Using lens hoods

A lens hood is a simple accessory fitted to the front of a lens. Its main job is to block stray light from reaching the front element, and it can also provide some physical protection.

Before you start

Have the camera or phone beside you while you read. Do not try to memorise the page. Find each control or try each idea as it is explained. If a term is unfamiliar, the explanation here matters more than remembering the name.

Use the hood made for the lens

Hoods are shaped for a particular lens or focal-length range. The wrong hood can intrude into the photograph, especially at wide angles.

Why stray light matters

Strong light striking the front element can reduce contrast or create flare. A hood can help when the troublesome light is outside the frame.

A hood cannot fix every flare

If the sun or another bright source is actually inside the frame, a hood may have little effect.

Petal hoods have an orientation

Many wide-angle and zoom hoods have petal-shaped cut-outs. Fit them in the locked working position rather than leaving them partly rotated.

Storage position

Many hoods can be reversed over the lens for storage. Turn them back to the working position before shooting.

Common mistakes

• Leaving the hood reversed while taking photographs.
• Expecting a hood to remove flare from a light source visible in the frame.
• Using a hood that causes dark corners.
• Treating a hood as enough protection to knock the lens around.

What you should be able to do before moving on

You should know what a hood can and cannot do, and be able to fit yours correctly.

If that still feels uncertain, repeat the practical. There is no benefit in rushing to the next lesson with a gap in the basics.