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Summaron 35mm f2.8 - Lens Hood Needed?


Keith (M)

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Looking at photos of the Summaron 35mm f2.8 type 11306, the front element appears to be deeply recessed. In Ken Rockwell's test (yes, yes, I know...), he writes that even without a hood, he could not get it to flare. Would any users of this lens please care to voice their findings on using this lens without a hood - thanks.

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Hello Keith,

 

The primary purpose of a rigid lens hood is to put a mechanical interface between a lens/lens element & the inadvertant or unexpected hazards that exist in the World. If you drop a lens w/ a hood or it hits something unexpectedly as you turn around the rigid lens hood is likely to absorb a large portion of the shock which would otherwise be directed @ the lens/lens element. Much as the front of your car crumples on hitting a brick wall absorbing a significant portion of the energy from the impact.

 

Life happens. Sometimes @ unexpected or inconvenient times.

 

Flare reduction is a secondary function.

 

Best Regards,

 

Michael

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Hi Michael

 

The filter provides mechanical protection as well as the hood,

 

- it is easier cutting off a damaged filter ring with a small metal saw, than straightening the lenses female filter threads... last needs specalist tools, dont use pliers...

- it is easy reshaping a hood in an engineering vice with a mandrel, sending the lens to a repairer for any parts that may be undamaged, is easy too but sad...

 

Noel

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Thank you both for taking the time to respond and the advice re the 'insurance' aspect...

 

Putting that aside, can anyone from personal experience either agree with or refute K Rockwell's findings regarding this lens's capability to withstand flare sans hood?

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I own and use that lens, and it does flare when the sun shines on the front element. It depends on the angle of incidence (directly from the front is less of a concern, but if the rays hit obliquely, there will be flare), so I always use a lens hood. The lens is so flat anyway that even with a lenshood it is still quite compact.

 

Andy

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Well, you can do quite well without a hood, but IMHO there are at least three circumstances in which it becomes indispensable, namely always, always, always.

I'm so deeply convinced of this that I'm used to mount hoods even at night and I'm not kidding...

 

Cheers,

Bruno

 

P.S. I happen to have a Summaron 2.8 myself and I treated it with the ubiquitous 12585.

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Always use a UV filter and lens hood, remove filter when sun close to frame.

Do not read fairy tales.

 

Noel

 

Ok any four group single coated lens is going to flare to a degree contra jour, depending on sceane contrast.

A multi coated lens will flare less, but still needs a hood.

The single coated lens will compress the contrast range and pastel the colors... more than a multi coated lens, will do.

 

Noel

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Ok any four group single coated lens is going to flare to a degree contra jour, depending on sceane contrast.

A multi coated lens will flare less, but still needs a hood.

The single coated lens will compress the contrast range and pastel the colors... more than a multi coated lens, will do.

 

Noel

 

Thanks Noel,

I didn't know about this aspect. This explains why vintage lenses tend to have less contrast and render less saturated colors. One never stops to learn...

 

Cheers,

Bruno

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Hi Bruno

 

The compression and pastel(ling) you get is adaptive. That is is extreme contrast sceane you get more compression and pastel.

 

If you have a M8 or M9 this wont completely solve specular highlight burn but may help a little.

 

On dull days I use MC lenses on bright sunny SC lenses... and I use film and stand development...

 

Noel

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Keith,

 

the Summaron 35mm f2.8 is my most used lens. Most of the time I use it without hood, and I have so far not noticed a propensity to flare. I use the hood when:

- in the rain, helps to keep raindrops away from the glass

- when I mount filters (yellow, orange for Black&White). The front element of the Summaron is well recessed, but once you put a filter on it, you have a glass surface right at the front

- when out in strong/difficult light... but I have not made systematical pictures with and without hood.

 

By the way I use the rectangular 12524 (almost the same as the 12526) hood on it, and that works just fine. Sure, the Summaron does not have the cutout, so the hood will rotate when nudged. In actual use, it is not an issue. I tried IROOA and 12585 too, I just liked the 12524 better is all.

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Keith,

 

the Summaron 35mm f2.8 is my most used lens. Most of the time I use it without hood, and I have so far not noticed a propensity to flare. I use the hood when:

- in the rain, helps to keep raindrops away from the glass

- when I mount filters (yellow, orange for Black&White). The front element of the Summaron is well recessed, but once you put a filter on it, you have a glass surface right at the front

- when out in strong/difficult light... but I have not made systematical pictures with and without hood.

 

By the way I use the rectangular 12524 (almost the same as the 12526) hood on it, and that works just fine. Sure, the Summaron does not have the cutout, so the hood will rotate when nudged. In actual use, it is not an issue. I tried IROOA and 12585 too, I just liked the 12524 better is all.

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