Lens hood questions for EF-S 10-18mm lens: encroachment, necessity, and more

[Ramsden]

Hi Folks

Currently on holiday in the Outer Hebrides with my EOS 90D - approx 18 months old. I now have a small number of lenses; 2 primes, a zoom and a small wide angle. Using my wide angle efs 10-18mm I became increasingly frustrated with the lens hood encroaching on my shots at full zoom. So I ended up taking it off.

So Q1: am I doing something wrong?

Q2: all my hoods are different shape and size - so who decides whats the best design for a lens and why?

Q3: serious question - why do we need a hood apart from cutting out glare?

Thanks

Ramsden

[zakslm]

Ramsden,

I have the same lens and same camera.  I also used the lens on my previous camera, a Rebel T7.  I have not observed what you call and the lens hood "encroching"on my shots. 

My responses to your questions are:

1. I use a JJC LH-73C petal shaped hood, not the genuine Canon 73C hood.  Shots zoomed out to 10mm don't show any vignetting caused by the hood I use and I image the genuine Canon hood would work just as well.  I do have a "dumb" question though.  If you are using a petal shaped hood, are the larger petals at the top and bottom when you mount it on the lens (with the smaller petals on the sides)?  I could see how vignetting would occur if the larger petals were on the sides. Please excuse me if I posed a silly question and no disrepect is intended.
2. I don't know who decides hood shapes and sizes. I suppose that the lens makers figure that out based geometry (angle or cone of coverage of the lens, etc.)  Also, traditional lens hood designs, some trial and error and some marketing spin probably play a roll in those decisions. 
3. A hood also protects the front of elements and front part of the lens. The hood would bear the intial contact or impact in certain types of collisions or incidents with its position between the object or thing that may harm the lens and the lens itself.  For instance, in close quarters, I've turned to my left or right and accidentally contacted something (or someone) with the the hood of the lens.  Absent the lens hood, the lens itself would have absorbed that contact or collision.  It also prevents me from inadvertently getting fingerprint smudges on the front of the lens/len filter sometimes when I zooming or manual focusing or have my fingers near the front of the lens for some unexplained reason.
4. (I added this one)  Using a lens hood (as I do on all my lenses) makes you look like a serious photographer who knows what he/she is doing.  Call it an intangible, but put a $5 lens hood on a $50 lens mounted on a $150 camera and you'll get more respect (and possibly better compliance) from subjects and others than someone taking pictures with a $1,200 iPhone.

I hope some of the above helps in some  way.

Regards,

LZ

[zakslm]

Here are some quick shots of my camera,  EF-S10-18 lens, and the JJC lens hood.  Perhaps the photos are a better way to describe some of what I was trying to describe in my initial response.  I have not observed any vignetting at 10mm using this setup.

LZ 

[jrhoffman75]

Q1: am I doing something wrong?

A1. You might be. 1. Are you using the lens hood model designated by Canon for the lens? Doesn't need to be Canon brand but needs to be the correct model number. 2. Is it installed correctly? If a "petal" design the cutouts are on the side since the sensor is wider than it is tall.

Q2: all my hoods are different shape and size - so who decides whats the best design for a lens and why?

A2. Canon makes those decisions when developing the lens and hood design. Generally the goal would be to maximize glare avoidance without causing vignetteing. More of a problem with extreme wide angle lenses which is why there is the petal designs.

Q3: serious question - why do we need a hood apart from cutting out glare?

A3. That is the reason. Lens hoods can also provide some protection from rain/snow/etc reaching the front element as well as some protection from bumps etc.but many will advocate for filters for that purpose.

You do not want to walk around with the filter installed backwards however 😀

[Ramsden]

Thanks LZ

I guess I just wanted to know if I was doing something wrong. 

I normally have the big petal on top, but some of my hoods are just round. But my interest was triggered by all the different shapes and sizes. 

The vignetting is to the level where I can see the hood shape in the picture.

 But - I'll keep using them for protection.

Thanks

Ramsden

[p4pictures]

It is unusual to be able to see the lens hood in the shot if the correct lens hood for the lens is used. 

I would check that you are indeed using the correct lens hood, the EW-73C is the correct one.

Secondly check that it is fitted in place correctly. Since these hoods fit and twist in to place it is possible that the hood is not fully clicked in to position, or it has been dislodged if left on the lens while in a bag. As other posters above have said, make sure that the longest parts of the petal shape are at the top and bottom of the lens with the lens fitted on the camera.

[Ramsden]

Thanks Brian

I'm going to check whether I've got the correct hoods, as I suspect I haven't. I can see the hood on at least 3 of my lenses. I'm assuming Canon will have a table or chart to guide me?

Thanks 

Ramsden

Ramsx

[p4pictures · Accepted solution]

You're welcome. The simplest way to find out is to check on the Canon website for your specific lenses, the lens hood is listed as an accessory for the lens.

Take the EF-S 10-18mm as an example. This page on the Canon UK website for that lens shows that the EW-73C is to correct lens hood for that lens. 

https://www.canon.co.uk/lenses/ef-s-10-18mm-f-4-5-5-6-is-stm-lens/specification.html 

For each of the lenses you need to look up which is the correct lens hood. Once you have that then maybe a sticker on the outside of the lens hood will help you put the right hood on each lens you have. So on the EW-73C put a 10-18mm sticker and so on. 

[Ramsden]

 I've just unpacked my case having arrived in Mallaig. From the right 70-300 zoom, EF 85mm,  EFS 10-18mm wide angle,  Nifty 50, and EFS 24 macro. Plus the wide angle also has a petal.  I think I've got some research to do. Any advice gratefully received.

Ramsden

[Ramsden]

Apologies phone photo reversed image - so from the left....