Episode 003: Affordable Lens Hood for Your DSLR

March 29, 2010

in Gear,Podcast Episodes

DSLR Video Shooter Episode #003

In this episode I show an invaluable tool to protect your fader ND, keep unwanted light out of the lens, and a way to keep from accidentally adjusting your fader ND.

View in iTunes

Links:

Related content:

  1. Episode 002: Using a Fader ND to Control Exposure
  2. #001 Use Your Laptop to Monitor 7D/5D
  3. Episode 004: Custom DSLR Rig for Shooting Interviews
  4. Canon 7D Instant Rebate Save $100+
  5. HDSLR Coverage from NAB 2010

Tagged as: Fader ND, Gear, Kit, Lens Hood

  • http://www.jwdanner.com Joséantonio W. Danner

    Keep up the great work! P. Bloom watch out!

  • Caleb Pike

    Haha yeah right! By the time I am anywhere near Blooms level he will probably be shooting a like 20k time lapses on mars or something.

  • Pete

    Yes this is a great start… Keep the content coming!

  • Matt S

    Hey Caleb, did you buy your hood through Amazon? I just ordered one but I also noticed some guy in the comments section saying he ordered a few of them and they were all damaged/falling apart when he received them. Of course, his comment was 3 years old, so maybe they’ve resolved their QC issue by now : )

  • Caleb Pike

    Yeah I did. What size did you get? Let me know how it works for you!

  • Matt S

    I bought the 72mm along with the 72mm Lightcraft fader and a 72-58 step down ring. Was thinking of the 77mm but Lightcraft was out of those and I need the fader soon. I figure if I ever start buying L glass the cost of a 77mm fader will be in the noise. Will keep you posted.

  • michael

    Have been looking for a simple yet unobtrusive hood. Love your thoughts on them and have added one to my wish list at Amazon. I would love your input on LCD View finders. (LCDVF or Zacuto or…) I do have a slight eye stigmatism and wonder if purchasing the more expensive ones with the diopter will even work. Thanks!

  • http://learningdslrvideo.com Dave Dugdale

    Hey Caleb, I love your video tutorials. When is the next one coming out. I am like a big sponge ready to soak up some more DSLR knowledge!

  • Caleb Pike

    Glad it helped. As for view finders, I have tried only the Z-Finder from Zacuto and found it was had TOO MUCH magnification. If you think about it the display on the back of a DSLR is not high-res. So when you blow it up you image is not as sharp. I found it harder to focus with the Z-Finder than just using the 3″ display. I know they have updated their Z-finders and have an option for 2.5x instead of the old 3x mag. I am ordering the LCD-VF to give it a shot. Its cheaper and does not have such a high magnification. As fro the diopter, I am near sided and when I played with the Z-Finder’s diopter I didn’t notice much change. So until my eyesight gets worse I am not worrying about it.

    Hope this helps. Let me know what you end up doing!
    Oh and stay tuned for the new Letus LCD loupe

  • http://learningdslrvideo.com Dave Dugdale

    Thanks for the review on the z-finder.

    Also, I saw a NAB video with another view finder that looked interesting. Can’t remember the name of it.

  • michael

    Thanks Caleb. I will probably buckle down and get the LCD-VF as well. Please let us know your thoughts once you get a chance to play with it.

  • http://www.foursandyfeet.com Rod Guajardo

    Thanks for the great info Caleb. And like Dave mentioned, please keep it coming!

  • Caleb Pike

    Working on some episodes. I really appreciate everyone’s support, community is what it is all about and I am blessed with a great one!

  • Chelsea

    Hi Caleb,
    I want to get one of these for my 50mm, so I am purchasing the 52mm lens hood, what size of fader nd should I get?

  • http://dslrvideoshooter.com calebpike

    Well, you could get one that fits you 50, or get a big on, like 72mm or 77mm and use step down rings so you can use it on any lens.

  • Anthony

    Hi Caleb, I just stumbled upon your site the other day and really liked it.

    I bought one of rubber lens hood for my 77mm Poloroid UV filter from this link http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004GYXRRE however, I cannot get my filter to fit inside the lens hood. I think the threads are too short on my filter. Any suggestions on how to get it to connect? Do I need to get a spacer, and do you know where I can get an affordable one?

  • http://dslrvideoshooter.com calebpike

    Hmm… I have not used that filter before so I can’t say. But you might try using step up and down rings if you really want to use it. Maybe try a 77-72mm step down, then a 72-77 step up. But if you are on a 5D or have a really wide lens I would avoid this, as you might experience vignetting. Or better yet, you should try putting your UV filter between your hood and ND. That might do the trick.

  • Tim Kossow

    He really is great. But I love your work as well. Keep it coming pls!

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Daniel-Jacobs/1667143974 Daniel Jacobs

    I’m torn. I love this lens hood– especially for the price. The only problem is that I’m wanting to use step up rings to get all my lenses to 77mm as I believe you suggested and the Fader is 82mm which they don’t have…Any ideas?

  • http://dslrvideoshooter.com calebpike

    I am not sure I understand you. You can use a step up and a hood. Or are you just stating that you need an 82mm version?

  • Matt Horton

    Hi Guys, very new at the DSLR world.  Wondering if I can use a 77mm lens hood with a 50mm w/step-up rings…?  Does the larger difference in Hood Diameter ruin the effect for a 50mm?  Thanks guys. I know I’m very ignorant of these things, but how do you learn w/o asking stupid questions?

  • http://dslrvideoshooter.com calebpike

    Yes you can use it. Should work just fine.

  • Jordan

    I recently got my Fader ND and love it. I learned about it from this site and have purchased a lens hood with it and I love the set up. I would like to add one thing that I did to make the Fader ND a little more usable inside the hood when it is fully extended. I placed a few small pieces of white tape on the rim of the Fader ND (one at max, one at min and one in the middle) and one piece of tape on the inside of the hood. This allows me to look at the front of the lens and see exactly where the Fader ND is turned to and where the min and max are. Just  thought I would share to help support the community. 

  • http://dslrvideoshooter.com calebpike

    Thanks for the tip Jordan!

  • http://dslrvideoshooter.com calebpike

    Thanks for the tip Jordan!

  • http://profiles.google.com/bdaniels72 Bruce Daniels

    Caleb-

     I just got a 60D and have found your site very helpful. I am hoping you can give me some guidance. I want to buy the 77mm lens hood but wanted to make sure i can attach it to the 67mm to 77mm step up ring.

    Thanks,

    Bruce

  • http://dslrvideoshooter.com calebpike

    Sounds like you already have it figured out!

  • basti

    I watched your videos about the ND filter and rubber lens hoods and am completely sold on the idea.
    However, I am still uncertain on what sizes to buy exactly.

    I have three lenses (filter sizes: 67mm, 72mm. 77mm).
    Is the following set up correct:

    77mm fader ND 
    67-77mm step up ring
    72-77mm step up ring
    3x 77mm rubber lens hood (this is where I am really uncertain. Does the lens hood go on the step up ring and the ND then inside the lens hood?)

    … or do I need three different sizes of lens hoods?
    I’d be really glad if you can clear this up for me.

  • http://dslrvideoshooter.com calebpike

    You are right on. Just be sure you aren’t shooting on a wide lens with all that on the filter ring or you might get vignetting. But if you are on an APS-C (7D, T2i, 60D, T3i etc.) you should be fine up to around 20mm.

  • basti

    thanks a lot!
    just ordered.