Product Description

A lens hood is one of the most important accessories for each lens you own. A lens hood provides multiple functions: it shades the lens from stray light, improving your contrast and image quality; in inclement weather, it can assist in keeping moisture or wind-blown debris off the lens; and it protects the front barrel from the inevitable impacts against walls, door frames, and other real-life obstacles.

Product Details

• Brand: Canon
• Model: 65 III
• Dimensions: 2.20" h x 3.60" w x 3.70" l, .50 pounds

Features

• Shades the lens from stray light

Customer Reviews

Also fits 50mm f/1.8 Mark I
I bought this hood after reading elsewhere that it fits the 50mm f/1.8 Mark I (the version with the metal mount and distance scale) that I purchased recently. Canon specs the discontinued ES-65 hood for this lens. The great thing about this ET-65III is that it is longer, so it blocks more stray light without vignetting on full-frame or 1/6-frame slrs. The interior on this mark III version is also flocked, providing a bit more light absorption.

I've used those collapsible rubber hoods before while in college, but this hood is definitely worth the investment: well built, fits backward on the lens for storage (but too long while the lens is on the camera), and provides good protection for the front of the lens (it's quite deep).

Note that this will NOT fit the newer 50mm f/1.8 Mark II version (all plastic mount with no distance scale).

Essential Accessory
I bought this hood for Canon's 85mmf1.8 lens, one incredible lens.
Years ago I went to a lecture by Ernst Wilde, MR. Hasseblad himself, where he showed the difference that a lens hood would make on a Hasseblad lens. Since then I have always used them faithfully on every lens I own. The longer the lens, the more efective the lens hood can be if it is specifically designed for that lens. This is the hood Canon has for their medium telephoto lenses, the 85f1.8, 100usm macro, and 135mmf2.8 lenses. The hood will protect your lens from dust, scratches, damage, while at the same time preserving the maximum contrast your lens can deliver. This differs from a filter, that will take away from the inherit lens sharpness and contrast. A analogy is wearing a baseball cap which will improve your vision and protect your eyes from cataracts, while not distorting your vision like sunglasses will.

Improves contrast and image quality while offering some protection
Hoods offer several benefits to the photographer. Primarily the hood shades the lens from stray light that may result in an unwanted discoloration or hazing of the image, or the appearance of lens flare. Shading your lens helps improve contrast and image quality. A hood is not required to eliminate these problems, as any item used to shade the lens will provide the same protection from stray light. The hood is convenient in that it is built to offer protection while ensuring that it will not inadvertently find its way into your image.

Photographers often state the protective abilities of a hood as a reason to have one. This hood being a solid conical two inch long offers some protection from keeping moisture and wind blown debris off the from lens element. There is nothing more irritating than reviewing your images to find dust spots or other flaws. When in place, the hood can protect the lens from impacting solid objects. Replacing a damaged hood is usually cheaper than repairing or replacing a lens.

This hood is manufactured for the Canon EF 85mm f/1.8, EF 100mm f/2.0, EF 135mm f/2.8 with Softfocus, EF 100-300mm f/4.5-5.6 USM lenses and normally is not included with the lens when sold new. Amazon often suggests purchasing one with your lens, and is worth considering.

Since the hood is wider than the lens; it can easily be stored attached in a reverse position. This doesn't add to the length of the lens, but does make it wider by about an inch. An inch may not seem like a lot, but in a tightly packed camera bag, it is huge. Fortunately Canon provides a storage case with the lens that can be used in addition to your camera bag.

While the protective benefits exist, they are secondary and limited. I find the impact the hood has on my image quality to be the more convincing reason to use a hood. Considering the impact on image quality and the low cost as compared to my other camera equipment (except for a lens case), purchasing a hood is money well spent.

PROS:
Improves contrast and image quality
Offers limited protection to the lens

CONS:
Takes up more space in your camera bag to store with the lens