scorpius73
Well-known
I hate the size of the milenium 50 with the hood. I haven't used it without the hood though. Will it flare alot or will contrast be affected without it? Anyone notice any difference?
Phantomas
Well-known
I hate that ugly hood too and never use it. So far no flare to report, but then I haven't used it extensively.
I've used mine without a hood, have not had a problem. It is multi-coated. I also have a smaller collapsible hood that I've used with my older Nikkor 5cm F1.4's.
Highway 61
Revisited
Between getting stuck with the huge original hood or getting rid of the hood, there is a midway path : a third party vented screw-in hood, as efficient as the original one, but way smaller and smarter. You can either go vintage (Walz, Hoya, Astron) or modern (no-name Chinese but tilted). 
NIKON KIU
Did you say Nippon Kogaku
You guys should sell them ugly hoods, they tend to fetch $50-$100
Kiu
Kiu
I have a Komura hood that works great on the Millennium. It's exactly the same shape as a Walz hood (and was even advertised as a Walz hood in the auction I won it in) but the thread pitch is 0.75mm instead of 0.50mm. I wanted it for my vintage Nikkor 5cm f1.4 but it doesn't screw in properly, so I use it on the Millennium now. In my experience the Millennium doesn't need a hood through.
Highway 61
Revisited
I have two Hoya 43mm vented hoods (same design as the Walz or the Komura) and both are 0.75 pitch.
ferider
Mentor
Use one of the small 43mm screw on hoods that the bartender sells.