How useful are....
As is stated they're fiddly, fragile and expensive to replace.
When I get lens flare I leave it as part of the image and don't seem to suffer from contrast problems with either my K110d or K200d.
Cheers, HG
K110+DA40, K200+DA35, K3 and a bag of lenses, bodies and other bits.
Mustn't forget the Zenits, or folders, or...

I've some gallerieshere CLICKY LINK! and my PPG entries.
They are stored back to front in the bag but are put on as soon as the lens is used.
I never used to bother but have had so many shots ruined by glare that I use them all the time now.
I have lost a couple of the little slide out bits though - dumped them in the bag when using a polarising filter and they have gone walk about.
David
PPG: http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/artists/davidtrout
Fired many shots. Didn't kill anything.
Best regards
Terry
K20D, Optio I10, DA 18-55 1:3.5-5.6 AL II, A 1:1.7/50, D FA 1:2.8/100 Macro, Sigma 70-300 1:4-5.6 APO DG Macro, Pentax AF 360FGZ
Still...
Cheers, HG
K110+DA40, K200+DA35, K3 and a bag of lenses, bodies and other bits.
Mustn't forget the Zenits, or folders, or...

I've some gallerieshere CLICKY LINK! and my PPG entries.
and to avoid flare. At all times!
Unfortunately, living in the North West of England one very rarely encounters "flare" conditions.

Would imagine Hardgravity has even less chances to encounter flare

Davex.
K5 + 8mm-500mm zooms and primes
Please feel free to play with any images I post.
My flickr: link
Its essential to use a lenshood IMO. They reduce glare and deff. improve the quality of the image. And like Gareth says, they look cool.
David
And if anyone has ever witnessed David taking street portraits a lens hood is useful to prevent getting make up or grease from the subjects face all over the front element



Seriously though, I'm in the "For" camp, the short time it takes to reverse the hood when taking out a lens is a small price to pay for the protection it offers, and as others have said it looks cool


My Names Alan, and I'm a lensaholic.
My PPG link
My Flckr link
Matt
Shooting the Welsh Wilderness with K-m, KX, MX, ME Super and assorted lenses.
Joining the Q
Pentax sell the Al lenses without hoods so is it only expensive glass that needs the hood

I use a hood, always. Other manufacturers, like Canon, don't supply hoods with any of their lenses.
Is it because their glass doesn't need one? Of course not, it's to make more money for Canon.
Pentax supplies hoods with most of their lenses, with the exception of the AL (budget) range to keep the cost down.
Peter E Smith
My flickr Photostream
I use a hood, always. Other manufacturers, like Canon, don't supply hoods with any of their lenses.
Depends where you buy from.
Is it because their glass doesn't need one? Of course not, it's to make more money for Canon.
Oh dear. You have got it bad.

Pentax supplies hoods with most of their lenses, with the exception of the AL (budget) range to keep the cost down.
Correct. Oh, and their FA50s

davem
Member
yorkshire
I know that they can stop a raging bull smash into your precious glass!!!
I also know that they are diffuclt to store attached in camera bag and fiddly to put on in a hurry
Are there times when you don't need them to shield out light rays?
Pentax sell the Al lenses without hoods so is it only expensive glass that needs the hood
What do you think?
Dave