Who uses a hood?

Hood and Filter Always, on all lenses and have been doing so for about 45 years. I have taken gear through all kinds of conditions and never damaged the lens glass or filter ring. Some of the hoods look pretty worn, but they are easily replaced and don't cost as much as a new lens. Cheapest form of insurance you can buy and it's functional.

I try to find caps for the hood, but I usually loose them. Op/Tech makes what they call a "Hood Hat" that works very well. It's like a foam boot that slips over the hood and also covers part of the lens.

I tend to carry a camera and lens combo and stick a second lens in my pocket when I'm out wandering and the Hood Hat is great for that.
Usually the 50 C-Sonnar on the camera and the 35 Biogon in my pocket,
 
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I used to assist a photographer who often said "A lens isn't complete without a hood." After a few days of this, no one in his studio would hand him a lens without a hood on it, unless he specifically asked for it that way.

There are almost always hoods on my lenses; even when you don't need them for optical reasons, the "mechanical protection" discussed at length above is reason enough to follow the advice of my old mentor.
 
The hood is much cheaper to replace than a front element! Most of the hoods also has a bit of a "crunch" factor and dissipates shocks - and if not too bent, can usually be hammered out to a reasonable semblence of its former shape.
I dont use UV filters as I cant see the reasn for having a $1000 lens with a $50 piece of glass added to it!
I never use lens caps - it is too easy to commit the "Faux Pas" of standing there shooting with a M2 and the cap on!
Modern lenses are surprisngly flare resistant, so the hood is a protective device more than a "optical" device.
 
I always use lense shades on my ZM, M and Canon lenses. Size is never an issue. I will never take a camera/lense without a lense shade seriously, like all these shiny digital PS cameras ('one arm shooters').
 
I don't use a hood, yet. It didn't come with the lens (CV35 1.4) when it should be in the box. And look the price they ask for it!

A question for the "users". I think that the hood usually shows up in the viewfinder, is not annoying?
 
In a word, hood can save picture, can save lens. Also gives look like classy shoes to a woman. She can have beautiful haircut and elegant dress, but if in same moment she's wearing slippers....you got idea.
 
[/QUOvented hoods are vented for a reason... solid hoods are annoying.TE] You would think so. however, for some strange reason... it does not bother me (but I thought it would. My 25mm ZM came with a 21/25mm hood (basically its designed for the 21mm). The small 'vent in it is not much use, and I have one shot spoilt by flare (sun not in the frame). Therefore, my 35/50mm hood on my f2 50mm has tape on it so it provides better protection from flare for the 50mm focal length.. so far it works well.
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Never used a lens without a hood on, except when - with large wide angles - using built-in flash can be a problem (shadows)
 
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