Do I need a lens hood? Follow
While lens hoods are not always necessary, they do serve a very practical purpose. A lens hood blocks stray light that may cause flares in your photographs. These flares can be unsightly and may often block/interfere with the subject of your images. As well, the lens hood acts as protection for the lens in case you were to bump into anything; or if you are shooting in rain or snow, they can help keep moisture off the front element of your lens.
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