Photography accessory manufacturer KUVRD has announced a crowdfunding campaign for its latest product, the Universal Lens Hood. As its name suggests, the new product is a collapsible silicone lens hood that KUVRD says will fit 99% of lenses.
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The Universal Lens Hood is the result of more than seven iterations, with the final version being put through ‘rigorous field testing in varying temperatures’ to ensure it’s ready to take on the elements. The product, which comes in two sizes — Small (54mm) and Medium (72mm) — is made of a ‘hyper-elastic silicone polymer,’ not unlike the material used to make the company’s stretchable lens caps released back in 2017.
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The Universal Lens Hood can be expanded forward and collapsed backwards to precisely fit your needs without getting in the way and the lint-resistant coating should ensure you’re not left with dirt and fuzzies stuck all over it as tends to happen with silicone products.
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| An illustration showing what size filter will fit inside the Small and Medium Universal Lens Hoods. |
Beyond near-universal lens compatibility, the hoods also serve as a way to hold nearly any size of circular filter on the market by squeezing them between the inner-walls of the hood. This can further save space in your bag by reducing the need for step down rings and ensures you can by a single, large VND, ND, CPL or UV filter for use with even your smallest lenses.
Although it might be a stretch (see what I did there) the Universal Lens Hoods can also be used as a placemats of sorts to keep your gear safe and off rough terrain when you need to switch out a lens or replace the batteries.
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The Universal Lens Hood has already far surpassed its humble $ 5,000 funding goal with nearly $ 180,000 in pledges as of publishing this article. You can purchase the Small and Medium Universal Lens Hoods in packs of one, two, three and four for $ 30, $ 50, $ 75 and $ 100, respectively. To find out more and to secure your pledge, head on over to the Kickstarter campaign.
Disclaimer: Remember to do your research with any crowdfunding project. DPReview does its best to share only the projects that look legitimate and come from reliable creators, but as with any crowdfunded campaign, there’s always the risk of the product or service never coming to fruition.
Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)