lens hood

[epack]

I am new to this forum. Would like to get more insights from you.
According to my observaiton, most LF photographers are not using a lens hood. I wish to know why.

[BrianShaw]

This is my personal opinion, so take it for what it is worth: they are doing so because the either don't know better or because it is more difficult/expensive to find lens hoods than with smaller format cameras.

p.s. Welcome to the LF Forum!

[epack]

Thanks Brian for your prompt reply. Now I know this is truly a dynamic forum. If want to use lens hood, which is the best option. Someone advised me to buy from Cokin. Would like to know how you guys resolve this problem.

[Walter Calahan]

I almost always use a compendium instead of a lens hood.

One compendium will fit many lenses.

Here's an example: http://www.badgergraphic.com/store/c..._detail&p=1091

Think of it as a small bellows that sit out in front of your lens.

[Daniel_Buck]

cause my hand/hat/darkslide usually does good enough for me

[epack]

Thank you all for your help. Ebony has a lens shade clipped on the accessory shoe. I have never seen anyone use it.

[Robert A. Zeichner]

Here's an article I wrote on the subject last year. Take a close look at the examples.
http://web.mac.com/razeichner/iWeb/R...%20pg%201.html

[Vick Vickery]

I, too, have and like my compendium shade for its versatility and ability to provide as much shading needed on a great variety of lenses; on the other hand, I find it somewhat combersome in the field where I have more of an inclination to use a hat or a dark slide. Be aware, though, that many a photo has been ruined by an intruding hat brim or dark slide edge!

[Mattg]

Robert's article prompted me to make a similar thing out of a set of Dedolight 8 leaf barndoors like these:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...ndoor_Set.html

It wasn't that cheap (~$120) or easy as they needed some metal work at a shop to help adapt them. If anyone wants me to take a picture I will, I've used Neodym magnets mounted in a Cokin P adaptor to hold the shade in place. Wasn't able to improve on the scrunchy concept though

I'm not sure about their effect on contrast given I am using a late multicoated lens but they are fantastic at eliminating obvious flair, especially at night with strong light sources just outside the picture area. People might say that I could use my hand to block such light sources but it gets hard to do that for 15 minutes or when there are multiple light sources.

[Frank Petronio]

Even though a little metal screw-in hood may not that effective, it does help save the lens from damage should it fall or get wacked. So I use a small semi-effective hood and use my body, hand, or card to modify as needed.

If you can see the light source on the front of your lens, you need to shade that side.... just look at the lens straight on after you are set up.