I’ve been using the newest Lee Lens Hood for the past few months and since I’m unlikely to be taking it out over the next few, this seemed like a good point to review the progress so far.
Lee Filters have offered a lens hood ( two in fact including the WA variant) for many years. I'd often considered owning one but felt the flaws did not balance the potential advantages. Advances in design, materials and the launch last year of the new 100 holder enabled a very welcome update in the form of this new 100 Hood.
Even at first glance, this hood seemed to have solved most of the original issues and I was keen to see if the description lived up to use in the field. I use the term field specifically as virtually all my usage is out of doors. Although many of my observations probably apply to studio use, I'm no expert on that aspect.
The short version (for those who don't read to the end) is that I like this hood very much indeed.
Upon opening the box the first and inescapable reaction is to gasp at the size, it looks as though it's made for medium format. This feeling dissipates quickly as one realises that it couldn't be any smaller and still perform the functions so well.
Lee 100 Hood with holder and two slot rails.
My second reaction was one of pleasure at how nicely made the hood is - a pretty much perfect blend of weight, strength and good design.
Lee recommend assembling on a flat surface. I agree with this while you are getting accustomed to it but in the real world, I have tended to use the back of a rucksack as a surface.
Correct orientation is the first part of the fitting puzzle followed by adjusting the height of the clips according to how many filter slots you use. I'm a tad cack handed and lacking in some ability to manage 3d puzzles. I found it tricky at first but quickly it became second nature.
It fits easily (with practice) and it fits securely so the next question becomes 'Why might I want one?'
I suspect we might all have different answers to that question but here are mine. I'm a habitual lens hood user; every lens, every time, regardless of lighting. It has always been a source of frustration that adding a square filter holder has meant removing the ability to not only shade the front of the lens but also the even more flare prone filters. For my uses the parallel function of a lens hood has also been to protect from falling rain drops. This has always made the use of square filters in rain challenging to say the least. Umbrellas, cloths, cover and frequent wiping have all helped but I've usually retreated to screw in filters, protected by the standard hood when rain and wind combine. This is a good solution for ND but fails for graduated ND.
In use
The first aspect on which to comment is general usability. I found it easy to fit and secure if fitted properly. The ability to rotate independently of the filters is game changing and the adjustment for different focal lengths is straightforward. One does need to develop a grip that ensures you keep the holder still while only moving the hood relative to the holder. If only the hood is gripped, I found that the forwards or backwards pressure also moved the focus / zoom helicoid of the lens. If not careful, you can find yourself trying to change the spread of the hood while simultaneously changing the focal length of the lens. This needs a considered approach.
The hood can be adjusted sufficiently wide to accommodate a Nikon 14-30mm at 14mm with three filter slots fitted.
When using the hood in rain, I found I could simply lay a chamois cloth over the holder and keep all but the heaviest rain off the filters. An occasional wipe may be necessary but this is a world of improvement over trying to shield with an umbrella or repeated wiping.
Lee 100 Hood with Chamois cloth to shield filters from rain
My greatest reservation when considering this hood was the large surface area and the potential for vibration induced by wind. When we attach almost anything to the front of a lens, we increase the likelihood of it becoming a sail that catches the wind. In practice I found little or no problem under normal conditions. In a gentle to moderate breeze I'd aim to take the usual precautions; decent tripod, hang bag from central hook and wherever possible position myself to block the wind. Above moderate breeze, you're struggling for long exposures anyway.
A consideration worth mentioning is that of vignetting. I’ve concentrated my testing, of course, on the widest lens I own. With the Nikon 14-30mm on a Z7 there is no vignetting even at the widest angle of 14mm. Given the way the hood attaches, the limiting factor will always be the number of filter slots you have fitted. Again Lee have done a brilliant job and even with three slots there is no vignetting - you do have to be careful to ensure the hold is carefully aligned as there is no margin for error. As I learned when first testing the 14-30mm, the only vignetting that occurs is with the polariser fitted on top of filter slots at 16-17mm. At wider than 17mm in my view there is little good reason for using a polariser at such a wide angle anyway. I am also unconvinced at the frequency of any need to have three filter slots and a polariser all in place; that’s an awful lot of stuff to place between your subject and the front element..
A final feature is the ability to rotate the hood relative to the filters by releasing the large blue locking clip shown below. Especially at the widest angles, this allow the angling of an ND grad to follow a sloping horizon while ensuring that the hood remains orientated in line with the sensor.
The hood comes in a sturdy and handsome protective case which is of course larger than the hood so a noticeable addition when packing a bag for the day.
Lee 100 Hood protective case
My preferred way of working is in wild country and generally for extended periods. This means packing not only the required camera equipment but also enough warm and waterproof clothing to spend the day out. On top of this there will usually be food and drink. The consequence of this is that every single item has to earn its place in terms of space taken and weight to be carried.
The key outcome from this test is that the Lee Hood frequently earns its place in my bag. It's a superb piece of equipment which adds functionality not achievable in any other way. For any individual of course that functionality has to be measured against cost, effectiveness and frequency of use. Functionality is pretty much flawless so the rest is entire down to the individual.
This hood is a joy to use and comes very highly recommended.