Are there drawbacks to buying one larger filter and using step-up rings on multiple lenses?
Asked 12/25/2017
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I have two lenses with different filter thread sizes (52mm and 58mm) and want to buy one good circular polarizer to share between them. I'm considering buying a larger filter, such as 77mm, and using step-up rings for each lens. Is this a sensible long-term strategy, and are there any disadvantages to using an oversized filter with step-up adapters?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
8y ago
2 Answers
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Other than the cost of the step up rings, there are two possible disadvantages:
1) The lens hood may not fit over the larger filter. This will vary according to the lens model and the type of hood it uses.
Because Canon names their lens hoods according to the size of the opening, you can easily tell if there might be a problem.
For example the Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 has a 58mm filter thread and uses the ET-65 lens hood. If you were to use a 67mm filter with a 58-67 step up ring, the ET-65 lens hood with it’s 65mm opening would not be able to be installed over the 67mm filter.
2) Ultra Wide-Angle lenses will be more prone to vignetting(darkening) in the corners.
Examlpe: Canon EF-S 10-18mm STM with 2 stacked step up rings (67-72 and 72-77) and a regular CPL, there is definite vignetting visible at 10mm.
If you were to use a single 67-77 step up ring and a Slim CPL you may not see any vignetting.
Originally by user39427. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user39427
8y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Yes—this is a common and generally sensible way to share one quality filter across multiple lenses. The main drawbacks are:
- lens hood compatibility: a hood made for the lens may no longer fit once a larger filter and step-up ring are attached.
- possible vignetting on ultra-wide lenses: extra ring thickness and a standard-thickness filter can darken the corners, especially if you stack multiple step-up rings.
- cost and bulk: larger filters cost more, and you’ll also need rings for each lens, though this is often still cheaper than buying multiple good filters.
For normal and telephoto lenses, using one larger filter with step-up rings is usually fine. Just be more cautious with ultra-wide lenses, where vignetting is the biggest risk. If you do this, it’s often best to avoid stacking several rings whenever possible.
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AI8y ago
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