Yeah, I think it was designed without a front filter or built-in teleconverter in mind from the start.
According to the 13 April CR rumour, the existing hood, if bought as a separate item from the lens, is pretty expensive:
Are you saying there’s a combined CPL/ND drop-in filter? I know there are screw-in filters like that, but putting one in the drop-in holder would leave no way to rotate the filter once in place.
Cutting an opening is not the same as adding a door. The latter can be closed.
Adapted glass is not a great solution, especially not for pros. Adapters are annoying to deal with unless you buy one for each adapted lens and leave it permanently attached. Since Canon doesn't seem to want 3rd party glass on RF to fill the gaps, it's not unreasonable for people to want Canon to hurry up and release at least the key lenses.
The Fotodiox filters that I use with my Wonderpana system (front filter setup for my TS-E 17) are 145mm threaded. I have the 10-stop ND and CPL, but they make a UV version. They also have an XL system for the 11-24/4 that uses 186mm threaded filters.
IMHO, there are higher priorities than a series of 1.4 primes. So if I were to place a bet, I'd bet on 3rd party makers getting there way earlier than Canon.
Unfortunately, that fact puts you in a shrinking demographic that is likely decreasing in importance as far as Canon’s design decisions are concerned.
A door would obviously be better, but if it was a choice between having no hood at all, or having a hood with a cutout, the latter might be more appropriate for @LSXPhotog. And the opening could be taped over if/when needed. Far from an ideal solution, and not very pretty, but a perfectly usable workaround.
Same here. I wouldn't contemplate using any of my lenses without a hood, and it amazes me that some people don't. A hood not only helps to protect the front element from dust and rain, it greatly reduces flare when shooting into bright light, and offers protection against minor knocks and bumps.
What amazes me is seeing people out shooting with the hood on the lens, but mounted in reverse.
My wife used to do that with the old 100-400 EF. She had used the 100-400 I, which was a push-pull lens and liked to zoom that way. With the lens hood reversed on the II version, she could grab the hood and quickly zoom using push-pull. Worked for her. Taught me not to judge insignificant things like how people use or don't use hoods. Judge by the pictures they get.
With long lenses such as my RF100-500, or the 800/11 (that I've just sold), instead of supporting the lens in the traditional way by cupping the barrel mid-way, I grip the hood with my left hand, with fingers gripping the inside of the hood. It's a tip I picked up from ace bird photographer Jan Wegener. With most hoods, if you grip them this way, your fingers don't intrude into the frame. It makes the set-up much more stable.
Thank you for correcting me. I typically use B+W filters and that is the largest one they manufacture. I learned something today.
I also use B+W, except for the aforementioned Wonderpana 145 setup. I likely no longer need that, the drop-in adapter is much more convenient. I’ll likely hang onto it in case there’s a compelling RF TS lens that ends up taking those filters, e.g., the rumored 14mm.
