Everyone knows that the main thing in a photographer’s work is light. After all, even the word “photography” in Greek means “light painting”. Therefore, it is imperative that the amount of light entering the lens is optimal. As a rule, studio lighting and the most sensitive lenses are used for this. But what to do if there is too much light or it almost at right angles hits the lens, creating unnecessary glare? Now, do not shoot in the darkness, completely turning away from the sun. That's what a hood is for! This is a round plastic part that wraps around the lens.
The lens hood is usually used when shooting against the sun or other light source. This helps to increase the contrast and color of the resulting images by blocking the light rays that can get on the matrix, and also to avoid vignetting (darkening or lightening the edges of the image). Thanks to this, the quality of the resulting photos increases. Lens hoods also prevent
sunspots and glare from appearing in images. Protection from light rays entering the matrix is the main one from the list of reasons why you need a hood.
Also, many photographers use
filters: polarizing, ultraviolet, neutral gray and others. The smallest scratches and damage become noticeable in
sunlight. They are pretty easy to hide — that’s why you need a hood. It prevents direct rays of light from reflecting on damaged areas, so they will not be able to affect image quality. Of course, if we are not talking about cracks in the half of the filter.
Speaking of damage. The lens hood also protects your optics from them. No one is safe from accidents (and even from the banal touch of the fingers on the lens, which gives a bold imprint), so a lens hood can save you and your lens more than once.
And, of course, nothing can replace a lens hood when shooting in rainy or snowy weather! You may not even explain that drops of water flowing down the lens will not lead to anything good. Therefore, having a hood in case of bad weather is not necessary, but it will not hurt.
It is also worth noting that the lens hoods for different lenses differ in shape. They can be conical, lobed or cylindrical. It is best to consult with a retailer or professional photographer about which lens hood is suitable for your shooting and lens purposes. It is important to take this carefully, because the incorrectly selected lens hood will not only not perform its functions, but will also bring the photographer a lot of unnecessary inconvenience.
So, we found out what the hood is for. In practice, it is used in
studio shooting, when oblique rays of light fall on the lens, when photographing against light, sea and snow landscapes (since snow and water strongly reflect the rays), in bad weather, sunsets and just to protect optics. If such types of filming are not part of your circle of interests, you will not lose anything by refusing to purchase a lens hood. And if you regularly work in these genres and are looking for a way to improve image quality - well, now you know a great way!