after market lens hoods bad for lens?

[ywenz]

I'm talking about one of these hoods..

http://cgi.ebay.com/New-39mm-hood-f...ryZ43479QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Since these are thread-mounted, say if I happened to hold the camera mainly by the hood - I'm wondering if the length of these hoods will create enough leverage to apply a fairly heavy dose of lateral force on the lens threads to do damage to them? How strong are the threads on the Leica lenses?

If they designed the threads only for filter use, this could be a distinct possibility...

 

[FrankS]

The problem is not the hood, the problem is you picking up/holding the camera by the hood. Geez!

 

[back alley]

i agree. not the best thing to do.

 

[former member]

Wasn't there an ad for Super Glue where the construction worker wore a Leica M3 on this head, with a hood on the lens, glued the hood to a steel beam and then road it around?

I'm sure it would be fine.

 

[peter_n]

Not sure about these hoods, but I have bought three or so regular hoods from eBay vendor heavystar and they are excellent quality. He also sells vented hoods like this one that others have praised.

 

[furcafe]

From personal experience, I would say the hood will break before the lens. I once dropped a 5cm/1.4 Nikkor-S (LTM version) w/a 43mm Walz vented hood on it (had a few too many martinis . . . OK, I had 1 martini), much like the ones sold today by heavystar & American Eagle. Fortunately, it hit the sidewalk hood 1st (perhaps the vents do have an aerodynamic effect! 😛 ). The front of the hood was crunched & completely detached from the part that screws into the lens. Result: I was able to easily unscrew what was left of the hood & there was no damage to the lens @ all, not to the glass, not to the filter threads, nothing. Granted, the old LTM Nikkors are known for their heavy-duty construction, but I would expect most Leitz/Leica lenses (particularly the 1950s versions) to fare similarly in the same conditions.

I'm talking about one of these hoods..

http://cgi.ebay.com/New-39mm-hood-f...ryZ43479QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Since these are thread-mounted, say if I happened to hold the camera mainly by the hood - I'm wondering if the length of these hoods will create enough leverage to apply a fairly heavy dose of lateral force on the lens threads to do damage to them? How strong are the threads on the Leica lenses?

If they designed the threads only for filter use, this could be a distinct possibility...

 

[RML]

Yes, don't hold your camera from the hood. It's not a grip. Some discipline in handling your cameras and lenses the proper way, goes a long way.

 

[ZeissFan]

I agree: Holding a camera by the lens hood is asking for trouble. Depending on the weight of the camera + lens, you might damage the threads. Lens hoods are meant to shade the lens, not support the camera.

 

[Flyfisher Tom]

I am convinced that maximum protection is afforded by having a hood + uv filter on your lens. Indeed, the hood will bear the brunt of any assault on the lens. By the way, never hold a camera or lens by the hood. Same reason you never pick up a baby by its head alone ;-)

 

[peter_n]

I am convinced that maximum protection is afforded by having a hood + uv filter on your lens. Indeed, the hood will bear the brunt of any assault on the lens.

Couldn't agree more!

 

[FrankS]

By the way, never hold a camera or lens by the hood. Same reason you never pick up a baby by its head alone ;-)

Now Tom, that is a very effective analogy! 🙂

 

[ywenz]

I'm not saying that I'll strictly pick up my camera by pinching on the hood. I'm just saying, if I leave the hood on at all times, and over the course of that time, the hood will bound to be pushed one way or the other, and sometimes when I pick the camera up by the lens, I might inadverdently grasp on to the hood and thus apply pressure to the lens threads that way.

 

[RML]

I'm not saying that I'll strictly pick up my camera by pinching on the hood. I'm just saying, if I leave the hood on at all times, and over the course of that time, the hood will bound to be pushed one way or the other, and sometimes when I pick the camera up by the lens, I might inadverdently grasp on to the hood and thus apply pressure to the lens threads that way.

No offence meant but IMO this is a non-issue. You'll have to push really hard to distort the shape of a hood or to twist the threads. It doesn't happen from the camera sitting in a bag and it doesn't happen from picking up a camera by the lens and inadvertently touching/holding part of the hood with your hand.

 

[ywenz]

No offence meant but IMO this is a non-issue. You'll have to push really hard to distort the shape of a hood or to twist the threads. It doesn't happen from the camera sitting in a bag and it doesn't happen from picking up a camera by the lens and inadvertently touching/holding part of the hood with your hand.

great, thats what I wanted to hear!