Praise for Zemlin Hoods
- Thread starter RichF
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They are the best, lens caps as well.
Tom
Tom
BlackRockArt
Well-known member
Thanks, will check it out.
I’m curious what determines how deep the hood for the 800mm lens should be, and if you put a different size, Is it sacrificing something?
I’m asking because I don’t like my 800pf hood
I’m asking because I don’t like my 800pf hood
Not sure I have a scientific answer for you. I looked at the purpose of a hood and came up several good reasons
1. To protect the front element from accidentally being bumped. Any length would work for this.
2. To hold the camera vertical (stand on the hood). Again any reasonable length would work for this.
3. To block flare when shooting into the sun. If the sun is closer to the being directly in front of the lens, the lens will benefit from a longer hood so long as there is no vignetting.
There are probably others.
Reasons 1&2 - any reasonable length would do. Reason 3 - longer is better but I don't have this situation often.
Thus I opted for a slightly shorter hood. Easier to travel with.
I find the hood also useful for keeping blown sand and spray off the glass. Longer is better here. Downside is it can work like a sail.
Long lenses are notorious when it comes to flare. Modern lenses have improved coatings, but the magnification is so great that flare is particularly problematic. With a hood, the problem area for sun angle is reduced to near the field of view for the lens. A shorter hood widens that angle and increases the potential issues with flare. It's an uncommon problem if the hood is only slightly shorter, but still present. The stock hood provides maximum coverage. The two piece Zemlin hood provides both options a short version for basic protection and a long option for maximum protection. Or you can use the stock hood in the uncommon situation where you expect flare may be an issue while using the shorter hood most of the time.
I have just the lens cap from Zemlin for the 800mm. It's well made and does the job nicely in place of the cloth cover included by Nikon. It's much better built than the Nikon caps. I'm fine using the stock hood - it just takes a little practice.
I also just received a cap for my 400/2.8 TC. Bought it for a trip to Africa which I just came back from. I packed the lens with the cap in place, packed the hood separately and left the nikon fabric "cap" at home to safe a few ounces and space. The cap is solid and definitely well built.
I don't know the correct answer to your question, but on my 800 pf I put on the zemlin hood that is half the length of the original. I am much more concerned about the hood acting as a wind sail than I am about lens flare. So far, so good - no issues with flare, and the lens is more managable, especially when shooting out the window of my truck.
I bought a two-piece Zemlin hood for my 800 mm PF. Together, the two pieces are about the same length as the Nikon supplied hood. But if I only use one piece, it is smaller. Normally, I prefer a longer hood to deal with bumps, flare, and blowing snow, rain or spray. But if it is windy, and there is nothing blowing around, and you want a hood, a shorter hood may be better, as a hood can act as a windsail. With the two-piece hood, I have a choice. And it is smaller in length for transport, as the two pieces can be nested together (although not smaller in diameter).
I think there is also a two-piece Zemlin hood for the 800 mm PF that is longer than the Nikon supplied hood.
I like the Zemlin hoods and pinch lens cap. I also have a Zemlin hood for my 500 mm PF, whose Nikon hood I never liked. And I have the pinch lens cap for the 800 mm PF, which is much more convenient, in my experience, than the Nikon supplied cover.
JamesFarrell
Former Member
I am anxiously awaiting delivery of a Zemlin hood for the Nikon Z 400/4.5 which became available on January 2; should be here this Friday. I bought the version that is 150% of the length of the stock OEM Nikon hood (which is one of Nikon's better lens hoods 'comparatively speaking'). My reason for wanting the extra length is that I wanted some extra protection from rain (using a Lenscoat Raincoat) for when I am on a photo tour in coastal British Columbia.
Late Edit: After delivery at the end of this week I’ll post a few images and some comments and comparisons to the Nikon hood for the benefit of fellow 400/4.5 owners.
Late Edit: After delivery at the end of this week I’ll post a few images and some comments and comparisons to the Nikon hood for the benefit of fellow 400/4.5 owners.
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zemlin
Well-known member
I also offer 2-piece hoods for most lenses (and I can add them for any lenses that I don't already have them for) - so you have the option of shooting with a short hood when there's reason to - high winds, shooting through fencing, inside the car, whatever - and you can add the outer section when you want the additional coverage for protection from rain, harsh lighting, etc.
<edit> I guess @BillW already said that stuff about the two piece hood <\edit>
I need a solution for my 800pf.
Link for a hood cover please.
Thanks.
Link for a hood cover please.
Thanks.
zemlin
Well-known member
Hoods: https://www.zemlinphoto.com/shop/nikkor-z-800mm-f-6-3-vr-s/115
Lens cap: https://www.zemlinphoto.com/product/lens-cap-for-nikon-800mm/9
There's a combo deal to get a cap with a hood at a discount. Thanks.
Lens cap: https://www.zemlinphoto.com/product/lens-cap-for-nikon-800mm/9
There's a combo deal to get a cap with a hood at a discount. Thanks.
BlackRockArt
Well-known member
Has anyone bought the hood and cap for the Sony 600mm G? How does it compare to the original OEM soft cap? Thanks
Glad to know about the Zemlin hoods and caps. Thank you.
I’ve bought the combo for my 600 F4 GM, hood same size as the Sony one.
I received the combo a few days ago and didn’t use it in the field.
What can I say to date...
- Cap : nothing to do with the original as it’s a hard cover and not a soft one like Sony’s one.
It holds well once set on the lens.
Clearly a PLUS compared with Sony’s original which is more flexible and less protective of the front lens. - Hood : the attach on the lens is different from the original. You must first attach a collar on the front of the lens and the hood is attached to this ring.
The collar is fixed with a thin screw. This is the only point of failure I see regarding the hood. How will this screw behave over time ? Indeed, it supports the rotation of the hood itself when it is set up and removed. There doesn’t seem to be any return linked to that fixation. @zemlin Karl can confirm that. - As far as I see, both products are really well made, and they are made to last. The testimonies already brought in other threads go very largely in a positive direction.
- What is delivered is 100% as described on Karl’s website.
- So, to the question "do I recommend this product", the answer is clearly YES
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I’ve used Zemlin products in the past. They are the best. Several months ago I ordered a hood and lens cap for a Nikon z 400mm tc lens. They arrived in just a few days. (I’m still waiting for the lens. Cmon Nikon. 
)
)
zemlin
Well-known member
To date I have had zero reports of ring failures post installation. Ring failures have only happened when installation is done incorrectly.
Thank you.
- So, to the question "do I recommend this product", the answer is clearly YES
I am waiting for my 600 TC. I'll hold off order hood until I get the lensI’ve used Zemlin products in the past. They are the best. Several months ago I ordered a hood and lens cap for a Nikon z 400mm tc lens. They arrived in just a few days. (I’m still waiting for the lens. Cmon Nikon.
BlackRockArt
Well-known member
PhillipeI’ve bought the combo for my 600 F4 GM, hood same size as the Sony one.
I received the combo a few days ago and didn’t use it in the field.
What can I say to date...
- Cap : nothing to do with the original as it’s a hard cover and not a soft one like Sony’s one.
It holds well once set on the lens.
Clearly a PLUS compared with Sony’s original which is more flexible and less protective of the front lens.- Hood : the attach on the lens is different from the original. You must first attach a collar on the front of the lens and the hood is attached to this ring.
The collar is fixed with a thin screw. This is the only point of failure I see regarding the hood. How will this screw behave over time ? Indeed, it supports the rotation of the hood itself when it is set up and removed. There doesn’t seem to be any return linked to that fixation. @zemlin Karl can confirm that.- As far as I see, both products are really well made, and they are made to last. The testimonies already brought in other threads go very largely in a positive direction.
- What is delivered is 100% as described on Karl’s website.
- So, to the question "do I recommend this product", the answer is clearly YES
Thank you for the detailed feedback, I will get the combo.
Oliver
My pleasure
BlackRockArt
Well-known member
Do you know if they have hood and cap for the z 600 TC ?
I just checked on Zemlin web and they have the hood for the 600 TC