Lens Hood Comparison Question

PGraham3

Member
Joined
May 18, 2016
Messages
294
Location
Seoul, South Korea
Format
35mm
I intend to purchase a lens hood for a Minolta AL-E (40mm 1.8 lens), and hoping to get one that will not block the rangefinder patch too much and will not hinder producing good photos. I understand that lens hoods generally reduce flare and may increase/decrease contrast in photos, but is there a particular lens hood that is better than the others?

I've seen several varieties, such as the ones below:



The square one seems cool, but I've only mainly seen these on Hassalblads, newer leicas, etc. A few sources that I looked at mention these actually reduce contrast, but not sure if I would agree with that. What do you think?
The vented one looks cool, but I'm afraid it would be too large and block too much of the rangefinder patch. Any benefits with including vents?
The last one is a simple hood that appears to be not too large, and may indeed compliment the camera well, as the one pictured below here:


Would love to read your opinions and advice on this. Thanks so much!
-Paul
 

jim10219

Member
Joined
Jun 15, 2017
Messages
1,632
Location
Oklahoma
Format
4x5 Format
The square one is usually for wider lenses. They produce better shielding without clipping the corners. They're also seen on TLR's, so they don't block the viewing lens.

The vented one is the one you want. Those are made for rangefinders. They're designed so that the outside circle is usually parallel to the view path from the window. That way they only block about as much as the thickness of the metal.

All lens hoods should increase contrast, or offer no effect if flare isn't an issue. The only time they might decrease contrast is in a rare situation where the light source wasn't directly shining on the lens, but was able to bounce off the rim of the lens hood. That's kind of hard to do, so it's not generally a concern.
 

Deleted member 88956

Minolta had factory hoods for all (or most) of its rangefinders and I would think AL-E had one too. Same applied to pretty much every other rangefinder made in those days and NONE were vented and NONE obstructed rangefinder patch. All I have or seen are straight cylinder shape that essentially extend lens' outer barrel just enough to not vignette yet provide stray light protection.

I have not once seen a case where a hood would decrease contrast, it is really against logic of its existence and it might be possible, but ONLY if the hood was in bad shape and had some reflective spots on its working surface.
 

Deleted member 88956

BTW, while there are good after market metal hoods now available (and you can find one that would screw into your filter thread for under $10) I always strive to get the original (if price does not require second mortgage that is)
 

Deleted member 88956

PGraham3 said:
Thanks for all the info, everyone!

@Witold
Pretty sweet lens chart! Thanks!
Now, will a screw-in hood like this be able to work if I also screw in a filter of some sort?
-Paul
Click to expand...
These original hoods are clamp-on and go outside filter threads, so filters go in independent of hood. If you start looking for one of cheap new screw in hoods then you may have an issue with vignetting as filter wold have go first which would move the hood forward. But, there may be a right combination out there to work.

I'd suggest to look up the original hood as they d show up and with some patience you may not have to sell your house either (check the chart and lens diameter to be sure you get the right one as i may have suggested one that won't specifically fit your model).
 

Poisson Du Jour

Member
Joined
Jul 1, 2008
Messages
5,462
Location
.
Format
Digital
Square design hoods are dominant on the Pentax 67 system, and very effective, (additional to being horrendously expensive), with an odd standout of a round 'petal' hood with trapdoor (this is removed to put a finger up there to rotate a polariser, for example) featuring on the very expensive SMC Pentax 67 75mm f2.8AL. Vented (or 'slotted') hoods are common on rangefinders, but their drawback is they allow the ingress of dust which is a nuisance if a filter is attached to the front of the hood (they are commonly threaded to accept filters).

My bet for rangefinder use is a square hood (OEM, preferrably) as just about any round version will make an unwelcome intrusion. Have a look at the Voigtlanderr hoods.
 

Deleted member 88956

There were NO OEM square hoods for older rangefinders, at least none I ever saw and have a multitude of older rangefinders at home. And the key is to get the original hood.
 
Last edited by a moderator:

Deleted member 88956

PGraham3 said:
@Witold
Yeah, it's suggested that I get the Minolta D49NC hood, or the D49ND. It appears finding one of these will be quite tough.
Click to expand...
That's what I meant by patient. They do show up and search auction sites frequently (and Craigslist in USA). I have not actually needed one of this particular type. One tip: search lens hoods, clamp on lens hoods and similar WITHOUT brand name (in addition to particular model you need of course). Odd things happen on these sites and bargain is one that comes from an uninitiated source. And of course GARAGE SALES over there too, Salvation Army stores etc. as you never know when and where that 24 karat diamond will show up.

And lastly keep shopping for your camera too as that is a possible surprise source for just one small piece that may cost less for the whole bag of goods than the hood itself (some of these hoods have asking prices well over $50, which is ridiculous of course).
 

AgX

Member
Joined
Apr 5, 2007
Messages
29,973
Location
Germany
Format
Multi Format
The best shade is as long as possible and of the same aspect ratio as the film format.
 

Deleted member 88956

PGraham3 said:
@Witold
Yeah, it's suggested that I get the Minolta D49NC hood, or the D49ND. It appears finding one of these will be quite tough.
Click to expand...
Have you measured the outer diameter of lens' front ring? That's what the digits indicate. Somehow I can't believe your lens is 49mm on the outside front that front ring, but I don't know for sure.
 

Deleted member 88956

AgX said:
The best shade is as long as possible and of the same aspect ratio as the film format.
Click to expand...
Except I would first trust manufacturer, especially higher grade one like Minolta with what they made for their camera. Frame aspect ratio hoods are fine and better on each leg of the frame for clear reasons, but round hoods have been long in use and effective too.
 
OP
OP

PGraham3

Member
Joined
May 18, 2016
Messages
294
Location
Seoul, South Korea
Format
35mm
@Witold
Indeed. I'll be looking of course.
The Minolta AL-E is a camera that is quite hard to come by in comparison to the Hi-Matic series cameras, as I think only about +/-20,000 were made.
Thanks for all the input! Much appreciated!
-Paul

@AgX
The Minolta AL-E has a 40mm 1.8 lens with a 49mm filter size. Can you explain a little of what you mean by "same aspect ratio as the film format"?
Thanks!

-Paul
 

DWThomas

Subscriber
Joined
Jun 13, 2006
Messages
4,604
Location
SE Pennsylvania
Format
Multi Format
Don't know about the particular camera in question, but one problem with shaped rectangular hoods is they don't work out so well with lenses that turn as they focus or zoom. I guess most lenses these days don't do that, but it's a potential consideration. Plus, if a hood attaches by screwing into the filter thread, it may not stop with the rectangular sides nicely vertical and horizontal. Much of my later gear (mostly Canon) has hoods that bayonet onto the lens barrel and are independent of the front element.
 

Deleted member 88956

I just checked

With filter size 49mm I'm not sure about the hood being 49 N type as that is a screw in. I'm unaware of Minolta making screw in for those years of rangefinders. More checking is needed as that should be right in the camera manual, if we can find it.
 
Last edited by a moderator:

Deleted member 88956

OK, I see that chart is showing D49NC and clearly screw in.
 

MattKing

Moderator
Moderator
Joined
Apr 24, 2005
Messages
52,857
Location
Delta, BC Canada
Format
Medium Format
PGraham3 said:
The Minolta AL-E has a 40mm 1.8 lens with a 49mm filter size. Can you explain a little of what you mean by "same aspect ratio as the film format"?
Thanks!
Click to expand...
In case AgX doesn't see this.
The best lens hoods have the same shape as the film image - square (1:1) aspect ratio hoods for square frame cameras, hoods with a 4:3 aspect ratio shape for 6x4.5 frame cameras, hoods with a ~4:5 aspect ratio shape for 6x7 frame cameras and hoods with a 2:3 aspect ratio shape for 24x36mm or 6x9 frame cameras.
Round hoods are convenient and inexpensive, but the "fitted" square or rectangular hoods are best.
 

AgX

Member
Joined
Apr 5, 2007
Messages
29,973
Location
Germany
Format
Multi Format
PGraham3 said:
Can you explain a little of what you mean by "same aspect ratio as the film format"?
Thanks!
Click to expand...

The classic shades for still photography were round cones. Very easy to use as they can be screwed in without further bothering. Of course the angle of the cone must be apt for the angle of view of the lens, just so that there is no vignetting at the corners.

Now imagine a piece of cardboard with the apt aspect ratio (= ratio of the height and width of the format; in case of 35mm typically 1/1.5) of just the size that it fits into the outer part of that cone. You see quite some free area around it. Where still stray light can enter.

Thus either cover up these areas too, or make a respective rectangular shade from the start. In both cases though the issue remains of the right orientation after screwing in (unless otherwise fixed).

Of course with a rangefinder the problem of vignetting the finder remains. Here a vented design may be benefitial.


In cinematography rectangular shades have been used from the start so to say. Well, they typically were used in a stage environment, with a lot of lights. Thus chances for stray light alway were great.
 
Last edited:

RalphLambrecht

Subscriber
Joined
Sep 19, 2003
Messages
14,644
Location
K,Germany
Format
Medium Format
any lens hood is better than none. I like the rubber made, because they are adjustable and add extra impact protection.
 
OP
OP

PGraham3

Member
Joined
May 18, 2016
Messages
294
Location
Seoul, South Korea
Format
35mm
Witold said:
OK, I see that chart is showing D49NC and clearly screw in.
Click to expand...

@Witold
Yeah, it appears the chart indicates that this camera takes a screw-in hood. While there doesn't appear to be any original D49NC hoods out there for this particular semi-rare camera, I found one that might work well (https://www.ebay.com/itm/Metal-Hood...=item1cc9ab48fc:g:wE4AAOSwCjpcO1oG:rk:20:pf:0). While it would apparently screw in without a problem, I do worry a little that it may not be for the correct focal length and may cause some unwanted vignetting. However, it does look quite similar to the one mounted on the camera here:


I'd like to hear your opinion regarding this, and anyone else that would like to chime in.
Thanks a bunch!
-Paul
 

Deleted member 88956

Look for one that is straight cylinder for 49mm thread, that's what original is. This one will most likely get in the rangefinder view.

Try this one
 
OP
OP

PGraham3

Member
Joined
May 18, 2016
Messages
294
Location
Seoul, South Korea
Format
35mm
@Witold
Cool! Thanks!
I wonder if this one would be quite similar in length to the original. Unfortunately, I'm unable to find a description of the factory hood's specific features, unless it's on here, but very unlikely.

I've attempted to locate an original Minolta AL-E manual, but there doesn't appear to be one available out there, even on butkus.org. I tried looking through a variety of Japanese web pages, however, I'm blocked from searching some of them because I'm currently on a school district computer.

Anyone know of a good website in English or Japanese that might have an original Minolta AL-E manual?
Thanks!
-Paul
 

Deleted member 88956

All I can say is that my linked hood is similar in length to original and for me it would be worth trying for the price. The manual does NOT tell length / depth of hood, so just as well search google for orignal hood and look at images tab to eyeball comparison.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Menu
Log in
Register
Cookies are required to use this site. You must accept them to continue using the site. Learn more…