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Message: <blockquote data-quote="jpwone" data-source="post: 1483742" data-attributes="member: 67983">The hood is an essential part of the lens system. It helps to protect the front lens element (far better than a filter) and can also significantly increase the images contrast (reduces out of frame stray light entering the lens). I can only surmise that Canon do not supply one with every lens for financial gain. It must typically costs pennies to make and is an extra earner for them on every non L lens they sell.You will regularly see pro journalist photographers shooting without a hood and just about every other pro photographer shooting with one. Photo journalists are shooting for a low contrast medium (newspaper print) and weight, ease of use etc. are all factors here. Photographing wildlife is usually a more considered pursuit where time pressures are not significant, keeping the kit in one piece to shoot another day would be nice and getting the best quality image possible is high on the list.Think of a hood as if it were a lens tax. You buy a lens and buy a hood (pay the tax).</blockquote>