This is a comparative review of two official Leitz/Leica lens hood. As with every other lens hood out there, they are not any different: They are both designed to protect the lens from scratches and also to block strong sunlight to prevent flare. However, there are some differences which are worthwhile to go through. If you are in the market for either one, then this might be a good read.
The Appearance:
The 12524 is a square hood, while the 12585 is the circular one. The square hood is a match with the 35mm F2 Summicron. The one I got here was made in the old Leitz factory in Ontario Canada. The round hood is made to be attached on variety of 35mm and 50mm lenses. The round hood was made in the Leitz factory at Wetzlar Germany.
The Size:
Immediately, you probably have notice the size differences. The 12585 (round) is a bit taller compared to the 12524 (square). The advantage of the square hood is that it takes up less space in a bag. It is also more compact to hold when it is attached on the lens. One thing I notice is because the square hood does have an more inclined slope on the upper and lower edges it may provide better flare resistance compared to the more open design of the round hood.
The Material:
What I like more of the 12585 is the material. The round hood is made in metal, while the 12524 is made in plastic. While the plastic makes the hood more light weight, I feel the round hood has higher built quality. However, I do feel that plastic material has an slight edge in flexibility which means should the lens hood touches another surface the plastic might provide better resistance against impact. The metal hood might just strike hard with the surface and might not necessary provide better protection.
From the back of the hoods you can see the inclined edge design of the 12524 (square). It is a more compact design, which I personally prefer over the 12585 (round). A similarity between the two is that both are clip on design. They are very easy to put on the lens and thus save the hassle for the need to screw them onto the lens.
Viewfinder Blockage:
When the 12524 is installed, there is a minor blockage of the viewfinder at the bottom right hand side. There is no cutout available on the square hood. On the other hand, the 12585 is vented which means the viewfinder is not blocked. From the picture above you can see the different designs between the two hoods.
On the Lens:
This is the 12524 on a 50mm F2 Summicron. As you can see it is pretty compact. The hood aligns perfectly with the lens and does not extend too much from it. Even though this hood is intended for the 35mm F2, but it does fit the 50mm lens perfectly.
Another look of the hood. Surprisedly it fits pretty well with a lens not intended as its direct accessory.
Here it is the 12585 round hood on the same lens. Already you can notice the larger extension compared to the 12524. There is minimal edge as well so in terms of flare resistance the square hood might offer a bit more in that aspect.
The front view:
Here it is when the hood is on the camera and lens. You should be able to see the more aggressive inward upper and lower slopes on this hood.
The 12585 hood. As mentioned it is a vented design. When using it the viewfinder would not get blocked. It is noticeably larger in terms of overall size.
Lens Hood Cap:
Lastly, the lens hood cap. On the left you can see the DIY cap I made for the 12524. There was no cap that came with the hood. The cap is now pretty rare and they are very difficult to find. Though there are aftermarket ones now available, for those who want original parts will have a tough time finding one. On the right is the Leica official cap for the 12585. It is a pretty large cap. When it is on the hood it can be difficult to take it off. And often it comes off by itself. The design is not very efficient.
The Pricing:
The 12524 is more expensive than the 12585. While the round hood can be bought for about $80USD, the square hood is priced higher from at least $120 to $200USD. This may have to do with the fact that the 35mm Summicron is highly sought and generally the lens is more expensive than the 50mm Summicron. In turn, perhaps it also drove up the prices of the 12524 more. Also, the 12524 is a lot harder to come by. They only appear once in a while and only the OEM Leitz ones are available. On the other hand, there are many available12585 often and there are also the aftermarket ones which are even cheaper.
I waited for a long time before buying the 12524. There was one which I didn't win the bid. One day one came on sale and the seller offered me a lower price which I bought it immediately. I don't feel the lens hood itself is worth more than 120USD, especially it is not made of metal. And most of them also don't come with the lens cap. On the other hand, the 12585 came with the lens I bought so I didn't have to spend on it.
To sum up:
Pros for the 12524:
- Compact in size and light weight
- Slopes on the hood provide excellent flare resistance
- Plastic material may bring better resistance to vibration and impact.
- Very good clip on design
- Beautiful design. Looks amazing on the camera.
- As they are generally rare I feel there is a potential for them to go up in values and be good investment.
Cons for the 12524:
- No cut out that results in viewfinder blockage
- Less protection especially the lower side compared to the 12585.
- Hard to find OEM lens hood cap
- Hard to find and when one is available it is often expensive.
- Would be nice if this was made in metal instead of plastic to justify the high cost.
Pros for the 12585:
- Bigger size brings more surface protection, especially the lower side of the lens
- High quality metal
- Made in Germany
- Easy to install on lens thanks to excellent clip on design
- Vented design means no viewfinder blockage
- More affordable and aftermarket versions are widely available.
Cons for the 12585:
- Bigger size occupies more space in bag.
- Occupies much of the camera in front and sometimes a bit cumbersome to use on the camera due to the big size.
- Poorly designed cap which does not come off easily and when it does come off it comes off too often and easily.
- No aftermarket cap available as far as I know.
- Doesn't look as good as the 12524 while it is on the camera (personal preference)
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