Do I still need a lens hood if I am using a polarising filter already?

[Q.G.]

Needs vary indeed. But the fact that you can do something without does not mean you do not need that thing you can do without.
It's not in the "can" but in the "for/to" bit. What do you need something for.

You can take pictures with a Holga, so you do not need anything better.
But for taking better pictures, you certainly do need something better than a Holga.

It's similar with lens hoods.


But i guess some people will argue that because you can take pictures using a Holga, you do indeed not need anything better.
And that at one time they will ask the "define 'better'" question.


The probability thing too makes that we need a lens hood.
Yes, sometimes it may not make a difference. But unless you want to spend time assessing every situation, try to make a balanced decision founded on the particularities of each and every situation you encounter, you do need a lens hood.
If only to make sure you haven't cocked up your assessment, let alone to spare you the trouble of having to do that every time you point a lens at something.

You do need a lens hood. Always. Period.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Indeed, the need [read: for a better photographic result] for a lens hood with a polarizing filter increases inversely to the focal length of the lens.

Steve

 

[eddym]

:munch:

 

[Q.G.]

Though the good a hood will do decreases with the focal length.

 

[nyoung]

To the OP.

Seriously, the answer is it depends.

PL screen does not do the same thing the hood does.

Hood is mostly likely to create a visible difference if you are shooting old single coated or non-coated glass - the purpose of the modern multicoatings is to reduce/eliminate the flare within the lens that hoods also help control.

Also, if you are shooting into/across the light source at an angle other than 90 degrees to the film plane. (if the light source is at or near perpendicular to the film plane only the lens coatings will help at all- think sunrise/sunset shots)

That said, the hood must be deep enough to shade the lens. The hoods sold for most wide angle lenses are too shallow to do any good and the "flower petal" contraptions that come with most modern zooms are nearly useless as the offending light source is - by Murphy's 150th corollary - always going to be aligned with the cut away area of the hood.