(10-18-2021, 09:05 AM)Rover Wrote: With long years of working in the field, or even without one, stuff tends to be dropped or banged around something. In my time, I've needed repairs for impact damage 4 or 5 times, and had at least three smashed filters. Several more with glass knocked out of alignment within the frame.
Just today when shooting on a construction site I've seen the gate swing with the wind and do a nasty thing on a chick photographer. She ended up knocked off her feet, bruised and at least the filter on her Nikon 24-70/2.8 got blown to smithereens. Maybe the lens is damaged too. Smartphone screen also likely smashed. The D4 (or similar) body has, conversely, blown a hole in the pavement, in all likelihood.She had no hood on the lens.
For your particular use, a traditional removable hood makes more sense, indeed. Much cheaper to replace.
However, for more mainstream uses, I really think built-in hoods are very convenient.
Like when buying a car, we need customizable cameras and lenses at the time of purchase ;-)