Best Hood for the 40mm Rokkor

[Rob-F]

The B&H website shows a short metal 40.5mm screw-in hood, and several collapsible rubber hoods. I'm afraid any of the several rubber hoods might intrude too much into the M finder. If it weren't for that, I might like one of those better than the metal hood. One of them (B+W I think) is even adjustable to accomodate a wide-angle lens.

So, what are you 40mm Rokkor users using for hoods? Any other ideas, not on the B&H site? Also: any ideas about good choices in UVa or Skylight filters for this lens? I see that B+W has a mutlicoated UV filter in this size, but I can't tell from their descriptions if the other models are coated at all, even single-coated.

What say you?

[back alley]

i'm using a metal hood i got from ebay.

[Rob-F]

Looks like what I need, all right. Is that a Minolta brand hood? Or aftermarket? I wonder if I can just order it from somebody.

[mackigator]

Do the metal hoods give you better flare protection than the built in rubber hood? I just got this lens and am learning my way around it. I like it but i did get some flare (I was shooting in flare-prone conditions, of course).

Example: http://www.flickr.com/photos/clarkmackey/2670647136/

[back alley]

i think the ebay seller was 'american eagle'.

i prefer the metal to the rubber because it protects better from bumps etc., not sure if it's better for flare.

joe

[Joe Brugger]

I have the American Eagle/Heavystar hood and it's pretty handy. Shows up a little bit in the bottom right of the finder but it's no big deal.
Because flare isn't a problem with this lens unless you point it at a light source, I usually just have a 40.5>46 step-up ring on the front to keep my fingers away from the glass.
Flare isn't a big problem in the Pacific NW much of the year anyway.
www.fedka.com sells a collapsible rubber hood.

[Rob-F]

Yep, I just snagged one on eBay (it only had an hour to go--what timing). Thanks, Back Alley!

[Palaeoboy]

Do the metal hoods give you better flare protection than the built in rubber hood?

The factory rubber hood is not built in. I like the original rubber hoods and you can keep things compact and just collapse them when not in use. The vented ones although great looking hoods do increase the size. Fortunately the Rokkor hoods dont wear out as much with age as the Summicron C hoods do. they seem to remain springy when the Leica ones sag.

[Gadge]

<I like the original rubber hoods and you can keep things compact and just collapse them when not in use. >

Yeah but why would you need to. This lens still fits in a standard Leica ERC even with the ebay metal hood on. That is one big reason why I love mine

[furcafe]

You may be unusually fortunate. The rubber part on many of the original Minolta hoods have started to crack & deteriorate like all rubber will given enough time; my example certainly falls into that category.

FWIW, I use a vented metal 40.5mm screw-in hood originally made for the 50/1.5 Sonnars, etc., like those sold by "American Eagle," "heavystar," et al. on eBay.

Originally Posted by Palaeoboy

Fortunately the Rokkor hoods dont wear out as much with age as the Summicron C hoods do. they seem to remain springy when the Leica ones sag.

[Palaeoboy]

You may be unusually fortunate. The rubber part on many of the original Minolta hoods have started to crack & deteriorate like all rubber will given enough time; my example certainly falls into that category.

Thats not to suggest the Rokkor ones dont wear out, they are just thicker and better made then the Summicron C ones which commonly loose their "spring" to open where as the Rokkor ones retain their rigidity more.

[Joe Brugger]

Originally Posted by Palaeoboy

Thats not to suggest the Rokkor ones dont wear out, they are just thicker and better made then the Summicron C ones which commonly loose their "spring" to open where as the Rokkor ones retain their rigidity more.

Could be the Minolta ones are just a little newer, since they ran through CLE production. I've used a BMW rubber dressing to keep it from drying out completely, but there is one crack that shows now. Auto shops have this stuff as a weather-strip conditioner.

[Palaeoboy]

Could be the Minolta ones are just a little newer, since they ran through CLE production. I've used a BMW rubber dressing to keep it from drying out completely, but there is one crack that shows now. Auto shops have this stuff as a weather-strip conditioner.

The same equally applies to the hoods for the first Rokkors too which came out in 73 at the time as the Summicrons but what Im referring to is the quality of the hoods even if you compare it with a new Summicron hood (Which Leica still sells). The Minolta hoods are less flimsy and better made and retain their shape and spring better than the Leica ones.

Yeah but why would you need to. This lens still fits in a standard Leica ERC even with the ebay metal hood on. That is one big reason why I love mine

Well maybe if you're not using the lens on a Leica M for starters, ie on CL's and CLEs (for which the lenses were designed) while maintaining their compact size and also allowing them to fit in their own compact soft cases. Compact and Leica's ever ready case dont really go together, so if the ERC doesnt bother you then the size of a larger hood wouldnt either.

[Vincenzo Maielli]

A normal collapsible rubber or rigid metallic lens hood in 40.5 mm (B+W, Heliopan, Marumi, Tamron eccetera).
Ciao.
Vincenzo

[JohnTF]

Most of you probably know, a primary cause of rubber failure is ozone, so store your rubber bands, and rubber hoods away from ozone sources, like copy machines, motors, and perhaps laser printers? Probably good to keep cameras away from those as well?

The two I have seem OK, and the threaded ring attaching them seems to offer some protection from small impacts.

That said, I just had four Michelins die a premature (3.5 years, 15,000 mi) death, so I would not recommend their lens hoods if they decide to make any. ;-), so am guessing sunlight would help rot them as well.