A lens hood is a camera accessory that attaches to the front of your lens and serves an essential part of the photography process. The main purpose of a lens hood is to block or reduce the amount of lens flare and glare in your photos by acting like a visor for your lens. Lens flare and glare are types of scattered light that hit your lens from an angle (outside the frame) and make it hard to see, like when you step out in bright light. When lens flares and strong glares hit your lens, they essentially block your view, wash out your image, and potentially even produce discolorations, thus reducing contrast and overall image quality. With lens hoods, you can keep stray light from entering the lens and ensure that it gets a good, clear view of a scene.

In addition to its optic-related benefits, lens hoods are also commonly used as a way to protect a lens, both from damage as well as from the elements. Lens hoods can help protect your lens from sustaining damage that stops it from working properly, such as cracked glass. An added benefit of using a lens hood is that it serves as an added layer of protection for the front lens element. Many photographers settle for camera filters or even a lens cap to protect the external lens. However, the external placement and material of lens hoods make them a better shield against accidental impacts, scratches, fingerprints, and even falling snow and debris when shooting in harsh weather conditions.

In summary, lens hoods are used to:

• Block or reduce the amount of lens flare and glare in your photos
• Keep stray light from entering the lens and ensure that it gets a good, clear view of a scene
• Protect the lens from damage, such as cracked glass, scratches, fingerprints, and falling snow and debris when shooting in harsh weather conditions.