What is the advantage of using an lens hood?

by Everald
(Palm bay, Florida)

The main reason I am asking this question is that the people who are pushing the use of the lens hood state that it prevents light from reaching your sensor, confusing the light meter on the camera. If this is so what about live view shooting? I would think this would be far worse in terms of light reaching the camera sensor. So if it is OK to shoot live view what is the big deal of using a lens hood?

Comments for What is the advantage of using an lens hood?

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Oct 19, 2015
good post NEW
by: Hengki

I think Photographers know the value of this post because it contain the advantages of using an lens hood in digital cameras with the help of digital Slr. I don't know such advantage of an lens hood because this post is the cause to increase my knowledge about it. Some article also on the accessories of Cameras. So, Photographers must like this website. However, I'm finding dissertation writing but i like to say thanks for this useful post.

Jul 27, 2009
Preventing Lens Flares
by: Digital SLR Guide

Since your question touches on two separate topics, I'll answer both - this should help clarify how certain accessories can be used.

A lens hood attaches to the front of the lens, and it's sole purpose is to prevent sunlight from bouncing off the front of lens - this creates what are called "lens flares".

A lens flare is a blob of light that can affect the quality of your images. Lens flares most often occur when you point the camera in the direction of the sun.

Here's an example of a lens flare.

Lens hoods provide just enough shade on the front of the lens to prevent lens flares.

A second device is a viewfinder cap - this can be placed over the viewfinder any time you take photos with your eye away from the viewfinder (for example, if you're using a remote trigger).

The reason to block off the viewfinder is to prevent stray light from entering the camera which can affect the camera's light meter.

The reason that this is not a problem when shooting in live view mode is that digital SLRs black out the viewfinder any time you switch to live view.

If you try to look through a DSLR viewfinder in live view mode, all you'll see is black - once you exit live view mode, then you'll once again see an image in the viewfinder.

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