TravelHoods

Must-have lens accessory: lens hoods – small part, big impact

Let’s be honest: you can have the best camera, the sharpest glass and the most expensive body – if light is hitting your lens from the side, the result will still look kind of “meh”. That’s exactly where must-have lens accessory lens hoods come into play. Unspectacular at first glance, but in practice as important as a memory card that isn’t full when things get exciting.

With a suitable lens hood you get more contrast, cleaner colors and less stray light out of your images – whether you’re standing by the sea, on safari, or just shooting against the sun in a city park. And yes, it also protects your lens from bumps, raindrops and curious fingers.

Lens hoods from LensCoat or Rolanpro – perfect for travel

Especially interesting if you’re on the road a lot: lens hoods from LensCoat or Rolanpro – perfect for travel. These models are often lighter, more flexible and more robust than you might think at first glance. Many versions can be rolled up or stored flat, so they take up hardly any space in your backpack – practical when you’re already traveling with camera, lenses, laptop and “just this one last filter that also has to come along”.

I’d even say: especially when you’re on tour – whether it’s a city trip, a photo tour to Iceland or a safari in Africa – flexible lens hoods are worth their weight in gold. They don’t just protect against backlight, but also against dust, splashes of water and minor bumps. And if someone bumps into your camera in a crowd, I personally prefer the lens hood to take the hit rather than the front element.