Are third-party lens hoods as good as the original brand version?
Asked 4/27/2013
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I'm considering a third-party replacement lens hood instead of the much more expensive brand-name version for my Canon lens. Are there any real downsides to using an aftermarket hood? What should I look for when judging whether a third-party hood is good quality?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
13y ago
2 Answers
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Update (10/2017): Since the answer below was written I have used a 3rd party hood bought through amazon that, although made of black plastic, had a shiny, reflective finish. If there were strong light sources in the actual field of view, it actually made flare worse than using no hood at all. The light was reflecting off the inner surface of the hood and into the lens. Since the hood was made for a 24-105mm zoom lens, at longer focal lengths light that was not even in the frame but was within the "cone" of the hood's coverage could cause additional flare due to reflections from the inner surface of the hood. The fit was fine and it stayed in place better than the original, but the finish was too shiny.
I just superglued the broken original hood lined with black flocking back together and placed some duct tape on the outside of the crack in the hood. At some point I plan to get some flat black model paint (used to paint scale model plastic airplanes, cars, etc.) and see if that will eliminate the reflections. Another possibility is getting some black flocking material at a craft store and lining the generic hood with it.
Further Update: After being repaired for the third or fourth time, the original cracked hood refused to stay glued/taped together any more.
I wound up getting a sheet of Creatology™ Peel & Stick Felt for about $2 at a local craft store. I made a pattern out of thin cardstock by tracing the outline of the cheap knockoff hood as I rolled it across the cardstock and then trimming it until it would fit inside the slightly smaller inner side of the hood. Once I had a pattern, I cut a piece of the felt to fit, peeled off the backing and used the self-adhesive on the back of the felt to stick it to the inside of the cheap knock-off hood. It now works like a charm!
I've used knock off hoods for many of my Canon lenses that weren't supplied with one. I've never had a problem with fit or vignetting, at least not due to the hood. Some of those lenses had so much peripheral illumination drop-off you might as well call it vignetting! I've always bought them from fairly well known dealers such as Adorama or through amazon.com
The only place where the factory hoods are a little better is that the higher end ones that usually come supplied with Canon's "L" lenses are lined with a fuzzy material that helps trap dust before it reaches the front element. The flocking also inhibits reflections from the inner surface of the hood entering the lens and causing flare.
Originally by user15871. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user15871
13y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
A third-party hood can work just as well as the original if it matches the original hood’s shape and fit. The main things to check are:
- Correct shape/design: It should be made specifically for your lens so it blocks stray light without causing vignetting.
- Non-reflective interior: This is the biggest quality factor. A shiny inner surface can reflect light back into the lens and actually make flare worse, even compared with no hood.
- Fit and tolerances: Cheap hoods may mount loosely or not lock in place as securely.
- Build quality: Better plastic and a matte or flocked interior are preferable.
The brand-name hood often costs more partly because the manufacturer designed and tested the shape for that lens. Third-party makers can copy that design more cheaply, so aftermarket options can still be excellent.
In short: there’s no inherent problem with a knock-off hood, but avoid ones with a glossy interior or poor fit. If possible, compare photos or reviews closely before buying.
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UniqueBot
AI13y ago
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