is a hood necessary for an old lens?

[stupid_john]

Hi, RFFers.
I've bought two summicron recently.
A 50mm DR and a 6-elements 35mm summicrons.
The 35mm summicron seems to flare slightly when
there is white background.

So, I am considering buying a hood for them,
probably the 12858 lens shade.
Two days ago, I asked a local shop for the price of a
used 12585. They can sell it without the cap
at US$150 after bargain. An ugly condition cap for the
hood will add US$25. It costs quite a bit to me and I was hesitated.
🙄😱

My questions are:

Is a hood necessary for an old lens?
How much benefit can I expect from using a hood?

 

[richard_l]

The 35mm summicron seems to flare slightly when
there is white background.

If the flare is caused by a bright area within the field of view, a hood will not help. A hood will only reduce flare resulting from a light source outside the field of view.

Richard

 

[Bryce]

John-
Older or more complex lenses generally benefit more from a hood than newer or simpler ones. Basically, the more air to glass surfaces or the less effective the coatings, the more apparent flare will be.
I don't blame you for hesitating at that price. Maybe another option would work, like a generic one or one made for another brand of camera?

 

[lubitel]

is your 35mm a little foggy maybe? That could be the reason for flare being stronger than usual.

 

[rover]

and $150 is way too much for that hood.

 

[pvenables]

John

I bought a DR Summicron a few months ago and it flares quite badly when you shoot into bright light. My DR is from 1960 and older than I am...

It didn't come with a hood, so I got one off ebay from China. It cost about £12 sterling incl postage as far as I remember, and is really nicely finished. I'm having the first film I've taken with the hood in place developed this week, so I'll be able to see if it's had any beneficial effect. I wouldn't have thought it would make the pictures worse.

I would never spend lots of money on a hood just because it's got "Leica" on it, but that's just me, I suppose.

Paul

 

[peter_n]

and $150 is way too much for that hood.

Way too much for any hood! 😱 Take a look at eBay seller heavystar. He sells excellent hoods that mostly don't exceed $8 each in cost. I use them on my Leica lenses as much as possible - they are excellent. (I have no connection w/heavystar apart from being a satisfied customer.)

 

[laptoprob]

I will definetly go into the hood-trade! 🙂
Flare from just a light background cannot be remedied by a hood. Are the lenses clear from fogging?

 

[stupid_john]

I will definetly go into the hood-trade! 🙂
Flare from just a light background cannot be remedied by a hood. Are the lenses clear from fogging?

Thanks for the input.

I sent the 35mm summicron for a CLA and got it back a couples of days.
The repairman told me that the lens was inadequately cleaned before.
I am sure that the lens is not foggy.
I have shot several rolls on the last Sunday.
See if there is any improvement on flare suppression.

There is no problem for the 50mm DR.
It was bought in an excellent + condition and is a very late model.
Anway, I also sent it for a CLA.

BTW, I found a shop selling some hoods for Leica (made in China) lenses yesterday.
A hood is sold at a price less than US$8. I am not sure the mount size so will bring
my lenses to the shop and buy it a couples of day later.
😀😉

 

[Xmas]

Yes

It keeps the finger prints away, finger print removal means scratches... the old glass can be soft soft soft... , also use a hood cap, and lanyard it just like HCB did.

Noel

 

[edodo]

I just got that hood wich is better than the heavystar one, I have tested all the evilbay alternative for my summicron except the original vintage hood wich is expensive. But I got one beater 12858 the modern one that is ugly but do the job and it is quite big, blocking half of the rangefinder window on my screwmount IIIa. But it is nice to be able to reverse it and be cappable. I have the heavy star one, but I thought it wasn't pretty at all. But it is thinner that the leitz hood so just block an little arc shape in the RF window, but you have to screw it and can't reverse it. Then I found this hood and bought it. It is efficient and beautiful. It blocks less area in the RF than the heavystar and I like the tulip shape of it. It looks new so way more discret than the leitz hood, but still you have to screw it. I have no relation with that seller, just love his hood.
http://cgi.ebay.fr/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200044558106&ssPageName=MERC_VIC_ReBay_Pr3_PcY_BIN_IT&refitem=200035004190&itemcount=3&refwidgetloc=closed_view_item&usedrule1=CategoryProximity&refwidgettype=cross_promot_widget