Pardon me if this question has been asked before (couldn't find anything by searching the archives), but does anyone have any experience using a generic screw-in 60mm metal or rubber hood on a c.1988 Noctilux (any vignetting problems, etc.)? The Leitz 12544 hood is nice, but I'd like to have a back up in case I ever lose or damage that pricey piece of metal (screw-in hoods also seem to feel more secure).

Thanks in advance, Chris

-- Chris Chen (Washington, DC) (furcafe@NOSPAMcris.com), April 19, 2002

Answers

A perusal of the bhphotovideo.com site shows NO new replacement for that 12544 hood. If they did have one, it might cost $100 or more! Can't blame you for not wanting to use that hood; you could lose it or ding it up. My 75 'lux also takes the 60mm oddball screw-in size. The only thing I saw at the B&H site in the way of a 60mm screw-in was this: Pentax RH-A60 60mm Rubber Lens Hood for 35-70mm & 35-135mm F & A lenses Mfr # 34762 B&H # PELH35135 Availability: Special Order Cost $28.50 If you use filters, it is nice to have the correct 60mm size, but you will pay 3 times what other sizes cost (for example, 58 & 62mm). So, you might have to to as I recently did, in order to use filters on your Noct. That is: B&W 60 to 62mm step-up ring #3E ($24.95) Mfr # 65069453 B&H#SUR6062 Metal Lens Hood 62mm ($11.95) # GBLHM62

I would expect some loss of field of view. (My order hasn't arrived from B&H yet, so I can't say how much loss of field of view.) I definitely would not want to lose that hood, since it would lower the lens' value substantially. I doubt there would be any vignetting with the Pentax hood, since it's made for 35-135mm. I wonder how effective any of the hoods are for this lens-- even Leica hoods. I remember going to camera shows in Chicago area and seeing barrels of hoods of every dia. & length. My guess is that a hood 2" long would not vignet on a 50 Noct.

-- Frank Horn (owlhoot45@hotmail.com), April 20, 2002.

If you have a 21MM F2.8 Elmarit(non-Asph)hood, it is an adaquate substitute. I had to use it the other day when I changeed bags, leaving the Noct. hood home. The hood worked quite well under very poor lighting conditions.

-- Ned Learned (ned@kajabbi.com), April 20, 2002.