A must-see for multi-lens users and car window lovers! KUVRD Universal Lens Hood Review, currently running on Makuake. It's super convenient if you get the hang of it
Written by Yasushi Hisatomi
If you use a camera in the mountains, a lens hood is essential to protect the lens from various obstacles such as rocks, tree branches, gravel, dust, rain, etc. It also helps to suppress flare and ghosting, as backlit photography is common
The most annoying thing about this is the time it takes to attach and remove the lens hood. I usually use the original lens hood, but every time I take out the camera,
- Remove the hard plastic hood that is set upside down on the lens by twisting it
- Flip it over and snap it onto the tip of the lens
You have to repeat this process. And when you're done taking pictures, you have to put it away again in the reverse order. And when you get to the next shooting spot... it's so annoying
Being lazy, I always end up stuffing the hard, bulky hood into my front pack with it still on. Not only is it quite unsightly, it's also bulky, and depending on the bag, the opening doesn't close properly, so it's extremely dangerous and I'm worried it might fall out
table of contents
A convenient lens hood that can be attached to any manufacturer or model and eliminates reflections on the glass
Universal Lens Hood (ULH) by KUVRD , which is currently being crowdfunded on Makuake .
According to the designers, the foldable silicone lens hood is compatible with 99% of lenses, regardless of manufacturer or model, and prevents vignetting at the corners of the frame, effectively blocking out light even when shooting through glass. It's also easier to attach and remove than previous models, meaning those who carry multiple lenses don't need to carry separate lens hoods for each, reducing both luggage and hassle
It all sounded great, and I thought maybe this could help me take my photography style a step further! So I contacted Hands Aid, the project organizers, and asked them to send me the product so I could try it out
Just to be clear, all content written in this review follows the same operating policy , and is expressed at the sole discretion of the editorial team, and we would like to make it clear that the content has not been influenced in any way by the source.
Key Features of KUVRD Universal Lens Hood
In addition to the features mentioned above, the new lens hood has a variety of other features and functions that will make photography even more comfortable. First, let's summarize the seven product features listed on the crowdfunding page below
- Easy to put on and take off
- Does not lose its shape or come off
- Compatible with various lens manufacturers and sizes
- You can take photos without reflections even through window glass
- Various lens filters with different lens diameters can be used
- It also acts as a cushion to protect your camera
- Free replacement guarantee in case of damage
What really appealed to me was its ease of use as a hood, but for everyday use, it seems like the fact that you can take photos without reflections even through window glass is surprisingly useful. Anyway, I immediately put on the item I received and tried it out while lightly hiking in the mountains nearby
I tried it out ~In the car~
This time, I decided to walk along the pleasant ridge from Ybitsu Pass to Mt. Daisen. As I drove along the undulating forest road to the pass, I set up my camera from inside the car along the way
We tried taking a photo with the original hood attached, but even with the hood attached to the glass window, there was a slight reflection that could not be eliminated and remained (dotted line on the left of the photo below). On the other hand, when we attached this ULH and placed the hood tightly against the glass window, we were able to take a photo without any reflection (right of the photo below). Of course, this will be useful for taking photos through glass in a variety of situations, not just from a car window, such as at an aquarium, zoo, or on an airplane.
I tried it out ~Hiking Edition~
Next, I checked its usability from various angles to see if it would work well for my purposes when hiking in the mountains
What I like
Easy storage and setup even with the hood attached
This was something I'd always found inconvenient when using plastic hoods, so I was impressed by how simple it was to use. To set the hood, you open the opening and place it over the lens. The flexible silicone material can be easily opened with a certain amount of force, and it fits over the lens. However, since it requires some pressure, it wasn't possible to gently attach it while the lens is mounted on a tripod
The hood is flexible and easy to fold, and quickly regains its shape when needed (see photo below)
I quickly take it out, extend the hood, take a photo, then fold it back and put it in the camera bag on the front. This whole process is smooth, so it's a lot less stressful than I'd imagined, and it's truly convenient (see photo below)
It fits any lens securely and is hard to come off or lose its shape
The elastic silicone fits snugly to all of my lenses, and it never comes off or shifts, even when I shake the lens vigorously. The hood also loses its shape for a moment when I shake the lens, but it quickly returns to its original shape. While I can't imagine it would be suitable for extreme uses like rapid-fire shooting while shaking the lens quickly, it's perfectly fine for taking landscape shots (see photo below)
The length of the hood can be adjusted, so you don't have to worry about vignetting with any lens
With a fixed-shaped hood, if the size doesn't fit, the black shadow of the hood will appear in the four corners of the lens, causing vignetting. This is a particular concern with wide-angle lenses, but with this hood, you can adjust the depth by folding it like a bellows, so there's no need to worry (see photo below)
However, as I will explain later, with wide-angle lenses, vignetting may inevitably occur depending on the position where the hood is set
Filters of different diameters can be used together (moving filters such as CPL filters cannot be used)
Typically, lens filters are attached to the tip of the lens, but by pushing the filter between the inner walls of this lens hood, circular filters that are normally too large to attach can be attached to the inside of the hood and used. This may eliminate the need for filters that were previously required for each lens of various diameters (see photo below)
However, because the filter is fixed to the inner wall, it is not possible to move the outer edge of the filter, such as with variable ND filters or CPL filters, so not all filters can be shared. This function is only useful as an emergency measure in case you forget your filter while out and about
Things I was curious about
With zoom lenses that change length, the silicone part can interfere with zooming depending on the mounting position
Conversely, there were a few things that bothered me, contrary to my expectations. I mainly use a 24-70mm F2.8 lens, which has a body that expands and contracts when zooming, and sometimes the silicone part overlaps with the expanding part and interferes with zooming (see photo below)
With a zoom lens that changes length, if you don't adjust it to the right position, it will interfere with the zoom ring and get in the way of operation
If you push the lens hood all the way in, avoiding the telescopic part, it will overlap with the zoom ring, making it difficult to zoom, or if you set it so that it completely covers the zoom ring, the hood will be too far back and not enough (see photo below)
As a last resort, if you try to set it near the tip, avoiding the telescopic part and zoom ring altogether, it is still too far to the tip and is prone to coming off (see photo below). Moreover, vignetting occurs even when it is fully retracted
In the end, there was no position that satisfied all of the above, so it was difficult to keep the lens hood in a fixed position, and I ended up having to adjust the hood position every time I used the zoom function to change the focal length. Of course, this doesn't happen with zoom lenses, which don't change length, so it's not something to worry about (see photo below), but it did have a specific impact on how I used it
Dust easily accumulates
Another issue that bothered me was dust. Silicone rubber has a tendency to attract dust, and unfortunately, this hood was no exception. What's more, due to static electricity, once dust or dirt has adhered to it, it becomes difficult to remove no matter how much you brush it off, and the dust ends up collecting around the lens. In the outdoors, there is a wide variety of debris, from small particles of dust to fine sand and weeds, so this was quite stressful
summary
The universal lens hood is a very interesting product, replacing the bulky plastic lens hoods of the past and allowing you to use it with multiple lenses and share filters. It also comes with a free replacement guarantee in the event of damage, providing peace of mind with services designed to ensure continued use. To be honest, however, the zoom lens I currently use (FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM) requires adjustments depending on the focal length, and it's difficult to fully enjoy its convenience in the tougher outdoor environment than everyday life. However, I can certainly see the convenience and ease of use it offers when you get used to it, so I personally found this to be a real shame
The applications and situations in which this product will be most useful are likely to be casual situations such as everyday use or general travel, rather than hard use in harsh environments. Also, if you primarily use prime lenses, the benefits of this lens hood will more than make up for any minor inconvenience, so I would recommend it without hesitation. If you carry multiple prime lenses, it will save you storage space and time, and be even more convenient. Users who primarily use zoom lenses, whose length remains constant, will also find it extremely comfortable, as the hood does not interfere with lens operation
On the other hand, users like me who mainly use zoom lenses that change length even when shooting around town need to be careful. Every time you operate the zoom, you have to adjust it to the best position, which can end up wasting a lot of time. Considering these pros and cons, this is a modest but indispensable item for situations where you need to attach and remove lenses, such as when traveling or outdoors
The KUVRD Universal Lens Hood is currently being crowdfunded on Makuake. If you're interested, please check out the details at the link below and support the project
→→→ Check out the details of the KUVRD Universal Lens Hood on the Makuake project ←←←
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