biogon 28 - hood solutions?

ampguy

ampguy

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does the biogon 28/2.8 generally need a hood?

If so, is the factory one a good design, or would a heavystar 46mm screw in work OK?
 
I'll guess you're referring to the 28 Biogon ZM and not the Biogon G, both f2.8 and both use 46mm filters... There's a ZM round hood specified for both 28 and 25mm lenses, and a similar one for 35 and 50mm. These are both vented and reverse-tapered for virtually no obstruction to the viewfinder. The Heavystar vented hoods are cylindrical, without the reverse taper, so do show up as a thicker arc in the viewfinder. I'd prefer the factory Zeiss hood, but it is more expensive.
 
Hi Doug

Hi Doug

Thanks,

Yes, it's the ZM. Does it generally need a hood, like say older leica lenses vs the newer ones? I'll check around for prices on the Zeiss one. Thanks.

Doug said:
I'll guess you're referring to the 28 Biogon ZM and not the Biogon G, both f2.8 and both use 46mm filters... There's a ZM round hood specified for both 28 and 25mm lenses, and a similar one for 35 and 50mm. These are both vented and reverse-tapered for virtually no obstruction to the viewfinder. The Heavystar vented hoods are cylindrical, without the reverse taper, so do show up as a thicker arc in the viewfinder. I'd prefer the factory Zeiss hood, but it is more expensive.
Click to expand...
 
No hood is the best hood

No hood is the best hood

Don't bother with the hood.

I went on the cheap and bought a Contax G hood that screws in for $12 out of Hong Kong (be prepared to wait 3 weeks). No success.

Not happy with that, I found a proper Zeiss Biogon hood for $40 on eBay, they list for around $90.

I was not a happy camper with that either. Although the Biogon is VERY flare resistant the old rule of 'sun over your shoulder' still applies to wide angles over 35mm.

With the proper hood I still get a moderate veiling flare from high noon sunny day shots, but the flare is very similar to that of the human eye where detalils are washed out in the shadows. Usally a hood will lend that baseball cap look to things, but not with the wispy hood required for such an extreme wide angle.

I used the factory hood shooting 90 degrees from a sunrise in a desert landscape and still got curtain veils running vertically through the shot.

The Biogon handles flare better than any wide angle I've used, but it still has its limits. I don't find hoods to be of much help with wide angles because they have to be too small to accomodate the rangefinder. Save your money and practice proper techniques.
 
Thanks Dan

Thanks Dan

Great info. I will at least try for awhile without hood. I've noticed that unless shooting in the sun, my 35asph, and even v4cron rarely need hoods, but are good for protection of the lens.

Dektol Dan said:
Don't bother with the hood.

I went on the cheap and bought a Contax G hood that screws in for $12 out of Hong Kong (be prepared to wait 3 weeks). No success.

Not happy with that, I found a proper Zeiss Biogon hood for $40 on eBay, they list for around $90.

I was not a happy camper with that either. Although the Biogon is VERY flare resistant the old rule of 'sun over your shoulder' still applies to wide angles over 35mm.

With the proper hood I still get a moderate veiling flare from high noon sunny day shots, but the flare is very similar to that of the human eye where detalils are washed out in the shadows. Usally a hood will lend that baseball cap look to things, but not with the wispy hood required for such an extreme wide angle.

I used the factory hood shooting 90 degrees from a sunrise in a desert landscape and still got curtain veils running vertically through the shot.

The Biogon handles flare better than any wide angle I've used, but it still has its limits. I don't find hoods to be of much help with wide angles because they have to be too small to accomodate the rangefinder. Save your money and practice proper techniques.
Click to expand...
 
Since I do not use lens caps, except for storage, those lens hoods work as a protector should you bump up on something hard and of course for the dreaded dropped lens.
 
i bought the hoods for my 50/2, 25, 28 and 35 ZMs. I use them rarely. Save your money, buy more film instead, etc., because the ZMs are so flare resistant you will not find a regular need for the hoods.
 
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