elee950021 Loc: New York, NY

Kobuk!

D.O.T.S.! From my Army combat engineer platoon leader days: Depends On The Situation! If you're a meticulous
and "slow" paced photographer and do landscape, studio, macro or other types of photography where you can control things versus a "rouge and tumble" approach such as sports or any other fast-paced activity, you might consider a lens hood. If you shoot into the light or sun, you definitely need one. They do provide a bit of protection for your lenses especially if you are the latter type of photographer or butter-fingered!

I'm a more deliberate type of guy and do mostly model portraits and figure work, very often in a studio and don't knock my stuff around. With over 50 years of experience with my own custom lab and studio business here in NYC, I use them if they are handy but don't think using a lens hood mattered one way or the other in my case.

FYI: A lens hood is not advisable if you use a built-in camera flash. With a wider focal length lens you may encounter a semi-circular light fall-off at the bottom of your image due to the camera lens blocking the flash. It can be lightened via editing to match the surrounding area but it's a pain if you have multiple images to do.

Hey, lens hoods often come with a lens so why not use it! Be well! Ed

Bill McKenna

This is an example of “Big Mistake/Little Mistake.” The guy you were talking to can’t possibly give you even one good reason for not using a lens hood (except laziness in putting it on). There is little mistake (in fact no mistake in this instance) for putting on a lens hood. However, what this person is also telling you is that he never wants to shot a frame with side lighting (a big mistake in creativity), and doesn’t care to protect his lens from damage (an even bigger mistake). When you meet people like this, just walk away. If there wasn’t a valid purpose in using a lens hood, God would not have created this useful accessory.

alvin3232 Loc: Houston, TX

Well
I would say to each his/her own and let it go.

Alvin

tbsteph Loc: Ohio

To each their own.

Was hiking in Shenandoah NP about a week ago. Tripped while carrying my camera with a 24-105 lens (With hood) attached. Ended up doing a face plant where the camera/lens hit the ground on the hood. Fortunately the camera and lens survived the fall with only a bit of dirt.( Oh, besides a couple of skinned knees and hands I made it too.) Did the hood prevent damage to my gear? Obviously I'm not going to try a recreate the incident without the hood. But, my guess it helped.

gtheodore Loc: Fort Collins CO

I always use lens hoods. Scattered light can come in from anywhere. As to that person's response, photographing only with light to your back will result in a lot of very boring images. Finally, nothing protects the lens more than the hood.

Jeffcs Loc: Myrtle Beach South Carolina

To “hood” or not to “hood”
I even hood at night

MJPerini

My take is that with all that has been written by good photographers, camera manufacturers and others about the simple practical physical and optical benefits of a lens shade, when you see someone without one or on backwards,
We should leave them alone. They never want the advice so don't waste energy. Like not wearing seat belts.......

bobfitz Loc: Kendall-Miami, Florida

I always use a lens hood unless some sort of lens attachment prohibits it. Luckily, I have never dropped one of my cameras but a few times they took some bumps and so far, only one of my hoods has a tiny scratch.

Bob

bobfitz Loc: Kendall-Miami, Florida

Some people need to get bitten by a dog to know it would hurt.

Bridges Loc: Memphis, Charleston SC, now Nazareth PA

Fotoartist, here is something you may want to consider. I too had a problem with that huge lens shade for the 200-500. On a plane trip about a year ago I had to pack the lens in a suitcase because I was only allowed one carry-on and I opted for the backpack with my camera and other lenses to stay with me. I packed some socks around the lens inside the padded carrying case but the shade was so large I could not get additional packing around it. The lens made it in great shape but the shade sustained a tiny crack. It was still usable but I was through with that huge shade. I found this metal one that works well. It screws on and I am able to put it inside the orange pouch shown and it fits over the rear of the lens and inside the case. It was only around 20.00.

Dennis833 Loc: Australia

He read the instructions that came with a Kodak Instamatic.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

I think your client is on drugs.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

That is why I do not use carry straps .....

uhaas2009

They are always in my way and falling off. In the old days they was built in. Yes they are useful- some foam with rubber helps too.

bobfitz Loc: Kendall-Miami, Florida

I can't understand how a properly mounted hood would fall off or how they could ever be in your way. Maybe an aftermarket or poor fitting hood could fall off but why would you spend money on a cheap hood to protect an expensive lens?