Not really lost, but I just got myself a used 70-180 micro which didn't come with the hood (I guess the owner must have lost it). Of course, the original HB-14 is no longer made anymore, which means I'm stuck without a hood, which I'm okay with. Still, though I'd like to get something, so anyone know of any compatible 3rd party hoods?

The lost HB-7 did get scratched in couple of places on the inside, but that was due to me being in a hurry to reverse it on the hood, just to get out of stadium fast to beat the traffic.

I think that anti light reflecting coating is one good reason to buy dedicated Nikon hoods.

I just lost one from my 17-35 over the side of a cruise ship leaving Boston. I swear I never touched it. I was standing on top of the bridge of a Princess Ship.

Cost me just under $30.00 with shipping to get a replacement.

framer

Just curious, does the insides of your hoods ever pick up a lot of scratches? My 35mm 1.8 hood picks up a heck of a lot of scratches for some odd reason.

It's practically useless since it's so shallow, but I guess it could make a slight difference in lens performance.

It's always nice that Nikon always ships a lens hood and a pouch with most lenses.

Unlike Canon. :D

Nikon Lens hoods are extremely cheap and plentiful here in South Korea. Any shop in town has authentic made in Japan hoods ($20) and the fake but almost identical Chinese hoods for $10. That being said, I hate losing or breaking my hoods. I have been fortunate enough to have never lost any, but I certainly have cracked several and needed to replace them. I have replaced an 18-200mm VR hood, 80-200mm ED D hood, 70-200mm VR hood and even a 50mm D hood as well. You get attached to them right bjrichus? :)

Just ordered a new knockoff lens hood to replace my 70-200's, which died a hero's death when the lens fell front-first onto a boulder. We'll see how it is.

Nikoner said:
Lost my HB-7 hood.....somewhere.

Used it on 80-200 2 ring lens, looking for a replacement.

Any 3rd party hood experience with the 2 ring 80-200 lens?

Mike's note on Zeikos noted.

Thanks.

I haven't had good luck with 3rd party lens hoods, unless they were rubber. For my 80-200 2 ring, I use the Nikon HB-7. I tried the Pearstone version and it's finish didn't match the crinkle finish of the awesome 80-200 aka "The Tank". I'm sure it worked fine, but seemed very cheap and wasn't as thick/durable as the Nikon version. I'm happy I stuck with the Nikon version, even though it was grossly over-priced.

Lost my HB-7 hood.....somewhere.

Used it on 80-200 2 ring lens, looking for a replacement.

Any 3rd party hood experience with the 2 ring 80-200 lens?

Mike's note on Zeikos noted.

Thanks.

bjrichus said:
No excuse for buying a $30 thing from Nikon, is there?

Hi bj,

I don't think so. :-)

Amazon has the Zeikos models, too. I use them on my 20mm, 35mm, 60mm, 50mm, and 105mm. They work great.

My best.

Mike

Mike Gunter said:
The Zeikos ones are okay (and are available for wide, normal, and tele) and at something like $7 are nearly disposable.

Mike,

I was looking at them just a few moments ago.

Thanks for the tip.

UPDATE: Even my local Wolf "we can take a bite out of your wallet" Camera store has rubber lens hoods for less than $10 (including tax). No excuse for buying a $30 thing from Nikon, is there?

Hi,

In the FWIW category, half of my lens hoods are cheapo rubber hoods.

The rubber ones fold down, take a beating, and make a small profile and are quick to 'unfold'.

The Zeikos ones are okay (and are available for wide, normal, and tele) and at something like $7 are nearly disposable.

My best,

Mike

micron49 said:
If anyone has experience with the foreigns or knock offs would appreciate hearing about it.

I may just buy a cheapo one for my lens for the sake of having it.

IMO anything less than Nikon charges for a hood is (assuming similar quality) a win.

I need to buy an HB-7. My problem is weighing the $25 for Nikon, $20 for knock off sold by the big camera shops or try $5-8 for a cheap EBay one. Had great success "accessorizing" while in China where you could touch and/or test the stuff, but ordering blind online yields to questionable stuff at times (lens cover comes to mind...says Nikon and looks the real deal but it isn't with poor springs). May still do the job, but a lens hood is just starting to slip into the questionable area as it makes up part of your picture if the angles aren't right.

If anyone has experience with the foreigns or knock offs would appreciate hearing about it.

If it's the VRII version, and you ask Joe McNally... it may be the best thing you ever did.

1. Replacement lens hoods are extremely overpriced from Nikon... look around and see what you can find.
2. The VRII lens hood sucks, and pros like Joe McNally have replaced them with a Mamiya 77mm #2 Rubber hood. http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/34098-REG/Mamiya_213_372_Lens_Hood_for_All.html

I would assume it's a great lens hood even for the other 70-200 versions.

In over 30 years of photography, this has never happened to me before... Today, I lost a lens hood.

It was my favorite one for my 70-200 zoom! I am gutted.

Somewhere there must be a HUGE collection of lost lens hoods, if only I could find it! LOL!!!

I know I can just buy another (it's not going to break the bank), but how do others feel about this?