lens hood or filter lens which one is best

[gaddypaid]

lens hood or filter lens which one is best both have there advantages and disadvantages. Im off to an air show in a few weeks time i got my 300mm zoom with a hood on for the air show, but for the grounded planes and other shots i use my 55mm but have a choice of hood or filter uv lens which would be better..
Does a lens filter draw in more light than a hood or are they both the same?
I think a hood gives the lens more protection in some areas.
Do you carry around both?

 

[chris malcolm]

A lens hood sometimes has no effect on image quality, sometimes improves it a lot. A clear glass (or UV filter) always degrades image quality a little, and sometimes quite noticeably. Lens hoods generally speaking are a lot cheaper than filter.

Yes, a filter does draw in more light than a hood. Unfortunately it's the kind of light that degrades image quality. The kind of light beyond lens view angle which reduces contrast and may introduce flare and veiling. That's the kind of light the lens hood stops. So if you want to use a filter, use it with one of the lens hoods which permits a filter to be mounted inside. Not quite as good as no filter, because the filter glass is in front of the lens surface, and adds two air/glass transitions to the light path, but better than a hoodless filter.

 

[HoppyUK]

A lens hood sometimes has no effect on image quality, sometimes improves it a lot. A clear glass (or UV filter) always degrades image quality a little, and sometimes quite noticeably. Lens hoods generally speaking are a lot cheaper than filter.

Yes, a filter does draw in more light than a hood. Unfortunately it's the kind of light that degrades image quality. The kind of light beyond lens view angle which reduces contrast and may introduce flare and veiling. That's the kind of light the lens hood stops. So if you want to use a filter, use it with one of the lens hoods which permits a filter to be mounted inside. Not quite as good as no filter, because the filter glass is in front of the lens surface, and adds two air/glass transitions to the light path, but better than a hoodless filter.

^^^ This.

And just to add, filters can also degrade sharpness when used with longer focal length lenses that magnify any imperfections. Use a filter when you need it for protection (sea spray, flying mud/dust etc) or for a particular effect (eg polariser) but otherwise not. Ignore advice from camera shop sales people

Always use a lens hood. It can only improve image quality, sometimes a lot, and offers good physical protection, too.

 

[badboy1984]

I only use UV filter if i know potential risk of damaging the front element of the lens. i.e sea water, mud, sand etc.

 

[cosmicma]

not much to say but re enforce what as already been said
a hood will only improve the image it will never make it worse and for that reason i nearly always use a lens hood and never bother with filters unless i want a particular effect a filter has to offer

 

[JohnM100]

Use a filter when you need it for protection (sea spray, flying mud/dust etc) or for a particular effect (eg polariser) but otherwise not.
........
Always use a lens hood. It can only improve image quality, sometimes a lot, and offers good physical protection, too.

+1