Canon EW78BII Lens Hood for EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Canon SLR Lens

by Canon

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 4.1 x 3.8 x 2.3 inches ; 1.6 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B00009R6V0
• Item model number: 2676A002
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (92 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank:
  • #28 in Camera & Photo > Accessories > Lens Accessories > Lens Hoods
• Date first available at Amazon.com: June 6, 2006

Product Description

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.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

138 of 141 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Improves contrast and image quality while offering some protection, July 15, 2006

By 

L. T. Beasimer "www.LBphoto.net" (Dallas, TX) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Canon EW78BII Lens Hood for EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Canon SLR Lens (Electronics)

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 petal shaped offers limited protection from keeping moisture and wind blown debris off the from lens element. When in place, the hood can protect the lens from impacting solid objects. Being shallow and petal shaped, this type of protection is also limited. Even if the protection is limited, replacing a damaged hood is usually cheaper than repairing the lens and easier to replace.

This hood is manufactured for the Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM zoom 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. This lens itself isn't unusually wide so the extra inch may not be a problem.

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
Reduces lens flare problems
Offers limited protection to the lens

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

67 of 70 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Pros and Cons, May 10, 2006

By 

Brian Koch "Aspiring Photographer" (MI United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Canon EW78BII Lens Hood for EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Canon SLR Lens (Electronics)

Pros:
- Reduces flare and ghosting when shooting in bright light.
- Helps protect your lens from dirt and scratches.
- Somewhat protects the lens in case of a fall. Better to break the hood than the front element.
- Makes you look more like you know what you are doing and helps keep others from carelessly walking in front of you.

Cons:
- Will increase lens movement in windy situations, kind of like a sail on a boat.
- Takes up more room in your bag, even when reversed they still add to the diameter of the lens.
- People take more notice of you, will help to blow your cover if you are trying to keep a low profile.

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Bang for Buck Value, May 20, 2007

By 

J. Sankovitch (Lexington, KY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Canon EW78BII Lens Hood for EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Canon SLR Lens (Electronics)

I just recently got this lens hood and took it out to a park to try it out. I thought my EF 28-135 took good shots before... I was pleasantly surprised at the results of using this relatively cheap add-on. In a bright environment lens flare can be present in a subtle way, taking out some shadow depth and "bleaching" out a shot. This hood helps prevent that and really had an impact on my shots.

The hood itself is well built, made of high end plastics and the inside has a soft fabric coating to absorb light and protect your lens. It locks onto the front of the lens quickly and is easily removed when not wanted. You can also use this hood in conjunction with a lens filter, so you don't have to compromise between the two.

Again, you can't beat the bang for buck value here.