Genesis of a Lens Hood...

[Scott]

Hi, all -

I need a hood for the Neretta.  Hacked a Series VI hood last night, and while it might work, it's efficacy is definitely diminished.  Need something better, 'cause the Optar likes to flare.  Can't find a reasonable wide angle hood anywhere, and I'd like to avoid buying multiple adapters to stack to get me a hood.  What to do?

So, I gets ta thinkin'.  Look around at foam cups and such, but nothing has the right profile.  Then I dug through the recycle bin.



The top looks like it might work.  I cut it off.



I'm thinking I can make an opening in the top that nests behind the Series VI adapter and glue it in place with some hot melt.  So, I start trimming.



That looks about right.  Test it with the adapter, and it's a nice fit.  But clear obviously isn't going to work.  Dig out the multi-surface flat black spray paint.



I figure I'll hit it a couple more times and just accept that the paint will be fragile.  Knowing that, I figure a coat of paint on the outside, then paper it with tape.  Should work.

More photos forthcoming.

[radiophoto]

Scott, I like your way of thinking.  Genius!

Remember, I'm in your geographic region next week.  Think you'd be willing to let me play with your big cameras? 

[Scott]

Sure, Pete.  Let's get something planned.

FWIW, the hood's on the camera now:







To do it again, I'd use the bandsaw and make the first cut the removal of the screw top.  Second cut would be removal of the hood.  I did it completely backwards, but still have a usable hood which doesn't vingette at all.  Woot!

[br1078lum]

Elegant, Scott.  With the ridges it looks like something Voigtlander would have made.

PF

[sandeha]

Well, as you know, I've trawled supermarket shelves before now looking for the perfect neck.  Screenwash came out tops, as I recall, though I wasn't looking for a WA at the time. 

Yours look scalloped and classy.

[Scott]

Thank you, gents.  We'll see presently - negatives are fixing now... :eek:

[radiophoto]

I used to have an old photography book that told of "tips and tricks" for amateur photographers, and one of them was making a lens hood out of a (new) toilet plunger.  Back then they were made of black rubber, so no painting was necessary, I guess, just cutting the stem off to the appropriate opening.

Well, as you know, I've trawled supermarket shelves before now looking for the perfect neck.  Screenwash came out tops, as I recall, though I wasn't looking for a WA at the time.  

Yours look scalloped and classy.

Here's a perfect neck I found in a supermarket:

[Scott]

Well, looks like I'll get that second chance to make this hood:





Stopped down, the hood darkens the corners.  So, it needs shortening.  Guess this was just the first iteration.  What's more troubling, though, is the bright area in the center of the railroad track shot.  Is it possible to have a leak in a Grafmatic?  Guess I need to try the other one and see if there's a difference.

[jamesmck]

Geez, you're a busy guy, Scott!  The tombstone one doesn't seem to show the bright center (what are those ghost images?).

[Scott]

James, the splotches are from drying: With these test shots, I clip them two-a-piece onto coat hangers (the kind with the little clips on them) and hang them outside to dry.  Well, it's windy today, and two of the sheets slid together and dried like that.  Drat.  Ah, well - t'weren't a keeper, anyhoo.

[radiophoto]

Maddie and Braedan:  "Dad, I'm getting a tummyache!"

Scott: "Shut up and drink that Cranapple!  Daddy needs the bottle!"

[jamesmck]

Scott - Rewashing might rescue that negative.  About the bright area, it's interesting that it shows on both occasions when you shot the RR tracks, but seems unapparent (or less apparent) in the other shots.  Might there be some source of a reflection at that site?  If it were a light leak, you'd expect to see it in most open light shots.

[sandeha]

Stopped down I don't think the hood could darken the corners - the edges of the hood are way out of the line of sight.  If the dark corners were shot at f32 it may be that stopping down that much will reduce light to the corners.  That'll be the lens design.

I could do with a refresher on the physics of this.

The most likely place for any filmholder to leak (apart from the dark slide seal) is how well it fits to the back.  Is your seal tight all the way around the Graf?

[Scott]

Well, wide open, I can open the shutter, check the ground glass, and point the camera at the sun and see it clearly in all corners as I move the body about.  So, I thought it was okay.  When stopped down, the corners clearly darken.  Which is a drag, regardless.  Now, I used the Petri viewfinder (as opposed to the Yashica one), and while I get a decent view side-to-side, top-to-bottom isn't great.  So, I can just shoot to the viewfinder and crop, but I hate to do that.  Need to ponder a bit on this one.

The Graflock seal is good, and the Grafmatic is tight within it.  I don't really suspect any problems with it, but I've only used the one thus far.  Next batch of tests (after making a new hood) will be with Grafmatic #2.  And I still have two shots to develop left.  Just kind of bummed on the first four...

Maddie and Braedan:  "Dad, I'm getting a tummyache!"

Scott: "Shut up and drink that Cranapple!  Daddy needs the bottle!"

[Scott]

And one other thing I just noticed: A 2 liter bottle looks to have just the right profile on the top for a hood.  Now, I can drain one of them in an hour...