I have a question about the Nikon 400 2.8 lens like the VR as all of them come with a 2 piece lens hood that gets wider at the end. Is this 2 piece lens hood necessary?? I have heard a ton of complaints on the crappy lens hoods that Nikon makes for their big lenses.
I have the 300mm 2.8 AF-S II lens and the lens hood is a one piece carbon fiber but the screw that attaches the hood to the lens is just junk and now I have to use a rubber band or tape to keep it screwed in. It’s like the screw is stripped or something like that.
I am getting a 400mm 2.8 VR lens and it doesn’t have the original Lens hood that’s why I am asking about the hoods. I have seen a cool replacement that is kind of on the market made by Aqua Tech. It’s a collapsible lens hood for the 400 and 600 lenses. It sells for around $159.00 but it seems no one has them in stock. If the original Nikon lens hood is a 2 piece hood that gets wider at the end my guess it’s because of vignette issue?? Does it really have to be this wider at the end of the lens hood?? On a wide angle lens I can understand but the 300 2.8 hoods are a 1 piece. Only the 400 2.8 and 600 f/4 Lenses come with a 2 piece lens hood.
I was shooting a football game tonight and the guy with the local paper had a 400mm 2.8 AF-S series I lens and he had used some rubber tubing used for plumbing and made it 6 inches long and attached or taped it to the end of the lens. He said he used a rubber gasket too on the end of the lens to make it less likely to come off. I didn’t have time to ask him how he would clean the lens if he needed to but I would think the way he has it is a bit permanent. I was thinking of doing this but with Velcro so that its easier to remove and store and carry with you. But I am wondering there has to be a reason why Nikon made the lens hood the way they did. If anyone has an opinion or who has made their own homemade lens hood please share your ideas.
It's two piece because the tripod foot is located toward the front of the lens and it interferes with reversing the hood for storage. Two piece construction allows the hood to be broken down for storage.
Lenses with the tripod foot toward the back obviously don't have this problem.
I had the Canon 400/2.8 IS and now have a Nikon 400/2.8 AFS II. I didn't really like the two piece hood either.I just replaced one of the collars that the tightening screw threads into.I don't break the hoods down anymore, I leave them assembled and store it with them in place. The more often you tighten and loosen these two retaining screws the sooner the threads will strip on the collars.
I ordered the collar from Nikon parts and they run $18.00 and some change shipped.
A neoprene thigh brace, about $20 at a sporting goods store, makes a very effective way to help hold the two pieces of the hood together and also keep them free from scratches etc
Its a very annoying design though no argument about it. I've often just used the bottom piece as well. Works fine under most conditions and is easier to carry.
I carry mine in Lowepro 600 and leave the first ring on in shooting position and only reverse the end ring for speed and longevity when storing. With the body attached I can still fit it and a extender on the lens in the case.
millsart wrote:
A neoprene thigh brace, about $20 at a sporting goods store, makes a very effective way to help hold the two pieces of the hood together and also keep them free from scratches etc
Its a very annoying design though no argument about it. I've often just used the bottom piece as well. Works fine under most conditions and is easier to carry.
Thanks for this tip!
I've been dealing with Nikon customer service the past few days and it's been awful. I needed some spare pieces to put the lens hood back together. Looks like a very simple fix with the right pieces (I'm mechanically inclined and will probably just fab something up).
I did some research and found that you used to be able to call El Segundo Parts and order the pieces directly. Now that's impossible and you must go through the call center.
Customer service agent #1: Called me a liar and said you were never able to call the parts department directly and said I would need to send in the 400/2.8 AF-S D II in for repair. Told him he was crazy. He was talking down to me and I didn't appreciate his tone. Told him to get his supervisor on the phone. He got a lot friendlier and put me on hold.
Customer service agent supervisor: Was very friendly and said she would personally look into the matter. Emailed me personally, and asked for pictures detailing exactly what I was looking for (I sent her the pictures below for her reference). She later emailed me and said that I would need to send in the lens hood for repair. Emailed her back and stated I'm not sending it in, would just like the parts requested. (no response back yet).
I will probably just go to home depot with the hood in hand and cobble some parts together. Might go to a hobby store and try and find some appropriate screws.
Very upset that this was made so unneccessarily difficult.
Also, if anyone is looking for a cover for this lens hood (HK-27) I found the perfect lid. (3rd pic). A Pyrex 7 cup (1.65L) lid. I searched ebay and found several. Bought one in blue for $5 shipped (so my wife doesn't freak out over her missing lid). It is a firm lid and fits snuggly on the end of the HK-27-2. Almost couldn't ask for a better fit IMHO.
Sorry if this is a poorly constructed post, I'm running on low sleep and thought I would post this (particularly about the pyrex lid).
Desperate Plea:
If anyone lives in El Sugundo and has access to the Nikon parts facility and planning on stopping by there in the future, I would be grateful if someone would be willing to send me some parts. More than willing to pay. PM me, Thanks! Will cobble something together, but would rather have the appropriate pieces.
Not sure if it applies but I know the new 400 2.8 is now a 1 piece hood, so depending on the construction I doubt it's an absolute optical necessity for it to be two piece.
ScottHM wrote:
Not sure if it applies but I know the new 400 2.8 is now a 1 piece hood, so depending on the construction I doubt it's an absolute optical necessity for it to be two piece.
I agree. But, I'm cheap and the hood I have is still in great shape (other than some pieces missing). I would much rather spend $15-20 to fix what I have rather than spend $400-500 to replace it.
I might just use a bunch of gaffer's tape like the previous owner.
I bought this lens on ebay recently for $3,700 and had it completely repaired (new lens mount, locking pin, aperture lock, cleaned, etc.) for an additional $400. Not sure if it was a good deal or not, but I'm happy with it. The body marks don't bother me and I'll be a lot less apprehensive to actually use it rather than baby it. Still a lot of money... especially for a non-pro. Seller said it was an AP pool lens and was used pretty hard. Glass is perfect though.
It was on ebay for awhile and I hope I don't become the brunt of snickers (laughing at me for my gamble). Personally, I don't mind the "character" and look forward to putting it to use.
ScottHM wrote:
Not sure if it applies but I know the new 400 2.8 is now a 1 piece hood, so depending on the construction I doubt it's an absolute optical necessity for it to be two piece.
It's a 2 piece so it can be reversed and still clear the foot. The new 400 has a completely different foot setup/location. The 2 piece hood on my 400 is my one complaint about it, it's just clunky. lol
I've been dealing with Nikon customer service the past few days and it's been awful. I needed some spare pieces to put the lens hood back together. Looks like a very simple fix with the right pieces (I'm mechanically inclined and will probably just fab something up).
I did some research and found that you used to be able to call El Segundo Parts and order the pieces directly. Now that's impossible and you must go through the call center.
Customer service agent #1: Called me a liar and said you were never able to call the parts department directly and said I would need to send in the 400/2.8 AF-S D II in for repair. Told him he was crazy. He was talking down to me and I didn't appreciate his tone. Told him to get his supervisor on the phone. He got a lot friendlier and put me on hold.
Customer service agent supervisor: Was very friendly and said she would personally look into the matter. Emailed me personally, and asked for pictures detailing exactly what I was looking for (I sent her the pictures below for her reference). She later emailed me and said that I would need to send in the lens hood for repair. Emailed her back and stated I'm not sending it in, would just like the parts requested. (no response back yet).
I will probably just go to home depot with the hood in hand and cobble some parts together. Might go to a hobby store and try and find some appropriate screws.
Very upset that this was made so unneccessarily difficult.
Also, if anyone is looking for a cover for this lens hood (HK-27) I found the perfect lid. (3rd pic). A Pyrex 7 cup (1.65L) lid. I searched ebay and found several. Bought one in blue for $5 shipped (so my wife doesn't freak out over her missing lid). It is a firm lid and fits snuggly on the end of the HK-27-2. Almost couldn't ask for a better fit IMHO.
Sorry if this is a poorly constructed post, I'm running on low sleep and thought I would post this (particularly about the pyrex lid).
Desperate Plea:
If anyone lives in El Sugundo and has access to the Nikon parts facility and planning on stopping by there in the future, I would be grateful if someone would be willing to send me some parts. More than willing to pay. PM me, Thanks! Will cobble something together, but would rather have the appropriate pieces.
Also, yes, I'll take some cheese with my whine. ...Show more →
If you have a local nut & bolt shop, swing in with the screws to see if they have what you need. If they don't, I'm sure they can figure out the thread and then you can jump on McMaster to order what you need. The screws will be a cake walk; the thumb screw will be easy too.
I had one of the little plastic "T" piece strip out as the commonly do and had a hell of a time finding it. They wanted the whole lens sent in to repair the f'ing hood. I finally found it at Nikon Canada and they would sell it to a fellow FMer up there. He then forwarded on to me. I ordered three just in case in the long run something else happened.
alaskandood wrote:
I agree. But, I'm cheap and the hood I have is still in great shape (other than some pieces missing). I would much rather spend $15-20 to fix what I have rather than spend $400-500 to replace it.
I might just use a bunch of gaffer's tape like the previous owner.
I bought this lens on ebay recently for $3,700 and had it completely repaired (new lens mount, locking pin, aperture lock, cleaned, etc.) for an additional $400. Not sure if it was a good deal or not, but I'm happy with it. The body marks don't bother me and I'll be a lot less apprehensive to actually use it rather than baby it. Still a lot of money... especially for a non-pro. Seller said it was an AP pool lens and was used pretty hard. Glass is perfect though.
It was on ebay for awhile and I hope I don't become the brunt of snickers (laughing at me for my gamble). Personally, I don't mind the "character" and look forward to putting it to use.
Wickedfn4u wrote:
I had one of the little plastic "T" piece strip out as the commonly do and had a hell of a time finding it. They wanted the whole lens sent in to repair the f'ing hood. I finally found it at Nikon Canada and they would sell it to a fellow FMer up there. He then forwarded on to me. I ordered three just in case in the long run something else happened.
This is excellent info! Thank you for suggesting this, it hadn't even occurred to me to try Canada. Nikon is willing to send me two screws that seat the screw housing onto the hood. But, if I wanted the other parts, I would need to send in the lens hood. Ridiculous.
I went to a nut and bolt shop today and a hobby store and couldn't find the right screw that screws into the main screw and makes it captive. Going to try a jewelry store and see if they have any watch screws that might fit in there and just locktite them in. Will probably shrink wrap them in place and test it out.
Brian_SP-- I will probably get those when these screws and saddles wear out, but I need the pieces he doesn't include. Thanks for the link!
alaskandood wrote:
This is excellent info! Thank you for suggesting this, it hadn't even occurred to me to try Canada. Nikon is willing to send me two screws that seat the screw housing onto the hood. But, if I wanted the other parts, I would need to send in the lens hood. Ridiculous.
I went to a nut and bolt shop today and a hobby store and couldn't find the right screw that screws into the main screw and makes it captive. Going to try a jewelry store and see if they have any watch screws that might fit in there and just locktite them in. Will probably shrink wrap them in place and test it out.
Brian_SP-- I will probably get those when these screws and saddles wear out, but I need the pieces he doesn't include. Thanks for the link!
I don't know exactly how small those screws are; but they're probably an M1.6, M2, or M2.5...which most places aren't going to have. Maybe a model train store?
I would have thought the nut and bolt shop could have at least told you what size they were.
I don't know exactly how small those screws are; but they're probably an M1.6, M2, or M2.5...which most places aren't going to have. Maybe a model train store?
I would have thought the nut and bolt shop could have at least told you what size they were.
The smallest they had was M2 and it was still too large.
