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I understand what a lens hood does, and I've read several of the questions about them here on the site, but I am still left wondering whether I could get a lens hood that would work on both the lenses I have.

My equipment is a Canon 600D and a 18-55mm (and about to be a 70-300mm). I've read there could be problems with vignetting potentially if a lens hood were to be used on a 18mm focus as well as a 300mm focus.

Essentially what I'm asking is can I get just one lens hood for my kit, and if so what are the recommendations for sub £50?

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This link should answer all your questions about lens hoods. toothwalker.org/optics/lenshood.html – camflan Aug 31 '12 at 14:03

3 Answers

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Some lens hoods are an equal size, all the way round (such as for telephoto lenses) whereas others (for medium to wide lenses) protrude more at the top and bottom than they are wide, so I think the answer to your question is NO. There is no single lens hood that will fit all your lenses. The one for 18mm would not be suitable for 300mm.

That said, if cost is the issue, you can "make your own" very cheaply from card. Reference this web site for templates etc. Much cheaper!

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thanks for the answer. I believe I will probably get 2, they seem pretty reasonably priced on here wexphotographic.com/lens-hoods-and-caps-canon/b3076-m37 – Toby Seers Aug 31 '12 at 11:05
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A fixed universal lens hood would not work.

The hood is designed to block light that is just out of shot. Such light can't contribute to the image in any way but can bounce around inside the lens and cause flare.

What is "just out of shot" depends entirely on how wide your lens is. Light that is just out of shot for a 300mm image will be mid frame in an 18mm image! So blocking this light will leave big black areas in your images.

You need a hood which changes shape somehow. The easiest way to achieve this is with "barn door" style flaps which can be angled to stay out of shot:

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1  
Actually, a bellows design (what we used to call a "compendium lens hood", but which people today tend to call a "matte box" even though nobody uses vignetting mattes anymore) is simpler. But as with the barndoor affair in your post, it will involve a support rail, and isn't really suitable for handheld shooting. Great for waist-level shooting with a square format or rotating-back MF camera, though. – Stan Rogers Aug 31 '12 at 11:26
up vote 1 down vote

The simplest and most universal method i know is: use your hand or a nearby object (tree, lamp post, building) to cast a shadow on the front of your lens.

This allows you to not have to carry or even own a lens hood (this also works for all your lenses)

Of course this might not be very practical for some kinds of shots where you have to be in a semi-fixed position, but for general walkaround shooting, it's great.

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