+1 to what was said earlier — deeper, non-vented hoods just win in real backlight, imo. Over the years I’ve tried many, and the “classic” vented ones look great but they leak stray light like crazy.

Quick compare:
- OEM rectangular (best): max shading, least veiling flare. Downside: $$ and some VF blockage.
- Value alt: Haoge LH-M36 35mm f/2 Summicron-M ASPH Lens Hood / Haoge LH-M49 50mm f/2 Summicron-M Lens Hood — not as pretty, but honestly realy solid flare control for the money.
- Low-profile compromise: Leica E39 Vented Hood 12526 (or similar vented) — nicer VF view, but you’ll still see ghosts when the sun’s just out of frame.

Also: keep the front element spotless. Finger haze = instant “washed-out” look. anyway, hope that helps

For your 35/50 M lenses, the deeper rectangular OEM hoods win for flare control—I've had way fewer ghosts vs classic vented metal. I’d grab the matching Leica hood (or Squarehood Model V Leica M as a decent alt); coatings help, but shading the front element is still EVERYTHING...

Just catching up on this thread and honestly, i have the exact same problem. I've been dealing with this specific veiling flare and haze on my 35mm for nearly four months now and it is driving me insane because i can't find a technical fix that actually works.

• tried flocking the internal hood surfaces with ultra-matte tape but still getting ghosts
• measured the light angles for a custom DIY extension and it still didn't block the stray light effectively
• tested different internal baffle ideas to see if i could cut the sensor-side reflections, but nothing It is so frustrating because i have tried every technical DIY tweak i can think of and i still haven't found a real answer. I'm honestly starting to wonder if it's just a limitation of the lens design itself when shooting into the sun, which is a massive bummer for street stuff.

- **Warning:** dont chase flare fixes with cheap third‑party hoods that fit “kinda” — I’ve had one bind on the filter threads and another wobble loose and almost kiss the pavement… not fun.
- Oh man, been there w/ backlit street haze. Quick question: **which exact 35 and 50 are you on (and do you run filters)?** That changes hood depth a lot.
- In general, a **deeper, non‑vented hood** (often rectangular/petal) shades better; vented is mostly vibes + less finder blockage. Modern coatings help, but shading the front element still matters, seriously.

I have been messing around with DIY fixes for my M gear for ages and honestly, sometimes the hood shape is only half the battle. I have seen so many people buy expensive metal hoods only to realize the internal finish is too reflective, which actually bounces light right into the lens. Before you go spending a bunch of money on a pro replacement, I wanted to ask a couple things to see if we can do a self-service fix:

• If you look inside your current hoods, is the finish still a deep matte black, or has it become shiny or rubbed smooth over the years?
• Have you done a flashlight test on the lenses themselves to check for any faint internal haze that might be catching the light? Sometimes you can basically tune a hood yourself with some matte flocking tape or even just a bit of specialized flat paint, which is way cheaper than a new Leica part. It would be reallyyy helpful to know if the flare is a defined ghost or just a general loss of contrast, as that helps narrow down if it is a shading issue or a glass issue. If the glass is clean, then we can definitely look at some DIY shading options.

Story time: i went through this last year w/ my M setup and backlit street stuff… same washed-out haze, same annoying ghosts.

What actually changed it for me was:
- switching from the cute vented metal hood to a deeper, non-vented style (rectangular-ish). It just blocked more stray light, period
- sticking to Leica OEM hoods when i could… they’re boring but tolerances are spot on and i had zero wobble/fit issues
- for third-party, i had pretty good luck with Haoge / Voigtländer hoods (nothing fancy, just solid). i avoided super cheap no-name ones cuz reflections inside the hood can make it worse, idk

Modern coatings help, sure, but shading the front element is still EVERYTHING. Viewfinder blockage is real tho… tradeoff you kinda accept. anyway hope that helps

Solid advice 👍