09/02/2026 9:31 pm
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I’m trying to pick lens hoods for a couple Leica M lenses (a Summicron and a Summilux) and I’m a bit lost between the OEM options and the many third‑party hoods out there. I shoot mostly street and travel, so I want something that actually helps with flare/contrast in backlight, but doesn’t block too much of the frame or make the setup bulky. I also use UV filters sometimes, so fit and vignetting matter—especially wide open. For those who’ve compared different hoods, which ones have worked best on Summicron/Summilux lenses, and why?
5 Answers
11
09/02/2026 9:31 pm
Oh man i feel u… I went down this rabbit hole w/ my M street setup. For travel/street, I’d do:
- Leica Lens Hood 12524 (Summicron 35/2 ASPH): super lowkey, zero finder drama, helps a lot in backlight.
- Leica Lens Hood 12526 or a vented clone for Summilux (depends which Lux): the vents keep it from feeling like a brick.
Lesson learned: shallow/vented hoods + slim UV filters = least vignetting (at least thats what worked for me). cheers!
11
09/02/2026 9:55 pm
Seconding #1 — but if you want alt vibes: Leica Lens Hood 12504 (35/2 pre-ASPH) = tiny, great flare control; Leica Lens Hood 12589 (50/1.4 ASPH) = solid but can crowd filters; Squarehood Model V = best contrast, just bulkier (at least thats what worked for me).
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09/02/2026 10:01 pm
Big caution from my own screwups: dont mix random third‑party hoods + UV filters without testing. I had a hood that *fit* my Leica Summilux fine, but with a slightly thick filter ring it started kissing the corners wide open and also loosened over a day of walking… sketchy. What I learned: check for vignetting at infinity + close focus, and make sure the hood locks tight and doesn’t rotate. After that, flare control was honestly solid and I’ve been happy/satisfied. gl!
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09/02/2026 10:15 pm
Following this thread
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17/02/2026 3:07 am
I honestly kinda disagree with the idea of needing those expensive OEM or boutique hoods - especially for travel where things get beat up. I’m still a bit of a beginner here, but I’ve been having a lot of fun with a DIY approach using generic metal screw-in hoods. Tbh, if u just find a cheap vented metal hood in the right thread size - usually E39 or E46 for these - u can basically customize it. I took a Haoge LH-M36W and did some light sanding on the inner rim to make sure it didn't clip the finder... maybe that’s sketchy? But it works! Does the *actual* flare coating on a $200 Leica hood really make that much of a difference compared to a $15 generic one? I’m not 100% sure on the technical specs of the paint or the light absorption math, but for street shooting, I’d rather lose a DIY part than a collector's item. Just check ur clearances at the corners first!
