Anybody use 24 elmarit without hood?

[chaikit thanakamanusorn]

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i'm planning to buy 24 elmarit soon but i don't like the hood it's too big. Would it flare easilywithout hood? or i can get other type of hood to use?

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[Shootist]

IMHO the hood is just about useless. It is the same hood used on the 21. Used on the M8 the hood could be much smaller. The hood cap, at least the one I had, didn't fit and wouldn't snap on.

So in short when I had the 24 Elmarit, sold it about a year ago, I never used the hood.

[chaikit thanakamanusorn]

why did u sell the lens? did u enjoy using the lens?

[marknorton]

Buy a 55mm wide hood from Heavystar, works well, I use it on my 21 and 24 Elmarits and first version MATE. I also use the 46mm equivalent on my 28mm Summicron and 35mm Summilux.

[erl]

Several issues here. First of all using any lens on any camera without a lens hood/shade is a risky business. Both from physical exposure , but more importantly from flare exposure. Image contrast can be radically deteriorated by flare and a good lens hood is vital in many situations. Second, I can't understand why Leica put such crappy innefective hoods on all their excellent lenses! Very counter productive.

 

Just one example that is representative. The fabulous 75mm Summicron, when essentially fitted with the UV/IR cut filter nearly presents the front optical element level with the leading edge of the built in lens hood. Totally useless for flare control of any description.

[vertekijker]

I have never had any problems with that hood. It takes a little getting used to, but after that it feels right. The 24mm Elmarit sits 95% of the time on my M8. It's a fabulous lens. Practically all the photos that I posted here are with the 24mm, always with hood.

--------------

Frans

[marknorton]

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Just one example that is representative. The fabulous 75mm Summicron, when essentially fitted with the UV/IR cut filter nearly presents the front optical element level with the leading edge of the built in lens hood. Totally useless for flare control of any description.

 

Yes, none of the pull out hoods are effective - 50mm Summilux, old and new Noctiluxes, 75mm and 90mm Summicrons. About the only one which is is the old 90mm Elmarit-M.

[yanidel]

I never use the hood on this lens and have not noticed any reduction of image quality. When I get flare, this is situation where a hood would not reduce it anyways (shooting into the sun)

[Shootist]

why did u sell the lens? did u enjoy using the lens?

 

Because it was my most unused lens in my bag. I would either go for the 28 or the 21 so the 24 just sat there.

 

As to others that comment on using any lens without a hood. Well the hood for the 24 doesn't give must if any protection to the front of the lens.

[erl]

Snipped

 

As to others that comment on using any lens without a hood. Well the hood for the 24 doesn't give must if any protection to the front of the lens.

 

That was my general point about Leica hoods, so we agree. I am sure an experienced shooter like you would appreciate decent hoods for all your lenses, if they were provided by Leica. Far too often I spoil shots because of flare that could have been prevented by good hoods. One of the few disadvantages of a RF camera is that you can't see the flair when it occurs. That round to DSLR's I'm afraid.

[noah_addis]

The 24 was my most used lens and I used it most of the time without the hood, which I found too large.

 

The main reasons to use hoods in my opinion are to protect the lens from mechanical damage (knocks or drops) and to protect from flare, in that order.

 

The 24 hood is large and would definitely protect the lens from getting bumped around. It also is somewhat effective at preventing flare from light sources coming from the side.

 

But I left it off most of the time, and it was still my favorite lens. I never had problems with flare, even with the UVIR filter.

[microview]

You would think that with a lens such as the 50mm Summilux-M with the pull-out cylindrical hood that they could engineer it as a removable item with a longer one supplied for those using the lens with the M8, as opposed to film M camera.

[4X5B&W]

I would never shoot without a lens hood, not only to prevent lens flare, but also as protection for the front element of the lens.

 

I always shoot with the 24 hood but as others have mentioned, I purchased a Heavystar 55mm hood, it does make for a smaller package, and is probably all that is required for M8 shooting.

[fotografr]

I've never used mine without the hood and didn't find it at all hard to get used to. I'm barely aware of it now when shooting.

[erl]

The top 'viewfinder corner' of my 24 has been knocked off by impact. Probably saved a more severe damage to the lens. I now have unobstructed view in the finder as a result. Pity that the structure is so fragile because od the design. Time for me to consider the Heavystar 55mm that has been mentioned.

[danyves]

The 24 Elmarit has become my only lense on the M8, always with the hood on it.

[jonoslack]

HI There

I'm going to be heretical

 

I can't help specifically with the 24, but I've given up using hoods on any of the leica lenses (except the WATE, but that's to do with protection - and the lenses with built in hoods). If the sun is falling on the front element I'll use my hand, the 28 'cron is a particular example, huge and horrible object that it is. Since I stopped using it I think I've had one shot spoiled by flare . . . and I very much doubt if it would have helped anyway. It's a real liberation:)

[erl]

Jono, I accept your personal decision and your observations, including having 'you think' one shot spoiled by flare. Would it have been nice to save that one?

 

Thinking a bit latereally, do you ever wear a hat? If you do, fashion aside, why do you wear it? I suggest it is to keep the sun out of your eyes. Remove the hat and observe how contrast in your vision drops. If you wear glasses, this effect is greatly magnified. It is exactly the same with your lenses, where your glasses equate to the filter on your lens.

 

Years ago, I did tests on Hasselblad lenses, with and without sun shades of different types. It conclusively convinced me of the efficacy of using hoods. If you always follow the "Kodak Rule" of keeping the sun over you left shoulder, ie. behind you, problems will be minimal. OTOH side light and backlight (my personal favourites) definitely benefit from contrast improvement by using effective hoods.

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[yanidel]

Jono, I accept your personal decision and your observations, including having 'you think' one shot spoiled by flare. Would it have been nice to save that one?

 

Thinking a bit latereally, do you ever wear a hat? If you do, fashion aside, why do you wear it? I suggest it is to keep the sun out of your eyes. Remove the hat and observe how contrast in your vision drops. If you wear glasses, this effect is greatly magnified. It is exactly the same with your lenses, where your glasses equate to the filter on your lens.

 

Years ago, I did tests on Hasselblad lenses, with and without sun shades of different types. It conclusively convinced me of the efficacy of using hoods. If you always follow the "Kodak Rule" of keeping the sun over you left shoulder, ie. behind you, problems will be minimal. OTOH side light and backlight (my personal favourites) definitely benefit from contrast improvement by using effective hoods.

if not using the hood means a slightly lower contrast, then it is IMO a good thing on the M8 as the 24mm Elmarit is a bit too contrasty for my taste.

[erl]

Yanidel, unfortunately, to the best of my knowledge, it is not quite that simple as the loss of contrast from flare is often not uniform across the frame. Better to use a hood and control your contrast in processing, whether film or digital.