Stepup filter rings??

What's the general consensus on the use of stepup rings for filters. :
I want to purchase a 67mm cir polariser for my 16-45 but for the price of a stepup ring 52mm-67mm (4quid) i could then use the filter on several other lenses i own.?? any thoughts

Uncontroversial, I would have thought.

Step-down rings, however... They can be troublesome.

Why don't you investigate the Cokin P system?
I have a Kood Circ Pol and a set of ND grads. That way you can just buy the P-adapter ring for each lens size

The P-system can just manage the SMC-DA 12-24 (if you modify a Cokin holder)... though I upgraded to the Lee & Z-Pro system (but can't justify £130 for the 105mm polariser :shock

HTH!
Matt

Thanks Matt i will check it out
The price of the polariser filters is the reason I thought of the stepup rings I only have to buy one filter
Whats your opinion of the Hoya filters : They are Pentax after all

Kim put me onto the B+W brand but wow they are steep. I don't want too go cheap either at it defeats the purpose of a good quality lens

I used to use the Hoya Pro filters - which are expensive, ultra thin, and have superb optical properties.
But, boy, do they splinter if you drop them! Nearly gouged out the front element on two lenses (Some of the dangers of having children! LOL!) Since then, I use nothing on the lens, but always keep the hood on (a £40 hood is cheaper than getting a lens repaired).

As far as the Cokin P system goes - I've used HiTech and Kood, as well as Cokin's own. As with all such filters, you have to watch out for scratching - so treat them like gold dust
In the long run, a square/rectangular filter system will last a lot longer... and once you've used ND grads (Neutral Density Graduated) for landscape work you'll never go back

Matt

I have a silly number of Cokin P filters including wacky prism affects, star bursts and colour gradients.

However, I rarely use any of them these days as many of the affects are easily and more forgivingly achieved post-production.

The only filter I carry in my kit now is a polariser.

I didn't mean those!

I almost always use ND grads, and sometimes use a polariser.
Of course, with the Cokin you can use polariser and one or two ND grads (or just an ND if you want to slow things down in bright light).
Matt

I did say that the Hoya Pro series were nearly as good but I would avoid their very basic ones.

The only disadvantage of using a step up ring is that you can't use the hood. You could get round this by puting a round hood on the filter. If no hood then all the more reason to get a good filter to cut down on the flare.

Kim

Another thought, Ffordes have new B+W circular Pols in 52mm for £15 or £29 for the slim version.

https://secure.ffordes.com/Shop/Store/StockList.asp?Type=secd&Sub=1&code...

Kim

Thanks for all the advice
I think i will go for the cokin p series they seem reasonably price and very flexible interchanging with other lenses. They just look a little Kooky

In the mean time I did buy a Hoya polariser too try out on my 16-45. Its coming into summer here and i expect some very bright and sunny days ahead

Sorry for the silly question
How do you determine which ND grad filter too use under what conditions. Does it all come with experience :

Ideally you should spot meter between the two halves and work out the exposure difference. The goal is to bring the brighter parts within the range of the darker area... but not too much (you don't want to lose the tonal range).
There are a few guides online I've seen... might be able to Google one out for you if needed

Yes. Generally I don't bother spot metering - I'll just look at a scene and guess on the ND grad, take the shot and review on the LCD (checking the histogram and exposure). If necessary I'll change the ND grad and shoot again.

...one of the wonders of digital

Matt

I would appreciate that Matt if its no bother.

I have trained myself on using the histogram and i have it set for auto display after every shot. Once you get an understanding of it its very helpful. Thanks again

NP:
http://www.great-landscape-photography.com/graduated-filters.html
http://www.earthboundlight.com/phototips/neutral-density-and-graduated-nd.html
http://members.aol.com/kevinoneil/nd.html
http://www.bythom.com/filters.htm

That should keep you busy for five minutes
Matt

I've done this for years - with my film SLRs the largest filter size of my "normal" range of lenses was 58mm - so I bought good quality polariser & monochrome (red, green & yellow) filters in this size plus step-down rings to 52mm, 55mm & 49mm.

The only real disadvantages I've found was the bigger filter meant you couldn't use the built-in hood on some lenses, and fitting the ring & filter to the lens was fiddly outdoors in cold weather when fingers are numb and clumsy.

I have tried using various friend's square filter mount systems, but personally found them even more fiddly to get on with than simple round filters - but I don't often want to fit more than one filter to a lens at once, or need to swap between filters quickly so perhaps I didn't have incentive to persevere.

tekno.mage