Hope this is permissible to post here...but I just wanted to share this with anyone who may be interested.
I do alot of 'in your face' portrait and documentary photography. Lighting (catchlights) in the subjects eyes is so important to me since I use natural/available light only. For years, I used a free hand to block the sun to prevent glare. Bought a FlareBuster...wasn't impressed. Then, spent a good bit on the Cokin Modular Bellows Hood. Loved the nice lighting I was able to obtain without glare. Also...it helped provide even lighting. It has been great to have.
On occasion, I use multiple cameras at one session or location. I decided that I'd go for another Bellows Hood and risked finding something a bit less expensive than Cokin's Hood. I purchased a Sailwind Bellows camera lens shade/hood (its designed for filters too but I just use it for shading). Anyway, it arrived earlier today and I can't begin to tell you how impressed I am. The overall construction of this hood far surpasses the Cokin (my opinion). I love that I can increase/reduce the length of the bellows on a track versus the Cokin which is just accordion style and not that easy to control in a certain position.
Camera World, Charlotte, NC is the designer and has sold these for years. Unfortunately, they recognize that the market no longer supports their product and they are liquidating their inventory. The Shade Hood used to sell for $229 and the adapter rings for $29. The liquidation prices are EXTREMELY reduced. Once they are gone they are gone. Id suggest grabbing them now. I just ordered a second one today.
Heres an image that I was allowed to borrow and share with you. The Sailwind Bellows Hood
Their site: www.cameraworldnc.com (I deal with Dana. She has been very helpful.)
Here's their description:
This is the Sailwind Pro Vignetta Matte lens hood that I designed myself and have sold thousand of this model all over the world to top photographers. This is a metal frame bellows hood that has rack and pinion movement control of the bellows that is crucial to getting proper vignetting and montaging. One the back of the bellows, there are two filter slots and each of the slots will hold up to two 3"x3" glass or plastic filters. The back of the bellows has a 67mm male thread ( series 8). To put it on a camera you will need to buy a series 8 adaptor ring. Most sizes are ten dollars from 49mm to 77mm. Bayonet sizes for Hasselblad are twenty dollars. Bellows lens shades like this are intended to work of normal and longer focal lengths lenses and not wide-angle. Be sure to ask for Dana for assistance and purchasing.
I do alot of 'in your face' portrait and documentary photography. Lighting (catchlights) in the subjects eyes is so important to me since I use natural/available light only. For years, I used a free hand to block the sun to prevent glare. Bought a FlareBuster...wasn't impressed. Then, spent a good bit on the Cokin Modular Bellows Hood. Loved the nice lighting I was able to obtain without glare. Also...it helped provide even lighting. It has been great to have.
On occasion, I use multiple cameras at one session or location. I decided that I'd go for another Bellows Hood and risked finding something a bit less expensive than Cokin's Hood. I purchased a Sailwind Bellows camera lens shade/hood (its designed for filters too but I just use it for shading). Anyway, it arrived earlier today and I can't begin to tell you how impressed I am. The overall construction of this hood far surpasses the Cokin (my opinion). I love that I can increase/reduce the length of the bellows on a track versus the Cokin which is just accordion style and not that easy to control in a certain position.
Camera World, Charlotte, NC is the designer and has sold these for years. Unfortunately, they recognize that the market no longer supports their product and they are liquidating their inventory. The Shade Hood used to sell for $229 and the adapter rings for $29. The liquidation prices are EXTREMELY reduced. Once they are gone they are gone. Id suggest grabbing them now. I just ordered a second one today.
Heres an image that I was allowed to borrow and share with you. The Sailwind Bellows Hood
Their site: www.cameraworldnc.com (I deal with Dana. She has been very helpful.)
Here's their description:
This is the Sailwind Pro Vignetta Matte lens hood that I designed myself and have sold thousand of this model all over the world to top photographers. This is a metal frame bellows hood that has rack and pinion movement control of the bellows that is crucial to getting proper vignetting and montaging. One the back of the bellows, there are two filter slots and each of the slots will hold up to two 3"x3" glass or plastic filters. The back of the bellows has a 67mm male thread ( series 8). To put it on a camera you will need to buy a series 8 adaptor ring. Most sizes are ten dollars from 49mm to 77mm. Bayonet sizes for Hasselblad are twenty dollars. Bellows lens shades like this are intended to work of normal and longer focal lengths lenses and not wide-angle. Be sure to ask for Dana for assistance and purchasing.