Hood for 45 f4 lens - questions.

[thomas_k.]

Do you consider pentax dedicated hood for 45 f4 lens useful? It's

expensive and large - takes lot of space in camera bag. Does it

provide shade from light, rain, dust or protection from accidental

hit? Does it enter the frame when mounted over pentax bayonet UV

filter? I have a dedicated lenshood for 20mm nikon lens for 35mm

camera and I stopped using it - it's useles ornament.

Thank you for sharing your experience.

[allan_jamieson2]

I don't have a hood for my own 45mm lens, but then again, I use it with a Lee

adapter ring permanently attached so that I can use ND Grads, warmups,

polarisers, etc.

 

The hood might help if you were shooting directly into the light, it should help

minimise flare, but otherwise I can't see how it would be of much benefit if the

sun is to your side or directly behind you as you look through the lens.

[jeff_drew4]

Yes, but not indispensable. I have found hoods to be useful "sometimes". I use one each on the 45mm & 75mm and I think the results are improved slightly, depending on lighting angles and subject matter. I use thin ringed UV occasionally and not had trouble. A broad brimmed hat can also serve as a shield etc. if tripod is used, otherwise the hood is useful when I hand-hold.

[steve_boothe]

I use the hood on my 45 whenever possible. Sometimes when traveling very light I don't bring it along and shade the lens with my hand. When shooting into the sun a shade is useless and only a quality lens coating and clean surfaces will help. The shade is effective at blocking side light outside the frame that would otherwise fall on the glass and show aperture ghosts and reduce contrast. The 45 is wide enough that the shade must be small to avoid being seen by the lens and so is really useful only some of the time. It does keep some rain and dew (long exposures at night)off the lens. It works with the polarizer so should with the UV (never use them myself).

[psartman]

I think this hood is essential with this lens. The Pentax 45mm is

a terrific lens with good contrast and flare management, but any

lens this wide needs all the help it can get to keep stray light.

from falling on the glass. The clip-on shade is well designed but

is easily knocked off, which can be disastrous in certain high risk

industrial environments. I've epoxied mine to a Pentax 82mm gel

filter holder, so it now firmly bayonets on the lens (and allows

use of filters without vignetting.)