Step up-step down filter rings

Hey all,

I was curious if step up or step down filters effect picture quality. It's much more economical for me to buy one filter size and use the rings to use the filter on my other lenses, but I was curious if I'm sacrificing quality by doing this?

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Originally Posted by CaraRose

Hey all,

I was curious if step up or step down filters effect picture quality. It's much more economical for me to buy one filter size and use the rings to use the filter on my other lenses, but I was curious if I'm sacrificing quality by doing this?

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If you use a smaller filter than the lenses filter size, you can get serious vignette problems. Generally, one filter on a adapter and an aperture above 5.6 for most lenses won't be an issue. Most normal prime/zoom focal lengths you don't want to go more than 1 size smaller than the lens. Wide angle never go smaller, even go larger or use a thin filter.


Use a hood to prevent flare.

Try to use plastic step rings for plastic lenses and metal for metal lenses. Mix and match can cause wear on the rings/or the lens itself(not good).

Never, never screw the adapter down tight! A temperature change can leave you with a stuck cross threaded and thus crooked adapter and on a plastic lens the threads can be buggered forever!

Just remember, bigger filters cost disproportionatly more than smaller ones.
72mm+ filters start to get real expensive at retail.

One of the advantages to digital is very few filters are needed. (if i had all the money I've spent on filters, I'd have twice as many digital cameras easily or more).

Best wishes

-CDP dr g

Like drg says, the only problem you might run into is vignetting. It will save you a lot of money and space in the camera bag. Try to standardize on one filter size (usually the largest common with your lenses). That way, you can use larger filters on smaller lenses and there won't be any problem.