Lens Hoods: What Are They For and How To Use Them
A range of Nikon lens hoods, designed for use with different Nikon lenses. Most Nikon lens hoods attach to the lens using a bayonet mount. To attach the lens hood to the lens, line up the tab on the hood with the slot on the lens barrel, then turn the lens hood until it snaps into place. To remove, press the tab and rotate the lens hood opposite the way you did to lock it into place. Lens hoods vary in size and shape depending upon the type of lens they are designed for. Wide-angle lenses use a flower type lens hood (shown at far right). Because wide-angle lenses have such a wide field-of-view, the lens hoods used with them are designed so they don’t cause vignetting of the image as you shoot. The more telephoto a lens is, the more fully round the lens hood can be because those lenses have a narrower field-of-view. Pro-level super-telephoto lenses utilize larger and sturdier lens hoods that attach via a screw that tightens against the lens (shown at far left). [Editor's note: lens hoods shown are not to scale.]
Seasoned photographers will tell you that small adjustments in setup often make a big difference in the quality of their work. For example, a lens hood can transform your photography despite its apparent simplicity.
What is a Lens Hood and what does it do?
Upon initial examination, a lens hood might appear to lack importance. Nonetheless, the lens hood's function is anything but trivial. By protecting the lens to prevent unwanted light from entering, lens hoods minimize the chance of glare and flare, which ensures that your subject is captured with the best possible lighting. When using a lens hood, you’re making sure the light you want is the light you get.
How to Know Which Lens is Compatible with a Lens Hood?
Not all lens hoods can be used interchangeably. Each one is designed to accommodate a specific focal length without vignetting the image. Using the wrong hood can introduce vignetting (darkening) of the picture at the corners. Or it might not block out all the light that the correct size lens hood would. The lens hoods for your Nikon lenses will most likely utilize a bayonet mount which snaps into place when correctly attached to the lens. For some of the larger pro super-telephoto lenses, the lens hoods may attach by utilizing a small screw on the lens hood that tightens to adhere to the lens.
When to use a lens hood
The functionality of the lens hood applies to nearly all shooting situations, particularly bright outdoor settings where excessive light may be a problem.
There are times when you might want flare introduced into your image for a creative look. In these instances, you will want to remove the lens hood, to allow flare to reach the lens.
