Is anybody using the Q without the lens hood?

[prk60091]

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Is anybody using the Q without the lens hood?  If so do you notice a difference in IQ?  I know the lens hood gives some extra 'protection' to the lens (my lens hood is quite banged up- with nary a scratch on the lens barrel)  I am just curious.

[Big T]

Used the hood at first but then haven't used it for 1.5 years. Use a cheap pinch cap to protect the lens when in the camera bag.

 

All good here without the hood.

[brickftl]

I use the hood but almost never the cover on it

[Leica Guy]

I use the Q without a hood when shooting macro because I use a ring flash and at times a 10X screw on lens. Otherwise, I always have the hood on to protect the lens. I don’t use the lens cap. It’s unnecessary, in my opinion, most of the time.

[caigy]

 

I am new to the Q, but not new to serious photography.   I tried the hood, but found it inconvenient for several reasons.

First, I have to put the retaining ring away and be sure not to lose it.

Second and most importantly, I found it impossible to reach inside the hood and turn my polarizing filter.   

 

And I didn't care for the lens cap, either.

 

So I ended up buying a 49mm pinch cap and an Op/Tech Hood Hat mini, and these serve me very well.  The Hood Hat fits perfectly and covers the entire lens all the way to the body of the camera, so when I walk around I feel that the lens is adequately protected.

 

I haven't experienced much lens flare when operating this way.   I did take one photo very intentionally into the sun at f/16 (to create a star shape from the sun) and got a bit of flare, but very minimal and not objectionable, considering that I was pointed directly at the sun.

 

As I am new to the forum, I'm not sure if I'm attaching photos (from my gallery) correctly to this post. Please advise if you can't see them.

 

Edited January 17, 2018 by caigy

[Leica Guy]

I definitely don’t pretend to know the best way. Whatever works is best. For me, I like the hood. It protects the front of the lens nicely. I never use a lens cap. I walk around with just the hood on the camera although I do use a UV filter to protect the front element. It might be overkill, but for me it’ seems right. I like the Op/Tech mini hood hat and put that on when I put the camera in a bag. I do change filters using at times either a 6-stop ND filter or a polarizer. I find if I’m careful it’s really not too hard rotating the polarizer with my forefinger. Again, personal preference. I’ve recently purchased the Hoya Macro 10X screw on lens. I definitely use it without the hood. I do attach a Canon ring light flash to the front of it for macro photography. Hope this helps. One persons perspective.

[kismetsky]

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No hood, no cap - just a BW MRC Nano filter.

[Stonewall Brigade]

I always use lens hoods because I believe in their contribution to help shield glare (improves color and contrast), and gives added lens front end protection. Once the stock metal lens cap invariably loses its inside felt strip, it will no longer want to stay on, and you will struggle to not lose it. So I use a protective neoprene lens cap cover to help hold on the metal Leica lens cap to the Q. I see no advantage to not using the stock lens hood and I feel you are costing yourself, on occasion, in image quality to not use it.

[antigallican]

I always use lens hoods because I believe in their contribution to help shield glare (improves color and contrast), and gives added lens front end protection. Once the stock metal lens cap invariably loses its inside felt strip, it will no longer want to stay on, and you will struggle to not lose it. So I use a protective neoprene lens cap cover to help hold on the metal Leica lens cap to the Q. I see no advantage to not using the stock lens hood and I feel you are costing yourself, on occasion, in image quality to not use it.

[antigallican]

Sorry I pressed send too soon- a hazard of writing on an iPhone. I would love to know where the neoprene lens cover comes from. I was reduced to making one for my M9/summicron

[caigy]

I got the neoprene hood from Amazon- I think I was $6.99.

I think you can also get it from B&H.

[Stonewall Brigade]

Sorry I pressed send too soon- a hazard of writing on an iPhone. I would love to know where the neoprene lens cover comes from. I was reduced to making one for my M9/summicron

 

I find them at my local camera stores. Or, here:https://optechusa.com

[marchyman]

I find them at my local camera stores. Or, here:https://optechusa.com

 

 

Local Camera Stores.   I remember them

 

The local store shut down about 2 years ago because the landlord wanted lots more in rent.  I hope the landlord is happy... the storefront has been empty since the camera store shut down.    Keeble and Shuchat in Palo Alto was about a 25 minuted ride away.  They, too, closed a year or so ago, too.   I don't know who's left in San Francisco.

Edited January 26, 2018 by marchyman

[wda]

For me, a camera is incomplete without its lens hood. Handling, protection and image quality can all suffer without the hood. I see absolutely no convincing reason to discard it. My judgement is based on over fifty years of Leica camera ownership.

[wda]

I always use lens hoods because I believe in their contribution to help shield glare (improves color and contrast), and gives added lens front end protection. Once the stock metal lens cap invariably loses its inside felt strip, it will no longer want to stay on, and you will struggle to not lose it. So I use a protective neoprene lens cap cover to help hold on the metal Leica lens cap to the Q. I see no advantage to not using the stock lens hood and I feel you are costing yourself, on occasion, in image quality to not use it.

Lens hood cap retention was raised some time ago. Leica UK replaced my hood cap with one fitted with a felt lining with improved resistance to compression. After one year the new cap has never fallen off. I would think that the new version is fitted as standard now.

[stuny]

The new version is standard, but one can knock it off unexpectedly.  I've had my Q for one month and this morning for the fourth time I managed to knock it off as I was pulling the camera from my briefcase.  Fortunately, the cap fell into the briefcase.

[wda]

The new version is standard, but one can knock it off unexpectedly.  I've had my Q for one month and this morning for the fourth time I managed to knock it off as I was pulling the camera from my briefcase.  Fortunately, the cap fell into the briefcase.

It might be worth your while discussing the fault with your dealer, Stuart.

[HighlandK]

The new version is standard, but one can knock it off unexpectedly.  I've had my Q for one month and this morning for the fourth time I managed to knock it off as I was pulling the camera from my briefcase.  Fortunately, the cap fell into the briefcase.

 

No help, but been there, done that and got the T shirt  I think this is 'standard' fit.

[SonomaBear]

Local Camera Stores.   I remember them . 

 

The local store shut down about 2 years ago because the landlord wanted lots more in rent.  I hope the landlord is happy... the storefront has been empty since the camera store shut down.    Keeble and Shuchat in Palo Alto was about a 25 minuted ride away.  They, too, closed a year or so ago, too.   I don't know who's left in San Francisco.

 

 

Sadly, none are still around.  I haven't been to Seawood in Marin yet.   The SF Leica folks ere well stocked and know their stuff.

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica Q

[rpittal]

I really like Thosten Overgaards shade for the Q, a but larger than the standard one, but can use a nice 46mm snap-on cap and it is convenient to wrap my strap around the lens behind the shade when in my backpack.