Every DSLR Lens I have ever purchased has come with a Lens Hood. The Lens Hood serves a couple of different purposes. First and foremost it helps prevent lens flare when you're shooting towards a light source and secondly it provides a little extra protection from the occasional bumps that your lens may encounter as you walk around. These are reasons alone enough for me to always shoot with mine attached.
If your lens comes with a Lens Hood then why would you buy one?
Although the Lens Hoods I've gotten with my various Nikon lens have all been decent, there are a couple of 3rd party lens that I'm not as happy with the supplied Lens Hood. Even with that being the case I was never in the market to actually "buy" a different lens hood. The ones that come with the lenses good or bad, do what they are supposed to do. However, at the last Photoshop World Conference I saw a couple of my buddies using the Mamiya Lens Hood and at first glance I even questioned whether or not they if they were shooting with a "NEW" lens. I asked because for some reason the Mamiya Lens Hood looked more (and I don't know how else to put this) "professional". It looked as if they were using some new high-end lens that I hadn't seen yet. When I found out that it was the same 70-200mm f/2.8 VR lens that I already owned, my next question was "hey where did you get the cool lens hood?" NAPP had featured this lens hood on D-Town before and they told me that every time they do, it sells out! I had always intended on ordering one, but like many things in my life I got busy with my day to day work and completely forgot about it. That was until I ordered my NEW Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 VRII lens. I figured that was the perfect time not only to get a new Lens, but also a New Lens Hood.
What makes this Lens Hood so cool?
I'll be the first to admit that functionality should be FIRST on your check list for anything you buy. After all if it doesn't work, then what good is it to you? With all things being equal, the next thing that sways me (many times even before price) is aesthetics and the user interface. Yep, I'm a sucker for a "pretty gadget". When I got my Mamiya Lens Hood I quickly found out that it was MORE than just a pretty face! Aside from doing the obvious, which is reducing lens flare and providing added protection, this Lens Hood actually works a little differently than the Nikon supplied one. First off the color is "rubber", not hard plastic. So it actually collapses around the lens so that you can both leave it on the lens for travel AND protect it a little more in your bag. You screw it on directly to your lens and then add any filters you have on to it. So once I put it on my Lens I then put on my UV filter. Also it's nice not have one that can get knocked off with a bump.
The Bottom Line
This Lens Hood goes for $36.50 (for the 77mm size). Also at focal lengths less than 50mm you may see vignetting. You don't "NEED" this lens hood. Nope, you sure don't. The one you got with your lens works just fine. You don't need to buy this. However, here's the link anyway 😉
Make sure that you make a few tests, with different focal lengths and f/stops, you may get a little vignetting even longer than 50mm, when stopped down. Especially with the fully extended hood. Test it out, know your gear.
Funny how in the 70’s and 80’s these rubber lens hoods were popular and went away. Now they’ve come back.
Unless there is something special about this particular make, search ebay for rubber lens hoods, there are a lot of them some as low as ten bucks.
Terry,
That’s a good write up about that lens hood. I saw those as well and was wonder the same thing; it does make it look a bit more professional. Btw your new lens is pretty crazyy..gonna tweet this article right now take care.
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DT.
Nassau,Bahamas | Miami, Florida
Bought this a while back and works well. Also bought a cheaper one at lensfilters.com. It has softer rubber and workes quite nicely. Not sure if it will hold up as well in the long term.
Yep, I need one of those for sure… just try to adjust the polarizer with the standard lens hood on..with out touching the glass..Not cool at all.. 🙂
With this one, fold it back, make the adjustment and fold it back out.
Rubber lens hood is nice but paying premium price for Mamiya is not. I purchased Zeikos for less and works perfect. Only down side is that it adds to the overall diameter of the lens.