Lens filter vs hood

[MattB]

Hi Forum,

I'm looking into buying a lens for the camera and noticed on some photography sites they're pushing to sell a lens filter too. If the lens hood reduces flare across the lens due to stray light, why would I need a filter? Seems like overkill to me.


Regards and thanks in advance.

[Owen Foley]

A filter won't keep stray light out, but it will provide protection for your front lens element.

[andrecas]

Many decades ago when I carried a Nikon FE in camera bag, I had “polarizing” filters for each of my lens attachments. I found they were more effective at controlling so called “stray” or “random” light than a lens hood.

[pieter melissen]

Many decades ago when I carried a Nikon FE in camera bag, I had “polarizing” filters for each of my lens attachments. I found they were more effective at controlling so called “stray” or “random” light than a lens hood.

I am still using a polarizer, it will always work to get better pictures.

[Paul Finnigan]

I found hoods show up in the photo around the corners if you use a wide angel lens.As for lens filter for the sake of a couple of dollars there money well spent cheaper to replace a filter than a lens worth hundreds of dollars.     

[pieter melissen]

I found hoods show up in the photo around the corners if you use a wide angel lens.As for lens filter for the sake of a couple of dollars there money well spent cheaper to replace a filter than a lens worth hundreds of dollars.     

Paul, Vignetting as you describe can mostly be addressed either with software or reducing the aperture to 9 or higher.

[Paul Finnigan]

Hi Pieter, the hood will show in the photo on a wide angle lens as it happened to me but it was was a film camera.

[pieter melissen]

Hi Paul, I am of the stills only...

[MattB]

Thanks everyone for your input. Much appreciated. Given me something to think about.

[Paul Finnigan]

Hi Paul, I am of the stills only...

Hi Pieter my was a still 35mm film camera.

[Owen Foley]

Hi Pieter, the hood will show in the photo on a wide angle lens as it happened to me but it was was a film camera.

Film or digital makes no difference.
A lens hood will only show in the corners of the image if the lens hood is the wrong one for the lens.
If you use a lens hood, make sure that it's appropriate for the lens.

[MattB]

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