Camera Hoods & Filters?

Question

I bought a wide angle .05x macro lens. Do I have to buy a wide angle filter & hood to match it,or can I just buy the standard ones. What is the difference between those two;and ordering a pedal hood instead of a wide hood.

Answer 1

The lens hood for the wide angle should be designed for it. Using the wrong hood (i.e., a hood for a 50mm lens on a 24mm lens) will result in whats known as "vignetting" - darkening of the corners of the image. The "focal length (10mm, 24mm, 50mm, etc.) of all lenses is measured on the diagonal - not across the horizontal. Using a lens hood on all your lenses can improve your photos since it helps block stray light which causes image degradation.

My personal opinion is that no lens should ever face the world naked - it should wear a protective filter*. Every lens you own should have a HAZE/UV filter or Skylight 1A (uncoated) or 1B (coated) filter on all the time. These filters not only protect your front element, they enhance your photos. The HAZE/UV filter removes most of the atmospheric haze you see in scenics; the Skylight removes the bluish tint seen in distant shaded mountains or in photos taken in open shade.

Any photographer taking scenics should also own a circular polarizer. This allows you to darken blue skys and make white, puffy clouds really "pop" or just for the visual effect. The polarizer also removes glare/reflections from glass, water, sand, snow and painmted metal - but not from polished metal. A polarizer can also improve the color in flowers.

* Many years ago, while at a festival, a child touched the Skylight filter on my then-new $400.00 85mm f1.7 portrait lens. I have no idea what that child had on his fingers but it ruined the filter. I was happy to spend $15.00 to replace the filter. Saving $385.00 always makes me happy.

Answer 2

I use a UV filter on my Canon A1 lenses. I'm too cheap to shell out for a DSLR when my film SLR works just fine. I prefer film over digital anyway. I don't use a lens hood, and avoid shooting into direct sunlight. The UV filters really came in handy last week when I was high in the mountains. They did the job they are designed for. reducing UV light and associated blue colour cast common at high altitudes.

Answer 3

what camera or lens size? most of my lenses are 58mm so you have to buy that size everything. you dont need a filter cept maybe a uv and the hood style is just a preference.