Customer Reviews

Opteka 67mm Screw-in Collapsible Rubber Lens Hood / Shade

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Although my Zuiko 50-200 mm lens came with a hood, I found it too bulky to use on a day-to-day basis. To store the camera in its bag I would have to unscrew it and invert it on the lens so that it would fit. The Opteka 67 mm rubber hood presents no such problem, as it collapses onto itself for easy storage and is always ready to go (meaning no time lost if I have to get my camera out of its bag in a hurry). Of course it doesn't offer the same level of protection against impact as a rigid plastic hood, but the rubber hood is just as good at keeping sunlight out of the lens -- which is what I got it for.

I had a bit of trouble screwing on the Opteka hood to the lens, since the plastic threading is fine and it had a tendency to come in crooked. I got it right after several tries. Attaching the lens cap is a bit more awkward, too, but no big deal. Threading a UV filter to the lens with the hood already on was easier than I expected. Removing it was just as straightforward, since the flexible rubber allowed me to get my fingers around the filter to unscrew it. Now I'll put the Opteka rubber hood to intensive use to find out how it'll resist.

I got exactly what I wanted with this sunshade. It collapses, takes minimal space in camera bag, and extends out far enough in front of the lens to be just right!

I have a smaller version of this Opteka shade/hood for another camera and liked it very well. When I needed one in a larger size for a newer FujiFilm camera I didn't look any further than this one. I have seen some hard plastic types of shades and found them to be bulky and take up to much space in my gear bags but these rubber ones collapse so easily they take up barely any room at all.

While taking aerial photos from a small plane I found the hard style shades annoying because they often contacted the airplane windows and transmitted vibration to my camera. With the soft rubber ones a light touch on the window has no detrimental effect on the camera. The soft rubber actually offers a bit of protection for the camera and lens.

Collapsible rubber shades are extremely lightweight and can be adjusted for different needs where hard shades usually have to be switched if a different depth is needed. I often use different kinds of filters on my camera and sometimes have to stack them but the hood screws into them as easily as it will onto the camera itself.

I like the lens hood so well I won't even consider buying a hard one again. I highly recommend this hood to anyone in the market for one. I have found that the threads on the hood and most of my filters are so fine they tend to bind a little when putting them on. In a pinch I used a dab of chapstick on them for lubricant and found it works quite well as long as care is taken not to get any on the lens or filter glass. I would recommend that if possible and your camera is equipped for it get a bayonet mount and leave it on the hood to reduce wear and tear on the mounting threads.

I wanted to use it with a Canon "EF-S 18-135mm IS f/3.5-5.6 Standard Zoom Lens" + "B+W 67mm Clear UV Haze with Multi-Resistant Coating (010M)", but it doesn't work properly, even when the lens hood is fully fold backwards, in fact, around 18-28mm there is a shadow on the corners of the photos.