Lens shade or just using the hand

[wiggywag]

I have the practice of using my hand only for shading the lens from the sunlight. Will my images benefit from using a compendium/lens shade compared to only using my hand? I use both multicoated and single coated lenses, but no uncoated.

[C_Remington]

Yes. U won't get your hand in the picture.

[Kirk Gittings]

FWIW I've never used anything but my hand, my darkslide or my hat since starting LF in 1978.

[Heroique]

I’ll use my compendium shade even if I’m certain my final image will be good enough by using just my hand. Or my hat.

To do this, I have to fight a complacent voice inside my head that says, “Why bother with the compendium?” That voice enjoys being no better than good enough, and he has tricky arguments to win me over.

“Ansel used his hat,” he’ll add. “Why not use yours?”

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I remember a forum poll about using shades – there was an even split between people who used a shade for each and every shot, and those who simply used a hand/hat if they felt it was needed.

[Diane Maher]

I have done both. It depends on what else I might need my hand for (holding an umbrella to block the wind comes to mind). I have also used the lens shade to keep snow off of my lens while shooting.

[jp]

I use my darkslide or my body.

I don't wear a hat. Using weak logic inference, hats make people go bald.

[Jim Noel]

Set up your camera and make two identical exposures. One using your hand, or hat or dark slide and one with a compendium shade. You will then know what is best for you to do.

[Jason Greenberg Motamedi]

Set up your camera and make two identical exposures. One using your hand, or hat or dark slide and one with a compendium shade. You will then know what is best for you to do.

Wise advice! Long ago I tried this and now use a compendium hood.

[jcoldslabs]

I don't wear a hat. Using weak logic inference, hats make people go bald.

I always wear a hat in the (perhaps mistaken) belief that a sunburned scalp leads to hair loss. So far, so good!

I have compendiums but find them cumbersome so I use a dark slide instead. If I shot with fresh film and modern lenses I might worry more about it, but as it is I'm a pretty lazy technician when it comes to 'optimizing' my results.

Jonathan

[Kirk Gittings]

Don't just test but look at whether it fits into your work method and subject matter. There is nothing lazy about not using a compendium. Its a choice one makes balancing many factors. It has a lot to do with your work style and subject matter. I travel light and shoot quick usually in rapidly changing light or trying to catch moving clouds etc. I oftentimes need to be set up and shooting in under 2 minutes. I don't need anything that slows me down more, catches the wind more or adds more weight to my kit.

If one needs confirmation look at all the extraordinary LF landscape photographers in the modern era who didn't use one. Lazy? I think not? Prevented them from creating exquisite work? Hardly.

One can be simply too anal and miss the light, which is what I did when I first started. Perfectly Zone placed exposures, perfectly individually developed negatives-perfectly boring images-but technically perfect.