CorisCapnSkip
02-06-2008, 04:34 PM
After months of wracking and beating my brains out as to which digital camera to buy, I got a Sony Cybershot DSC-H7. I wanted to buy a filter to reduce glare and protect the lens, but nowhere on the camera itself or in the manual did it tell what mm size the lens is. On eBay I purchased a 74 mm lens the seller said was made for this size of camera, for what was a good price for that size and type of filter, but when it arrived it won't fit on the camera lens--only on the big round hood thing that attaches to the camera lens. (I haven't tried it on that, but looks as if it would fit.) I left the seller good feedback as he sent me what he said he would even though it's not what I thought I was getting. He says that's how it's meant to work, attach the filter to the hood. There is no way to attach it directly to the lens.
Keep in mind, this is new and it's winter so I haven't taken any pictures in sunlight yet and don't know how necessary this hood attachment is. On my 35 mm camera, the only hood I used was a collapsible rubber ring (which had some issues as often a black circle appeared around the edge of images using it, and not using it sometimes caused glare.) This hood for the digital camera is a big solid thing. So do I have to lug it everywhere and screw it on every darn time I want to take pictures in sunlight? Will leaving the filter attached to the the hood at all times be harmful, as the filter is large and not covered by a lens cap, so might get scratched or broken? I'll have to see if it will even fit in the case I bought with the hood on, if the case has a compartment for the hood, or if I have to come up with separate hood case, or unscrew the filter and put it back in the filter case every time I am not using it. This seems like a major hassle.
On my old 35 mm camera, the filter screwed directly to the lens and the lens cap fitted over it. I never had to remove, fuss, or worry about it. Since (it seems) no filter will fit directly onto this lens and the hood isn't going to screw on over a filter, do I have to put the hood on and off EVERY time I put the camera away? (Since the lens cap won't go on over the hood!) That seems like a royal pain. Also, what is the use of the hood indoors? And, how do you protect your lens in any situation when not using the hood? Or are you meant to use it at all times, indoors or whatever? Thanks for any input on this.
Keep in mind, this is new and it's winter so I haven't taken any pictures in sunlight yet and don't know how necessary this hood attachment is. On my 35 mm camera, the only hood I used was a collapsible rubber ring (which had some issues as often a black circle appeared around the edge of images using it, and not using it sometimes caused glare.) This hood for the digital camera is a big solid thing. So do I have to lug it everywhere and screw it on every darn time I want to take pictures in sunlight? Will leaving the filter attached to the the hood at all times be harmful, as the filter is large and not covered by a lens cap, so might get scratched or broken? I'll have to see if it will even fit in the case I bought with the hood on, if the case has a compartment for the hood, or if I have to come up with separate hood case, or unscrew the filter and put it back in the filter case every time I am not using it. This seems like a major hassle.
On my old 35 mm camera, the filter screwed directly to the lens and the lens cap fitted over it. I never had to remove, fuss, or worry about it. Since (it seems) no filter will fit directly onto this lens and the hood isn't going to screw on over a filter, do I have to put the hood on and off EVERY time I put the camera away? (Since the lens cap won't go on over the hood!) That seems like a royal pain. Also, what is the use of the hood indoors? And, how do you protect your lens in any situation when not using the hood? Or are you meant to use it at all times, indoors or whatever? Thanks for any input on this.