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Photography Question 

Rachelle P. Cooper
 

Lens hood indoors


I know a lens hood is a good thing to have outside on a sunny day.. but should I always use it? I do alot of indoor portrait photography which has a 2 lrg windows so I try to use as much natural light as possible and also use my canon 580 flash as well when needed.. so I am wondering if I use the lens hood indoors as well.. or when I should use it.. all the time?? Any help would be great!!


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November 24, 2007

 

robert G. Fately
  Rachelle, there's no real downside to using it - if it's the proper hood for that lens then it at worst it will only add to the visible size of the lens itself (with some telephoto lenses, this may make the lens look a little more daunting to the subjects).

By reducing light entry from wide angles, the filter may well help improve contrast in the shot even if it's not a matter of obvious flare. In general, unlike the ever-lasting debate about "UV filters - to use or not to use", I don't think anyone has ever felt that using a lenshood is a bad idea. Again, unless the hood is so large that it makes the lens larger and "scarier looking" to your subject.


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November 24, 2007

 

W.
 
Never shoot without a hood.


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November 24, 2007

 

Willie L
  I once used a lens hood while shooting
with the cameras on board flash unit and the lens hood put a bad shadow on all of my photos. Be careful.


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November 25, 2007

 

Rachelle P. Cooper
  Thanks so much for all your comments.. that helps alot


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November 25, 2007

 

Christopher A. Vedros
  Wille - you make a good point, but this is not necessarily a problem with the lens hood. This can happen when using the built-in flash with any lens that is a little on the large side.

I have a Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 zoom that is quite a bit larger than a standard 50mm lens or a kit lens. If I try to use my built-in flash with this lens, with or without the lens hood, it will put a shadow from the lens on the image.

Moral to the story - use the lens hood, because you shouldn't be using the built-in flash anyway. Get a real flash or use natural light.


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November 25, 2007

 

Samuel Smith
  welcome rachelle,
well it appears or may be suggested,that you presently don't have a problem.
through expierence the use of a lens hood is a factor,but not crucial or mandatory.
by not knowing how strong the light is from the 2 large windows,no conclussion can be made.but yet is your 580 used as fill or full flash?
willie did not make a good point,maybe a bit of false info.to dislead?
rachelle,you ask this for what reason?


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November 25, 2007

 

Willie L
  Sam,
Im here to tell you that my info is not
false or misleading. I shot several pictures that were ruined because of the
lens hood. Shadows that Ive never seen before I started using this lens hood.
SO YES, I DID MAKE A GREAT POINT.
Willie


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November 26, 2007

 

W.
 
For serious photographers it is not customary to a) use the peanut flash at all, or b) to use the peanut flash trying to light a wide angle of view.

So the size of your point is very debatable, Willie.


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November 26, 2007

 

Samuel Smith
  geez willie,she is not using her on camera flash.if your owners manual did not include the fact that tele-photo and wide angle lens hoods would be a problem with on camera flash,sorry.it's in mine and should be with all.
your point was on camera flash?you don't think that a bit distracting to her question?
with my camera the peanut flash can be used with off camera flash at 1/3 fill.kinda neat.i am not going to let a lens hood be a factor in that situation.
rachelle did not say she had a problem.to me that's case closed.but she either read or was told she needed to use a lens hood.why?someone with more apparent knowledge has the answers?
um get a real flash?we all get sidetracked by some posts?
eh willie?


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November 26, 2007

 
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