Customer Reviews

Canon ET65III Lens Hood for Canon SLR Lens

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I bought this hood for Canon's 85mmf1.8 lens, one incredible lens.
Years ago I went to a lecture by Ernst Wilde, MR. Hasseblad himself, where he showed the difference that a lens hood would make on a Hasseblad lens. Since then I have always used them faithfully on every lens I own. The longer the lens, the more efective the lens hood can be if it is specifically designed for that lens. This is the hood Canon has for their medium telephoto lenses, the 85f1.8, 100usm macro, and 135mmf2.8 lenses. The hood will protect your lens from dust, scratches, damage, while at the same time preserving the maximum contrast your lens can deliver. This differs from a filter, that will take away from the inherit lens sharpness and contrast. A analogy is wearing a baseball cap which will improve your vision and protect your eyes from cataracts, while not distorting your vision like sunglasses will.

I bought this hood after reading elsewhere that it fits the 50mm f/1.8 Mark I (the version with the metal mount and distance scale) that I purchased recently. Canon specs the discontinued ES-65 hood for this lens. The great thing about this ET-65III is that it is longer, so it blocks more stray light without vignetting on full-frame or 1/6-frame slrs. The interior on this mark III version is also flocked, providing a bit more light absorption.

I've used those collapsible rubber hoods before while in college, but this hood is definitely worth the investment: well built, fits backward on the lens for storage (but too long while the lens is on the camera), and provides good protection for the front of the lens (it's quite deep).

Note that this will NOT fit the newer 50mm f/1.8 Mark II version (all plastic mount with no distance scale).

Hoods offer several benefits to the photographer. Primarily the hood shades the lens from stray light that may result in an unwanted discoloration or hazing of the image, or the appearance of lens flare. Shading your lens helps improve contrast and image quality. A hood is not required to eliminate these problems, as any item used to shade the lens will provide the same protection from stray light. The hood is convenient in that it is built to offer protection while ensuring that it will not inadvertently find its way into your image.

Photographers often state the protective abilities of a hood as a reason to have one. This hood being a solid conical two inch long offers some protection from keeping moisture and wind blown debris off the from lens element. There is nothing more irritating than reviewing your images to find dust spots or other flaws. When in place, the hood can protect the lens from impacting solid objects. Replacing a damaged hood is usually cheaper than repairing or replacing a lens.

This hood is manufactured for the Canon EF 85mm f/1.8, EF 100mm f/2.0, EF 135mm f/2.8 with Softfocus, EF 100-300mm f/4.5-5.6 USM lenses and normally is not included with the lens when sold new. Amazon often suggests purchasing one with your lens, and is worth considering.

Since the hood is wider than the lens; it can easily be stored attached in a reverse position. This doesn't add to the length of the lens, but does make it wider by about an inch. An inch may not seem like a lot, but in a tightly packed camera bag, it is huge. Fortunately Canon provides a storage case with the lens that can be used in addition to your camera bag.

While the protective benefits exist, they are secondary and limited. I find the impact the hood has on my image quality to be the more convincing reason to use a hood. Considering the impact on image quality and the low cost as compared to my other camera equipment (except for a lens case), purchasing a hood is money well spent.

PROS:
Improves contrast and image quality
Offers limited protection to the lens

CONS:
Takes up more space in your camera bag to store with the lens

I always buy lens hoods for my Canon lenses. There are reams of reviews written on the merits of lens hoods, and repeating all of that is probably not a good use of my time, or yours. I have conducted lots of tests with overhead and flanking lighting, as well as sunlight and secondary reflected sunlight, and in EVERY case found noteable benefits afforded in picture quality through glare and streak reduction or elimination by use of a lens hood. Then there's the whole thread of discussion on protecting your lens investment from boo boo's, which DO happen. The ONLY reason I can think of not to use a lens hood is the hassle with storing them, and/or buying larger lens cases to accommodate them when "reversed" for storage on lenses.

This is a Canon original equipment hood. I almost gave up on finding one since many sellers seem to be out of stock on the ET-65III, which is the hood I needed for my EF-85mm F/1.8 USM lens. I began to wonder if Canon had discontinued it for some reason. I found many substitutes, but I try to buy original equipment since there's a lot of junk out there in the aftermarket (and of course some good stuff that's not OEM too, admittedly).

The picture on Amazon seems to hint that this hood is gray. It's not. It's black, and a perfect match for my lens in terms of color. The picture also hints that the hood is NOT tapered. But in fact it is, with a nice 0.5" diameter increasing taper over its length.

As noted in many other reviews, the EF-85mm F/1.8 USM lens does NOT have the more traditional twist-n-lock feature for a lens hood. Rather, it has a simple recessed band 360 degrees around the end of the lens. It's in to this band that the spring loaded clips of the lens hood insert for mounting. These clips are plastic, and should not scratch your lens. Two clearly marked pressure points on the hood, when squeezed, compress four plastic retaining features, each about 0.25" in width, back in to the hood so that it can be placed on to the lens, or removed from the lens. The hood then rotates freely 360 degrees on the lens, once installed. This is NOT a petal style hood, so orientation is insignificant relative to the lens. I found it trivial to add or remove the hood in complete darkness. The 2 hood features to press are easy to "feel" with detents. These release buttons are also separate buttons - you're NOT contorting the shape of the hood in any way when you press the 2 detent buttons.

The inside of the hood is nicely lined with a rough finish to cut down on reflections. For those familiar with the EF-85mm F/1.8 USM lens, you'll note that it necks down to a smaller 58mm accessory sized compatible opening. When installed, this slightly tapered hood aesthetically dresses out the lens nicely. I've uploaded a picture to show how the hood dresses out the EF-85mm F/1.8 USM lens. (See customer images)

The lens hood is roughly 3.5" in diameter at the farthest point from the lens, and roughly 3" in diameter near where it attaches to the lens. The hood is about 2" long, and increases the length of this lens, with a UV filter and lens cap, about 1.5" total. Like all other Canon lens hoods, this one can be reversed and mounted to the lens for storage. In this case, the overall length of the lens does not increase.

Some reviewers complained that the hood can be easily knocked off due to its mounting mechanism. I could not get the hood to dislodge with reasonable effort. It might, in fact, pop off if you hit it hard enough, but this could actually be an advantage since it might not break the hood. With the traditional twist-n-lock hood, if you hit one of those hard enough to pop them off, you've likely broken its plastic mount and will need to replace it. Just a theory, and not one I plan to intentionally prove.

I found that the lens and reversed hood fit easily in to a Lowepro #1 lens case, which is what I was using to store the lens originally, just FYI. This hood only adds about 0.5" to the diameter of the lens, so chances are any case you were using will still hold the lens with its hood reversed.

I also found that I could add or remove the lens cap with the hood in place, but it takes some practice with 2 fingers, just as with other Canon lens and hoods. Canon lens owners will know exactly what I mean. The good news is that there's ample room to get your thumb and forefinger easily between the hood and lens cap retaining spring clips to squeeze them. Of course, this was with a lens filter installed, which helps by bringing the lens cap out a bit more.

I did notice that there's not much lens to grab when the hood is reversed over the lens, for mounting to a camera. Also, because the hood freely rotates in its mount, it was tricky to try and turn the hood, to turn the lens and lock it in to the camera. Best to mount the hood in picture taking orientation FIRST, and then mount the lens to the camera, or remove it from the camera.

I also noticed that the hood (by not being a petal design, or optimized for the EF-85mm F/1.8 USM lens) was larger diameter than necessary in order to keep the hood "out of the picture". What this means is that a more optimized design is possible - one that would let even less stray light in. This would be a petal design, by definition. My guess is Canon decided to design and stock fewer "different" hoods, rather than optimize this design for one lens. Not a big deal, just a note.

I am very pleased with this lens hood, and glad I found someone who still had stock on it. I shoot lots of indoor sports with this excellent lens, and overhead gym lights can wreak havoc without a hood. I have many picures to prove that assertion.

This hood does a more than adequate job at controlling flare on the EF 100mm f/2. Additionally, the hood can provide protection to those who 1) do not adorne their lenses with UV/SKY filters, or 2) do so adorne them! The lens is already a capable performer; it is moreso with the hood. The price is a bit steep, but that does not effect its performance. Thus, my rating stands.

It's easy to attach -- and detach -- and works well with most (but not all) of my 58mm lens. It does cut down on glare, and let's face it, the hood makes your lens look a bit more dynamic, while also protecting it from the elements.

This part is over priced for its ability to actually remain mounted on a lense. Tends to slip off or sideways. Should cost about $5.

This lens hood is not very expensive, though it still gets me to pay $350 for a lens and not get the $20 piece of plastic to put on the end of it. This hood has two buttons on each side that you press in and then clip the hood onto the end of the lens. It doesn't always come off very easily. I don't like this hood as much as the twist on lenses I have for the 70-200 and the 24-105. It seems to serve its purpose, but it's not as easy or convenient to use.

I strongly believe in the use of lens hoods for lenses over filters for protection of the lens. This hood is worth the price if that is your philosophy. It does not mount like the screw-on hoods, but uses little clips. It is the durability of the clips on the knock-offs that have made me pony up the dollars to buy this. I have had no problems with mine after lots of heavy use.

I have it on the Canon 85mm f/1.8 USM lens. It snaps on (not screw on) to the lens easily. You can reverse it and put it on the lens for easy storage. Does what it's supposed to. No complaints.