the little ridges near the front

of the lens. Be sure to use the correct hood for the lens. For

example, for your 50mm lens, you would use either a BS52 or BS55

hood(depending on the filter size of the lens).

(Most of the above information was taken from Canon Classic

Cameras by Bob Shell and Harold Francke.)

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3. The moon, especially a full moon, is just a big sunlit rock. A

good starting setting would be f/16 at the shutter speed that is

close to the reciprical of the film speed, ie 1/200 for 200 speed

film.

If you have any more questions, please email me at: kirbyc@prodigy.net

Good luck,

Kirby

In general, film is more sensitive to blue to UV light, so a UV or

Skylight filter removes some of this light. A Skylight filter removes

the UV and some of the blue, a UV filter, just the UV.

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As long as you use a quality filter, and it is clean, there should be

little image degradation. In some conditions, like a shot where the

sun or bright light is in the frame, or just out side it, the extra

glass surfaces may cause flare (bright areas or spots on the

negative). A multicoated filter will help avoid this, but in these

cases it is best to take the filter off.

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A hood projects from the front of the lens and offers shade to the

front of the lenses to avoid flare. It also will protect the front of

the lens from damage.

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For yor two lenses you need a BS-55.