Five Reasons Why Photographers Should Use A Lens Hood
Words by Scott Bourne - A Platypod Pro
Edited by Eryka Bagwell
Which camp are you in? Do you use lens hoods or maybe you're one of those photographers who thinks they're unnecessary?
We're strongly in the USE THE LENS hood camp and here's five reasons why:
1. They reduce lens flare
One of the biggest reasons to use a lens hood is to reduce lens flare. Flare occurs when light enters your lens from a strong source outside of the frame and bounces around inside the lens. This can cause bright spots or streaks to appear in your images, which can be distracting or even ruin the shot altogether.
A lens hood blocks out any light that's coming from an angle that's not directly in front of your lens, which means you're less likely to get flare in your images. This is especially important when you're shooting in bright sunlight, but it can also come in handy in other lighting situations.
2. They protect your lens
Another reason to use a lens hood is to protect your lens. The hood sits on the front of your lens and sticks out a bit, which means that if you accidentally bump your camera or drop it, the hood will take the brunt of the impact instead of your lens. This can prevent scratches or cracks from occurring on the front element of your lens, which can be expensive to fix.
3. They improve contrast
Lens hoods can also help to improve contrast in your images. When you're shooting in bright sunlight, there's a lot of light bouncing around and creating a lot of contrast in your scene. This can make it difficult to capture all the details in your shot, especially if you're shooting a subject that's in the shade.
A lens hood can help to reduce the amount of stray light that's entering your lens, which means you're more likely to capture all the details in your scene. This can make your images look more vibrant and interesting.
4. They're inexpensive
Lens hoods are one of the most inexpensive photography accessories you can buy, which makes them a great investment for any photographer. You can usually find them for just a few dollars, and they're available for most lenses. This means you can easily buy a lens hood for all your lenses without breaking the bank.
5. They're easy to use
Finally, lens hoods are incredibly easy to use. Most hoods just clip onto the front of your lens, and you can leave them on there all the time if you want. They don't require any extra setup or maintenance, so you can just focus on getting the shot.
CONCLUSION
Using a lens hood can help you take better photos and protect your lenses. They're inexpensive, easy to use, and can improve contrast in your images while reducing lens flare. So if you're not already using a lens hood, give it a try and see the difference it can make in your photography!
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