Lens Hood Function

At first I did not understand the lens hood function, I think just for the variation in front of the lens. After I was looking for from several sources I finally understand usability lens hood.

Briefly lens hood is a tool used at the end of the lens to block the sun or other light sources to prevent glare and lens flare. Another function is
1. Google glare blocking.
2. Protect the glass lens or filter.
3. Make your camera look cool.

Geometry of the lens hood can vary from a cylindrical or conical part plain (such as light colors) to more complex cut sometimes called a tulip, flower petals or hood (as seen in some photos), which results in a reasonable good shade without blocking the field of view lens and thereby produce vignetting. True petal shaped lens hood shade to produce more than normal lens hood with the same final diameter. Square lens hood might be better.

Lens hoods are more prominent in the focus of a long lens because field of view at an angle of view smaller than a wide-angle lens. For wide angle lens, the length of the hood (away from the tip of the lens) can not all like to telephoto lenses due to the point of view.

Lens hoods are often designed to fit on the lens that fits both facing forward, for normal use, or backward, so that may be stored with the lens hood without occupying a lot of extra space. Some flexible lens hood and collapse for storage.

In addition, they offer some physical protection for the lens because the hood extend further than the lens itself.

Canon EW78BII Lens Hood

Canon EW78BII Lens Hood for EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Canon SLR Lens


Product Description
Lens Hoods offer several benefits to the photographer. Primarily the hood shades the lens from stray light that may result in an unwanted discoloration or hazing of the image, or the appearance of lens flare. Shading your lens helps improve contrast and image quality. A lens hood is not required to eliminate these problems, as any item used to shade the lens will provide the same protection from stray light. The hood is convenient in that it is built to offer protection while ensuring that it will not inadvertently find its way into your image. Photographers often state the protective abilities of a hood as a reason to have one.

Product Review
By: J. Sankovitch (Lexington, KY)

I just recently got this lens hood and took it out to a park to try it out. I thought my EF 28-135 took good shots before... I was pleasantly surprised at the results of using this relatively cheap add-on. In a bright environment lens flare can be present in a subtle way, taking out some shadow depth and "bleaching" out a shot. This hood helps prevent that and really had an impact on my shots.

The hood itself is well built, made of high end plastics and the inside has a soft fabric coating to absorb light and protect your lens. It locks onto the front of the lens quickly and is easily removed when not wanted. You can also use this hood in conjunction with a lens filter, so you don't have to compromise between the two.

Again, you can't beat the bang for buck value here.

Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon SLR Cameras

Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon SLR Cameras


Product Description
Capture the far-off action of fast-paced sports or zoom in for an intimate portrait with the Canon EF 75-300mm telephoto zoom lens. The optical system, construction, and exterior are the same as the EF 75-300 mm f/4-5.6 III USM’s. The difference is that it uses a DC motor instead of a USM to drive the AF. As with all Canon lens, this 75-300 model carries a one-year warranty.

* Focal length: 75-300mm
* Maximum aperture: 1:4-5.6
* Lens construction: 13 elements in 9 groups
* Diagonal angle of view: 32 (at 11 feet) to 8 degrees (at 15 feet)
* Closest focusing distance: 4.9 feet
* Zoom system: Rotating type
* Filter size: 58mm
* Dimensions: 2.8 inches in diameter, 4.8 inches long
* Weight: 16.8 ounces

Product review
Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon SLR
By : Sergiy Beketov "apollinaris"

I have Canon's 75-300mm telephoto zoom lens for almost a year and have examined it inside out. Unfortunately, I cannot admit that it's a good lens.

First of all, it doesn't have USM (Ultra Sonic Motor) and though having built-in AF motor, it is anyway VERY slow. And since telephoto lenses in general are for capturing high-speed events (like sport, running animals etc), its low-speed focusing makes it no good.

Secondly, its light-factor is quite low (4.0 for 75mm and only 5.6 for 300mm) what forces you to use either high-speed film (not lower than ISO400) or to shoot in the bright light (what's not possible everytime you shoot).

And the last, but not less important thing. I'm not good in mechanics, but what I know for sure is that Canon's 75-300mm lens produce unsharp pictures. No matter if you use a tripod or not, the pictures still are very unsharp which is very bad for images, being zoomed by 300mm.

Anyway, I'd recommend you to buy the lens of the same focal distance but in another configuration: Canon EF 75-300 F/4.5-5.6 IS USM. Although it's a bit expensive and as you see, the light factor is a bit lower, too, it has an USM and IS (Image Stabilizer) what makes focusing drastically super fast and the pictures become more sharper with the help of IS. This lens deserves a high attention. But not this one...

About Telephoto Lens

Many people buy an expensive telephoto lens, normally used for photographing a subject that is far away, or to memperbersar subject. Before buying a telephoto lens you have to understand what it Telephoto Lens.

Does it actually Telephoto Lens? Lens is a telephoto lens has a focal range of 60mm or more, if it is wider than the 60mm lens that includes a standard lens or wide lens.

There are two types of telephoto lenses, one is a telephoto zoom lens that can not (fix lens), such as Canon EF 85mm f/1.8. The second is a zoom lens, like the Canon 70-200mm f / 4 L. Zoom lens that can be more multi-functional, but the fix lens usually has a wider maximum aperture, small size and more broadly. There is also a lens that has a focal range from wide to telephoto. For example 18-200mm lens.