Being that so many lenses have so many different filter sizes, is it wise to simply purchase all filters in, lets say 82mm, then use step-up adapters to fit all lenses? I have tried to keep to the 52mm filter size lenses(Fujinons), but too much of a sacrifice, had to have that Rodenstock 90mm 6.8 Grandagon. Then that opens up all kind of lens options I had not been considering. Thanks. *

-- Gary Albertson (garyalb@outlawnet.com), February 02, 2001

Answers

Response to Adapting filters to ALL lenses?

> step-up adapters

That's what I had to do; 72mm filters and step rings down to 52mm and 49mm filters and step rings down to 40.5mm. The alternative was a huge sackful of expensive filters.

Just beware that a filter on a step rings can cause mechanical vignetting with a really wide lens especially when movements are used.

-- John Hicks (jbh@magicnet.net), February 02, 2001.

Response to Adapting filters to ALL lenses?

John, are all step-up rings exactly the same, any manufacturer better than the other, perhaps to minimize the problem you had mentioned

-- Gary Albertson (garyalb@outlawnet.com), February 02, 2001.

Response to Adapting filters to ALL lenses?

Gary,

Both Schneider (B+W) and Heliopan sell three-point adjustable step-up rings. They are not screw-in type, but clamp onto the outer barrel of your front lens unit by three little "shoes". This might work for you. I personally use HiTech filter systems, employing adapter rings from 49 mm to 77 mm. Good luck!

-- Geoffrey Chen (DB45TEK@AOL.COM), February 02, 2001.

Response to Adapting filters to ALL lenses?

No step up rings are not all the same. Heliopan's are made from brass and are very thin. Others are aluminum and can be quite thick.

Aluminum ones are not as parallel as brass ones. Thin ones don't have a problem with vignetting on a 90mm like thick ones do. Especially if you use thin mount filters which are the only type used for the common filter types by Heliopan. Heliopan's thin mount filters will not vignette with a 21mm lens on 35mm or its' equivelent on larger formats.

-- Bob Salomon (bobsalomon@mindspring.com), February 02, 2001.

Response to Adapting filters to ALL lenses?

> all step-up rings exactly the same

No, some are thick, some are thin, some are brass and some are aluminum. Aluminum will tend to bind and thick ones increase the possibility of vignetting.

If I were going to buy or order a batch I'd probably just buy Heliopan, which avoids those problems. In fact, though, I'm just using an assortment that I've accumulated over the years. Probably someday getting a filter firmly stuck to its ring will make me stop using the cheapo rings.

-- John Hicks (jbh@magicnet.net), February 02, 2001.

Response to Adapting filters to ALL lenses?

from my experience heliopan are far better than anything else although they can be harder to find. every time i've bought a tiffen or some other cheap aluminium ring - always because i've been in a hurry and couldn't find the heliopan - i've had to replace it. i did wind up with one b+w step up (lightweight brass) and so far it's ok, but it doesn't feel as good as heliopan.

-- adam friedberg (asfberg@hotmail.com), February 02, 2001.

I use 82mm and Series 9 (83.5mm) filters with step-up rings. I had trouble with vignetting when I used the filter size some lenses are designed to take.

-- William Marderness (wmarderness@hotmail.com), February 04, 2001.