whwiden

Yes. Reverse the hood.

repleo Loc: Boston

OP here. Thanks for all of the advice. As I mentioned above, I always use my lens hoods as a matter of habit. Then I started to think of all the other types of cameras like, P&S, Bridge, Phones, twin reflex, rangefinders etc that don't typically use lens hoods and wondered if we really need them. I guess I will continue to find room for them.

Pablo8 Loc: Nottingham UK.

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I have lens hoods for all of my Rolleiflex, and Mamiya TLR's, also my Leica111c lenses. Was brought up to use them, and still do. Doesn't have to be direct sun shining into the lens, even bright sky in the view, can affect overall contrast of the image.

Spirit Vision Photography Loc: Behind a Camera.

Yes!!!

Don, the 2nd son Loc: Crowded Florida

I prefer rubber collapsible hoods which are easy to store or use as needed. Always use one on telephoto lenses. Often find the best lighting a bit toward the light source, thus need the hood. Bayonet plastic are easier and quicker to install though so as in all things photographic there is compromise for us to deal with.

LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY

Obviously, the primary use for a lens hood is to make your lens look bigger and thus cooler and more professional, all with minimal weight gain! What other reason do you need?
Aside from that, I have never tested for a with/without difference. A friend of mine, a professional of long experience, mentioned one time that he did do a test and that under most conditions a lens hood does make a difference.

olsonsview

Simple question: Did you ever see images of Ansel Adams taking some of his famous photographs? Did you see a lens hood on his large format lenses? The answer is most likely no. The reason for that: he always had a hat on his head and of course used a tripod to hold everything steady as he shot, often with long exposures and tiny f-stops. But during the shot he positioned his hat so that a shadow is cast over the front element of the lens! Though some large format photographers use a compendium bellows lens hood if they do not mind carrying more stuff. You have to decide if the convenience and function of a lens hood matters to you? It does provide protection when shooting fast in crowded areas, so another plus to use a hood.
So if you are street shooting, without a tripod, then just use a lens hood! So do you need a lens hood on your lens all the time, no. Is it convenient when shooting fast, yes. So maybe a good idea to use a lens hood? I have a question: if shooting close in with a shoe mounted flash, will the lens hood cast an ugly shadow? When I shot weddings, I rarely used a lens hood when indoors with flash, A hood caused too many issues with pesky shadows ruining my images. And a clear filter could protect my lens from finger prints and small bumps. You decide based on your method of taking images.

rmm0605 Loc: Atlanta GA

Most lens hoods can be reversed when not in use, thus saving space. Try it.

dcampbell52 Loc: Clearwater Fl

I use my lens hoods (Tamron 10-24mm, Nikkor 18-70, Nikkor 70-300 and Nikkor 80-400) about 75% of the time. My Nikkor 50mm doesn't have it. If, I'm using filters, I may or may not use the lens hood depending on if it fits over the filter or not. I did get filter adapters to convert all of my lenses to 77mm diameter and got lens caps for each. This means that I can use all of my filters on ALL of my lenses easily and with out digging for the correct diameter. It also means that all of my lens caps will fit all lenses. Also it means that I only have to purchase one (1) of each of the expensive neutral density, polarizing, and general filters rather than one of each size.

TheDman Loc: USA

If you're shooting landscape on a tripod you can just block the sun with your hand if you're getting flare. Up to you.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

And yet, we're up to two pages already.

mborn Loc: Massachusetts

Agree also

BridieMcKenna

Is there ever a time using a hood would be detrimental to your images?

James56 Loc: Nashville, Tennessee

Yes, when it's not properly sized for the lens, ie...to long. Hoods can produce very dark corners in the image.

chippy65 Loc: Cambridge

I would much rather bash a lens hood than the front of my lens.

they play a major role in preventing " flare"