Hi

I have a Canon Rebel 2000 with 28-105mm and 50mm/1.8 lenses. Also has filter kits of size 58mm. I cannot use my 58mm filters on 50mm lense because it takes only 52mm filters. Planning to buy a Tiffen 52mm to 58mm(lens to filter) step up ring so that I can use my filters on 50mm lens too. Is it good to do like this or buy another set of filters? Hope the use of Circular polarizer with a step up ring will not destroy my pictures?

Thanks in advance George

-- George Mathew (george_mathew2k@yahoo.com), December 28, 2001

Answers

I would recommend always buying the right size filter for your lenses, even if you have to duplicate. It sounds like a pain in the ass, but you can run into problems with vignetting (weird shadows in the corners) if your filters stick out more than they should. Direction of the light source and lens hood also come into play.

Don't forget that polarizing filters will usually cost you a stop or two of light (check the "filter factor"), which means they darken what comes through the lens so you'll have to compensate with shutter speed or aperture. They work best around water and other reflective surfaces. If you're not shooting at something reflective (like clouds), you won't notice much difference.

Filters can make all the difference in the world. The sharpest lens can be rendered rather dull by a cheap filter. Tiffen filters are pretty good. B+W are my favorite. No doubt other posters will offer their $.02.

Good luck!

-- Preston Merchant (merchant@speakeasy.org), December 28, 2001.

I should clarify one thing: with the polarizer on, you don't have to do anything special with the exposure. The camera will take care of everything as you are metering TTL. It's just that in low light, you might have to take the polarizer off to get the optimum shutter speed or aperture.

-- Preston Merchant (merchant@speakeasy.org), December 28, 2001.

I use a 52mm to 58mm step-up on my 50mm 1.8 with no problems at all. It's a big enough step that the filter does not encroach at the corners at all. Put it on and shoot away.

On the off chance that the dynamics of your 50mm 1.8 are different than mine and you do have a problem the step-up ring is only a couple of dollars - a lot cheaper than a second set of filters that you probably don't need.

Don't worry about the polarizer either, it will work just fine.

Dick

-- Dick Tope (RTope@yahoo.com), December 28, 2001.

There is no problem in using a step UP ring. You could have problems using a step DOWN ring if it causes vignetting on a lens. The use of a circular polarizer and a step up ring will only cause polarization-- will not harm photos. It makes good sense to buy the largest filters your system uses and then buy step up rings to attach to your smaller diameter lenses.

-- Lee Shively (Leemarthakiri@aol.com), January 04, 2002.