Difference between step-up and step-down rings: He everyone, I'm going to buy filters for my largest diameter lens, and I thought I'd be able to use those with my lens of smaller...

dsnoke Loc: North Georgia, USA

He everyone,

I'm going to buy filters for my largest diameter lens, and I thought I'd be able to use those with my lens of smaller diameter with an adapter ring. But I find there are both step-up and step-down rings. Now I thought you'd buy a ring to hold the filter and attach to the lens of smaller diameter. I'd call that a step-down ring. So can someone explain what a step-up ring is? Or am I misunderstanding the whole concept? Or is this just two different terms for the same thing? Both Adomrama and B&H sell both varieties, so I'd like to be sure I'm looking at the correct items.

For example, if I want to use my 77mm filter on a 67mm lens, do I get a 77-67mm step-down ring or a 67-77mm step_up ring? Aren't those two going to look and work the same?

I don't think I'd ever consider using a 67mm filter on a 77mm lens.

Many thanks,
Dick

wingclui44 Loc: CT USA

dsnoke wrote:

He everyone, br br I'm going to buy filters for m... (show quote)

You need the 67mm-77mm step up ring. The difference is the 67 mm to 77mm step up ring has a 67mm male out side thread on one side and 77mm female inside thread on the other side which can also accept another 77mm attachment.

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

dsnoke wrote:

He everyone, br br I'm going to buy filters for m... (show quote)

Really no difference, just it goes both ways, but you're right, do not use a 67mm filter on a 77mm lens!

Nikonian72 Loc: Chico CA

Step-up rings allow a lens to accept filters designed for wider diameter lenses. Step-down rings allow a wide diameter lens to accept smaller filters, but corner vignetting is always a problem.

wingclui44 Loc: CT USA

speters wrote:

Really no difference, just it goes both ways, but you're right, do not use a 67mm filter on a 77mm lens!

No, He need a 77mm filter to fit on a lens with 67mm diam. front. the step down ting of 77mm -67mm won't work, because it has a 77mm male thread, which is the same as the 77mm filter. You need to connect the filter with it's male thread to the female thread of the lens.
You need a step up ring for this!!

Indi Loc: L. I., NY, Palm Beach Cty when it's cold.

OK, here's my opinion. Similar to others.
First of all, Step-Up/Step-Down Rings are cheap. Far cheaper than another filter.
Although I have several, I'm not sure whether they call it a Step-Up or Step-Down ring. I think others have answered that
Second, you can get a Step-Up/Step-Down for all your other lenses, too. For instance, you can go from a 77mm filter to your 67mm, 77mm to 72mm, 77mm to almost anything smaller than the filter size. You probably can't go from your 77mm to a 52mm with only one ring, but you can step down in increments.

I bought several rings for about $3-$7 each.

And that's mys story and I'm sticking to it. :lol:

dsnoke Loc: North Georgia, USA

wingclui44 wrote:

No, He need a 77mm filter to fit on a lens with 67mm diam. front. the step down ting of 77mm -67mm won't work, because it has a 77mm male thread, which is the same as the 77mm filter. You need to connect the filter with it's male thread to the female thread of the lens.
You need a step up ring for this!!

Many thanks for the quick replies. Hadn't thought there would be some filters with female threads and some with male threads. I've always thought the lenses were all one gender and the filters the other so the rings would all be the same. Not sure which is male or female for my Nikon D7100. I'll pay more attention from now on.

Cheers,
Dick

OddJobber Loc: Portland, OR

Easiest way to remember this, I learned when I had the same question a couple of years ago - Think from the camera forward. You're going from the camera body to a 67mm wide lens, then up to a 77mm filter.

RWR Loc: La Mesa, CA

dsnoke wrote:

Many thanks for the quick replies. Hadn't thought there would be some filters with female threads and some with male threads. I've always thought the lenses were all one gender and the filters the other so the rings would all be the same. Not sure which is male or female for my Nikon D7100. I'll pay more attention from now on.

Cheers,
Dick

The lens has a female thread, the filters have a male thread to screw into the lens, and a female thread to accept another filter, screw-in cap, or screw-in hood. Some polarizers may not have a female thread. An easy way to tell a step-up ring from a step-down ring:
Step-Up - male thread is smaller than the female thread.
Step-Down - male thread is larger than the female thread.

Check the following for available sizes:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/buy/Step-Up-Rings/ci/420/N/4026728361/

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt=Step-Down+Rings&N=0&InitialSearch=yes&sts=ma&Top+Nav-Search=

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

dsnoke wrote:

He everyone, br br I'm going to buy filters for m... (show quote)

The terms are often misused, like "upload" and "download." I'd never use a step-down ring. It seems like putting a size 10 foot into a size 9 shoe. Putting a larger filter on a smaller lens is a good way to save money on filters. Using Xume magnetic adapters will make putting them on and off quick and easy.

wingclui44 Loc: CT USA

dsnoke wrote:

Many thanks for the quick replies. Hadn't thought there would be some filters with female threads and some with male threads. I've always thought the lenses were all one gender and the filters the other so the rings would all be the same. Not sure which is male or female for my Nikon D7100. I'll pay more attention from now on.

Cheers,
Dick

Remember that the front end of all lenses have female thread to accept any same size of filter or ring attachment with the same size male thread.
Step-up ring has a larger size of female thread on one side than the male thread on the other side. It will be the other way around with a step-down ring which has a smaller female thread on one side than the male thread on the other side. I hope you will understand what I said!

:thumbup:

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

dsnoke wrote:

He everyone, br br I'm going to buy filters for m... (show quote)

You need a Step-Up Ring. The concept is from the perspective of the camera lens. A Step-Down Ring should only carefully be selected and used in an emergency so as not to have vignetting. Admittedly it does get confusing. When you see the actual rings they each look rather different.

RWR Loc: La Mesa, CA

wingclui44 wrote:

Remember that the front end of all lenses have female thread to accept any same size of filter or ring attachment with the same size male thread.
Step-up ring has a larger size of female thread on one side than the male thread on the other side. It will be the other way around with a step-down ring which has a smaller female thread on one side than the male thread on the other side. I hope you will understand what I said!

:thumbup:

You did a good job of copying there!

OddJobber Loc: Portland, OR

RWR wrote:

You did a good job of copying there!

Amazes me how many Hoggers will answer without reading the thread.
If an answer already given is correct does saying it a second time or tenth time make it more correct?

wingclui44 Loc: CT USA

RWR wrote:

You did a good job of copying there!

From whom I did the copy from? Everybody will end up with the same answer if it is true and correct! Be nice and respect to the other UUH member! Please!