Filter Step Rings

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bforbes

Link Posted 04/08/2011 - 23:49
If I want to fit a 52mm filter to a lens with 49mm filter thread do I order a step up or step down ring? The suppliers don't seem to know
Barrie
Too Old To Die Young

http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/artists/barrieforbes
https://www.flickr.com/photos/189482630@N03/

K10D

Link Posted 05/08/2011 - 00:03
Step Up adapter.

link

Best regards
Inspiration is rarer than a plate glass camera.....

Blythman

Link Posted 05/08/2011 - 00:11
Step up Barrie. These arrived today ebay step up ringsI can now tape my welding glass to the 77mm for use with my Sigma 10-20, but will also be able to use the step up rings to use it on any of my lenses from a 49mm thread upwards.

bforbes

Link Posted 05/08/2011 - 11:39
Blythman wrote:
Step up Barrie. These arrived today ebay step up rings.

your link explains my dilemma. To me the photograph shows a step ring that will enable you to fit a 49mm filter to a 52mm lens and I would call that a step down ring.
Barrie
Too Old To Die Young

http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/artists/barrieforbes
https://www.flickr.com/photos/189482630@N03/

johnriley

Link Posted 05/08/2011 - 11:43
It will always be a ring to use a larger filter on a smaller lens - the other way round would not be logical in that it would vignette.

Why not avoid the issue and call them stepping rings?
Best regards, John

bforbes

Link Posted 05/08/2011 - 11:52
Thats my point John. As far as I can see some of the Step ring being advertised are made to fit smaller filters onto larger lenses. link but the descriptions vary as to what is step up or down
Barrie
Too Old To Die Young

http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/artists/barrieforbes
https://www.flickr.com/photos/189482630@N03/

Steep

Link Posted 05/08/2011 - 12:02
Since you are trying to attach a filter to a lens you'd always speak in terms of filter to lens, so in this case you're stepping up a smaller filter to a larger lens. Stepping down would be a larger diameter filter to a smaller lens.


/edit imo, I think, etc..
Last Edited by Steep on 05/08/2011 - 12:02

Blythman

Link Posted 05/08/2011 - 12:02
bforbes wrote:
Blythman wrote:
Step up Barrie. These arrived today ebay step up rings.

your link explains my dilemma. To me the photograph shows a step ring that will enable you to fit a 49mm filter to a 52mm lens and I would call that a step down ring.

No Barrie, the link shows step up rings from 49mm to 77mm. This would enable you to screw a 77mm filter into the largest one with the 77mm internal thread (72mm-77mm). you could then use that 77mm filter on a 72mm threaded lens. If you wanted to use the 77mm filter on a 67mm threaded lens like the 16-45 you would use the 67mm-72mm step up ring too.

So to summarise the above, I can have a 77mm filter for a Sigma 10-20. With 2 step up rings I can use the same filter with a Pentax 16-45. If I were to use all the step up rings I could use that 77mm filter on my Pentax A f1.7 with its 49mm thread.

As John says with step down rings you are trying to put a small filter on a bigger lens than it is intended for. Must have some uses, but I don't know what for
Alan


PPG
Flickr

Blythman

Link Posted 05/08/2011 - 12:05
bforbes wrote:
Thats my point John. As far as I can see some of the Step ring being advertised are made to fit smaller filters onto larger lenses. link but the descriptions vary as to what is step up or down

Yes Barrie, that is a step down. I don't know why someone would want to put a 55mm filter on a 58mm lens, but they do
Alan


PPG
Flickr

johnriley

Link Posted 05/08/2011 - 12:14
Blythman wrote:
bforbes wrote:
Thats my point John. As far as I can see some of the Step ring being advertised are made to fit smaller filters onto larger lenses. link but the descriptions vary as to what is step up or down

Yes Barrie, that is a step down. I don't know why someone would want to put a 55mm filter on a 58mm lens, but they do

You could get away with perhaps a step or two from the correct size, depending on the lens design.
Best regards, John

petrochemist

Link Posted 05/08/2011 - 12:59
Blythman wrote:
Yes Barrie, that is a step down. I don't know why someone would want to put a 55mm filter on a 58mm lens, but they do

Perhaps if they only had one 58mm lens, but had a load of 55mm filters (for their other lenses). Smaller filters are also cheaper - sometimes very much so. Some of the more unusual filters I have are only available in 25mm round & 50mm square styles except for special order jobs $$$$$.

A smaller filter is not ideal, but it can be the most practical compromise.
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