Lens hood vs filters for DSLRs ?

Question

Which of the two is the most effective in reducing flare ?

Also, can they be substituted with other less expensive, perhaps self-made objects ?

Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

Lens hoods are for reducing flare.

Filters are for optical effects, like color shifts, cutting on reflections or reducing haze, but often just to protect your expensive lens from scratches. Poor quality filters (in some cases good ones too) can actually introduce flare, as this is en extra piece of glass in front of your lens.

The cheaper way? I often use my left hand. Can't go cheaper than that.

The flare comes up when sun (or other light) is hitting the lens in such way that it doesn't get into frame, but does get inside the optics. The sun reflection on each piece of glass creates a small ghost image (that's why having filter=extra piece of glass may give extra flare). So I'm about to shoot and I see those flares, I'd just raise my left hand over camera to create a shadow at the lens barrel entrance, then shoot. You can also hold some object in your hand to create larger shadow, so that you don't have to aim too precisely. A hat works well, if I have one on, I'd take it off and use for shadow... Umbrella would be even better, I suppose, though I never used one myself. This all works quite well, except I have to hold the camera with one hand... This is what a hood ultimately does anyway. Shadows the lens barrel from sun.

LEM.

P.S. Alllfff - nobody so far said filters are useless. They are VERY useful. Each filter for its own purpose (provided you know how to get the best out of them). They are useless for reducing flare though. In fact they can introduce flare. That's what the asker wanted to know. Are filters useful for reducing flare. The answer is definitely not.

Answer 2

I agree, they are two different things for different purposes.  I always have a UV filter on the camera lens as a protection, but if I also put on a lens hood, it chops part of the wide-angle picture, so you get to take your choice.

Outdoors - you may need the lens hood. And the UV filter, but be aware there may be some effects on the corners of the photo.

Good luck!

Answer 3

None if you are shooting directly at the sun/light source. Flaring depends mostly on the lens you use.

Lens hood is to keep the light source away from the front of the lens. You can use a hat, piece of cardboard, folder, etc. just about anything - save you $50. Most people I know use a lens hood to look more professional and make their camera look bigger, and more expensive.

Filters, well... have many functions. Mainly filter the light coming into the lens. However, even a polarizer won't really reduce flare. If you are using a P&S camera you can experiment with almost any (see thru) material as a filter. e.g. use your polaroid sunglasses as a polarizing filter, use colored plastics or glass, etc.

Answer 4

A lens hood is for reducing lens flare ... these break, so depending upon them to protect your lens is fool hardy.

A lens filter is for protecting the lenses front element from expensive damage (if anything if not kept clean, the can actually cause lens flare) ... it is easier and less expensive to replace a $30 filter than the front element of your lens if it gets scratched.

Answer 5

I agree but not completely. Hoods are to reduce flare, Yes, but fitlers are not useless...there is thing called polarizing filter and it directs light and lets only certain direction of light through (blocks the other). Flare tends to be the other, but so is most of the picture. Hood wont effect the look of your photo, polarizing filter will. Well I like the effect.

Have you seen photo of water and you can see the stones in the bottom?

i.e. http://l.yimg.com/g/images/spaceball.gif

Its see through, because there is no reflection of the surface of the water from "other light" than you want to go through, the light is polarized.

N.B. It also adds contrast to the sky ;)

Hope I helped a little, do some research on polarizing filter. ;)

Answer 6

I stopped using a UV filter for protecting the front element of the lens a while back, after I discovered it caused terrible ghosting/flares. Besides, if the filter broke, that would really mess up the lens (Glass scratches glass easier than say, a twig, or a leaf). A filter both protects the lens, and reduces lens flares, as well as preserving image quality.