Pizza Day

I am buying a lens hood for my Leica M3 with Summicron 50MM f/2 lens. Trying to understand the functional difference between the vented vs. solid versions. Can someone possibly explain? Also, do I even need a lens hood for everyday out door (or indoor) shooting? Thanks for your help.

Mac Loc: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia now Hernando Co. Fl.

I'm not sure what you mean about vented, but the main function of a lens hood is to shade the front lens element from stray light. Stray light can cause lens flair and can come from natural or artificial light that can be outdoor or indoor.

Pizza Day

“Vented”, referring to lens hoods with open slots around the perimeter of the hood.

fuminous Loc: Luling, LA... for now...

The 'vented' style, I imagine, simply reduces weight; it certainly doesn't increase the hood's effectiveness... but vents may also reduce strength. Bottom line is: no difference at all...

Pablo8 Loc: Nottingham UK.

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Surprised that a person who has the knowledge / fortitude, to obtain / use, A Leica M3 with 50mm f/2 Summicron lens, does NOT seem to know the advantages of using a lens hood. " Got the Gear...no Idea"?

Pizza Day

I understand the purpose of a lens hood of course, but the vented vs solid difference isn’t clear to me. Some say the vented is intended to limit interference when looking through the viewfinder. If you had given that response, your entry would have been illuminating and constructive. Instead, you simply elected to insert negativity into this thread. Maybe finish your coffee and then get back to me.

Pablo8 Loc: Nottingham UK.

Some of my older Leica equipment had lens-hood with slots, as the hood without slots, would impede the view through the built-in viewfinder. Another alternative , was to buy an expensive ( Well we are talking Leica) shoe fitting bright-line viewfinder.

photocat Loc: Atlanta, Ga

you need to find out which is used with that lens, check the website for Leica that info will give you a product numbers that can be used for finding a third party lens or order from Lecia

dfairclough

This is what I found on the purpose of vented lens hoods. Hope this answers your question.
Some hoods are for rangefinder cameras, where viewfinder windows look out from the top part of the camera body. A solid lens hood would partly block the viewfinder image, but one with "vent" holes cut out reduces this obscuring effect.

photocat Loc: Atlanta, Ga

The tulip hood is made ususally for zoom type lens (not always) so that a various focal lengths there will be no vingetting

Prime lens tend to have a straight barrel look

ken glanzer

As I remember the hood blocks part of the viewer so the vent. It doesn't reduce the effectiveness of the hood. Always use a hood whether you think you need it or not even a small one which are sometimes supplied with the camera. . Regardless of the size be sure never to take a shot where the sun can hit the lens even a small part. Always check it if you're near an angle to the sun where it could. It also could save a lens the more it sticks out. I like the clip-on & bayonet filters & hoods like Ha$$elblad has rather than the screw on ones. I like the collapsible rubber ones & they come in different lengths. It often allows it to slip into the camera bag. Rectangular hoods really optimize it all the way around but you have to be careful it is horizontal. I use one on 2 lenses with a size adaptable ring. The bigger lenses need a longer one but smaller in diameter. I have one 9" long. Learn to live with them. I've even made them from approparate shapes but paint the inside of it a dull black. Get a bag size that allows them to remain on the camera. Use a pencil lead to lubricate the threads or a very thin coat of silicone grease. Don't screw it on tight as they can stick. At home I have even longer ones too long to carry. How much more it helps I'm not sure but it feels better.

Nikonman44

It is really very simple. The solid version tends to cause some vignetting depending on your shot and the use of certain flashes. Inside especially problematic .. The vented hood gives you a little relief in that matter but still can cause the vignette when using on camera flash unit.

Outside, either of the hoods is a good idea because it will keep extraneous lights out of your lens and therefore the foto.

Its not the same as a polarizing filter but makes for better shots by blocking those pesky lights and aborrations from just outside your field of view.

Hope that helps. YES use them outside for sure.

Nikonman44

The tulip, vented, or whatever they want to call them is usually found on Zoom lens. The weight I am not sure makes all that difference. I have a lot of both types and tend to use the hood that came with my lens.

I tend not to use a hood inside with flash unless I have ample area to crop because the vignetting will and does occur

The vignette is simple the flash not being far enough above the lens and the hood to shoot over it and not block the flash.

Like I said, I dont try to use a hood inside.

Good luck

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

Sorry, that's not an accurate perspective. Tulip hoods are related to how wide angle the lens is and the sensor aspect ratio, not zoom or prime.

Pizza Day

Thanks everyone. That’s a great crash course in lens hoods. I never take anything for granted. I’ve always been taught that there’s no such thing as a stupid question and I’ve done some of my best learnin’ by listening to people even when I thought I already knew the answer!