I bought a long-desired 24L on impulse, despite having a 16-35.... and I did it out of pure jealousy. It's not my fault, Spencer and Conrad made me do it.
Like Monk would say, "you'll thank me later". Dunno about the wife You can always dispose of it at my address if it's that big of a deal, let me know and I can send over my address
I use hoods simply cause they make me look cool. Being without the hood makes me feel naked and besides, they're flipped over in the bag so they dont take up space
P.S. I bought that 24L cause Tony Schreiber and Hoffer made me buy it lol
When and why wouldn't a hood be used? Other than the bulkiness in the camera bag or leaving them in the box, I don't see a situation where no hood would be better than using one...?
jeremy_clay wrote:
Hoods, i find, allow me to handold with less shake - 135L, for example, 1/30th no prob with hood...1/100th or so without (consistently)
+1 for less shake with hoods. I'm tall so I always have to shoot at a downward angle, and I have long arms, so my hand is naturally positioned toward the front of the lens. Without a hood I'm having to hold the extreme front of the rim. Hoods let me get a good grip. +1 on looking cool, too. Although it's damn near impossible to get the lens cap on my 28-70 on and off with the hood. Definitely don't look cool doing that.
Greg
I never use the hood on my 70-200 inside, as it is so intimidating to children I also rarley use them in general unless outside and it sunny, then I always do. To me the more subtle in appearance the camera the better. I do use B+W MRC filters for protection. So I am mostly a hood off filter on kind of guy.
jeremy_clay wrote:
Hoods, i find, allow me to handold with less shake - 135L, for example, 1/30th no prob with hood...1/100th or so without (consistently)
This is a new one on me, is the wind catching it or something?
sboerup wrote:
I believe you can extend your arm further and hold on to the grip, which is a little more stable than holding the lens.
It's wha I find. The wider base with my arm is just more stable, I'm not sure why...perhaps akin to why a tripod is more stable with the legs spread then not?
I think hoods are made to be used when there are issues of flare, like mostly outdoors. It drives me crazy when people will put on a huge hood on their 70-200, when shooting indoors. Sure, you can get flare indoors as well, but it's usually if you're shooting directly into or around a light source. I've met plenty of people who will use a hood just to show off their gear, and making their lens look bigger. I mean is your penis really that small? Need to protect the lens? Fine. Buy a good UV filter. Have real flare issues, slap on the hood. For the love of God, please don't attach a hood just to boost your self confidence and show off. I find that I don't even use a hood outdoors a lot of times, simply because many flare shots turn out to be keepers.
In photography, a lens hood or lens shade is a device used on the end of a lens to block the sun or other light source in order to prevent glare and lens flare.
The geometry of the lens hood can vary from a plain conical section (much like a lamp shade) to a more complex cut sometimes called a flower, petal or tulip hood (as shown in the picture), which prevents the hood from blocking the field of view of the lens and producing vignetting. Flower shaped lens hoods are most often used on zoom lenses as a normal lens hood may block the field of view on some zoom settings.
Lens hoods are more prominent in telephoto lenses because the field of view has a smaller viewing angle than of wide-angle lenses. For wide angle lenses, the length of the hood (away from the end of the lens) cannot be as long as those for telephoto lenses because of the viewing angle.
Lens hoods are often designed to fit onto the matching lens facing either forward, for normal use, or backwards, so that the hood may be stored with the lens without occupying much additional space.
In addition, they offer some level of protection for the lens due to the hood extending farther than the lens itself.
The above is from...
Wikipedia is there when you need it — now it needs you
They can be protective and also helpful inside. I do not use a 70/200 in wedding work, however, a 2nd I often use does and I ask her to use the hood as she is at the back of the church and when shooting the processional, we lost too many frames due to p&s flashes in the lens. They are tools and you use them if they work for you and fit your style and preference. Same w/ uv filters. I hate 'em, Hoyas, SMC, B&W MRC blah blah. I have had issues w/ reflection, not often however, some may use them and they work, fit a need; great.
My fixed focals almost always have a hood, 1 exception the 200 , zooms I rarely use a hood and it is uncommon for me to use a zoom @ a wedding.
strokes for folks
horses for courses
do whatever fits your need
Seriously Sahid, you know people who are using lens hood to show off? What's next camera straps?
Actually a lens hood is handy inside too, if you are shooting in a venue with a lot
of spot lights or intense lights in the ceiling like a banquet hall or the LA Convention Center...OTOH if flare is adding to your pictures, and it seems to be popular these days, go hoodless.
I keep the hood on all the time on all of my lenses because:
a. avoid flare and flair
b. protect the front element from drunken guests as they spill drinks and bump into my equipment
c. makes my equipment look bigger (yes, several girls have actually said that to me )
jasont made me buy my 24L. just got it last friday. amazing glass! still trying to figure out how jason used it w 5000 ss and 100 iso. he's got skills ...haha...i know the exif's whacked.
tops on but i shoot mostly sports.....wife's top off..but she won't listen
I'm proud of you, caving to peer pressure 
)