Mike Johnston wrote a good SMP column about flare, lens hoods, etc.] http://www.luminous-landscape.com/columns/sm-03-01-12.shtml
"By the way, a common misconception about lenses is that you need the longest possible hood to protect the lens. This isn't necessarily so. With some lenses, acutely-impinging light is the biggest cause of flare, more so than more directly impinging light. A short lens hood which protects the lens from this glancing sidelight will serve well to reduce flare, even though it's relatively useless at protecting the front element of the lens from direct light rays." And: "The Pentax 43mm Limited was the best lens I ever encountered at this test. The superb flare control of this lens probably partially accounts for its amazing ability to record microdetail." :) -- Mark Roberts Photography and writing www.robertstech.com
