A Lens hood (sometimes called a lens shade) is a shade placed around the front of a lens to keep out light from outside the subject area, particularly, strong light from the Sun or artificial lighting. This reduces flare and can improve contrast. Lens hoods are needed especially where lenses are not protected by being recessed into the lens barrel or camera body.
Lens hoods may be attached using the filter thread inside the rim of the lens, or push-fit around the outside of the lens, or in some cases may be built-in. Most are circular, but some are rectangular - matching the shape of the frame. Some are collapsible (perhaps by being made of rubber), so that they can be left in place whilst the camera is cased. Large-format (and some medium-format) studio cameras may use a compendium hood; a short bellows which can be adjusted to suit the lens in use, using the ground glass screen to check the hood does not intrude into view.
|
|
|
|
| The lens cap of the Werra...
|
..could be removed, flipped around and...
|
... (with the end cap removed) used as a hood.
|
