Are lens hoods a must, even when using polarizer filters?

[julio_fernandez]

Has anyone experimented with not using lens hoods when using polarizers? What prompts the question is among other things the unpracticality of placing the polarizer las furthest away from the lens when also using polyester filters, as in the Lee system. Because the polarizer must rotate it can not be placed furthest away from the lens, and that would be the hood's filter slot -because the hood can't be rotated without vigneting. The setup then must consist of the hood and two adapters. The furthermost adapter for the polarizer can rotate and the hood attaches to it. The adapter closer to the lens carries the polyester filters. The whole gizmo gets too long and causes vigneting with wideangle lenses. If at least the hood were not needed that would help making the whole thing less cumbersome and reduce the possibility of vigneting.

[larry_huppert1]

Julio,

 

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I agree with your analysis regarding the Lee system. You have

discovered one of the several weaknesses of this setup for large

format, and wide angle usage in particular. There have been

recent posts where people have given opinions about the need

for a shade. Because of what you've described, I've given up on

trying to use the Lee shades, and just use a foam core board or

the dark slide to shade my lenses. I would still prefer having the

option of using a shade. I had a recent shot ruined by flare even

though I remember being very careful using the darkslide to

shade the lens.

[doug_paramore]

Julio: A good lens hood is an important piece of photography

equipment and adds considerably to the quality of your pictures. Even

if light falling on your lens doesn't cause flare streaks, it can

degrade the image due to internal flare. Look at a scene with your

eyes with the light coming from the front and side and then shield

the light by looking through a tube or lens shade. You can see the

contrast change. There is a discussion down a few questions on the

use of lens and camera mounted lens shades. A camera mounted shade

lets you mount what filters you need before the lens with minor

problems and give you good shading. Also, the camera mounted shades

are square, with prevents cutting corners off with the hood. Next

best is to shade the lens with the dark cloth. A wire frame with the

dark cloth draped over it makes a great lens shade.

 

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Regards,

[mark_windom]

Julio,

 

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For what it's worth I have never used a lens shade and have never

seen a problem in my images for not doing so. I am careful, however,

to "shade" my lens with my hat or dark slide. From a convenience

standpoint a lens shade makes sense in that you don't have to

struggle with holding something to shade the lens while using your

other hand to trip the shutter. However, not carrying a shade around

is one less thing to worry about while out in the field.

[dmin-99]

If anything it's more important. Most polarizers are uncoated, or at

best single-coated. If you have a multi-coated polarizer it's either

a Hoya or a very, very expensive B&W/Heliopan.