Canon Lens Hood

I don't like to use protective filters for my lenses. The Canon 28-135 IS lens is an expensive lens with complicated electronics that make it an investment worth protecting. So the only option I has was to use a lens hood. A lens hood, for those who do not know, is an accessory that you screw on to the end of your lens that shield the lens from stray light.

Lens hoods have two functions: to prevent stray light from entering the lens and to protect the lens. Preventing stray light prevents lens flare, the little pentagons, hexagons, septagons, or octagons that appear when a lens is pointed at a strong light source. As well, blocking unneeded light keeps the picture more contrasty which is a must for zoom lenses. The lens hood also protects the costly front lens from getting broken and acts as a sacrificial replaceable part in case one bumps the camera against something.

The lens hood itself is well made. It is made of stiff plastic that bayonets on to the front of the lens. The hood is not conical in shape but what is known as a butterfly hood. The inside of the hood is lined with black felt which probably does the best job of preventing stray light from bouncing around the hood into the lens. This could get dirty as it is a clothlike material. I'm sure, though, that using grooved plastic would be worse in blocking stray light.

The hood reverses itself and bayonets onto the lens itself without impeding the zoom or Full Time Manual focussing ring.

The only serious qualm I have with this lens is the fact that (as with all zoom lens hoods) at the far end (towards 135mm) the stray light blocking abilities of a hood are insignificant. At the small focal lengths (like 28mm) the hood did not create any vignetting (darkening around the edges).

Overall, this lens is best used as a protector and substitute for contrast reducing filters although if you are paranoid about dust, this won't allay your fears.