Which polarizing filter should I purchase? I have Sony A7rii and would like to use a polarizing filter on my lens to deepen the blue in sky and cut down on glare, etc. My lens sizes...

nancytompkins

I have Sony A7rii and would like to use a polarizing filter on my lens to deepen the blue in sky and cut down on glare, etc. My lens sizes are: 49mm, 55mm and 72mm. If I purchase a 72mm filter to fit the largest lens, could I use the same filter with step down rings to fit the filter to the smaller lens? Or do I need to purchase separate filters for each lens. I appreciate any advice and/or comments and recommendations for a good polarizing filter.

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

Hoya Professional, B&W or my favorite, Breakthrough Photography. A cheap CPL can ruin images from an expensive lens.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

nancytompkins wrote:

I have Sony A7rii and would like to use a polarizing filter on my lens to deepen the blue in sky and cut down on glare, etc. My lens sizes are: 49mm, 55mm and 72mm. If I purchase a 72mm filter to fit the largest lens, could I use the same filter with step down rings to fit the filter to the smaller lens? Or do I need to purchase separate filters for each lens. I appreciate any advice and/or comments and recommendations for a good polarizing filter.

If you want 1 filter then get the 72mm and get step up rings for the other 2 sizes. It will work just fine on all 3 lens sizes.
Enjoy.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Your approach is a good one. Get one for the largest diameter you need and then rings to adapt it to the smaller diameter lenses. My personal choice is B+W XS-Pro Kaesemann High Transmission Circular Polarizer MRC-Nano Filter. They may appear expensive, but consider that the filter is part of your lens, which is not a cheap piece of glass either.
--Bob

nancytompkins wrote:

I have Sony A7rii and would like to use a polarizing filter on my lens to deepen the blue in sky and cut down on glare, etc. My lens sizes are: 49mm, 55mm and 72mm. If I purchase a 72mm filter to fit the largest lens, could I use the same filter with step down rings to fit the filter to the smaller lens? Or do I need to purchase separate filters for each lens. I appreciate any advice and/or comments and recommendations for a good polarizing filter.

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

nancytompkins wrote:

I have Sony A7rii and would like to use a polarizing filter on my lens to deepen the blue in sky and cut down on glare, etc. My lens sizes are: 49mm, 55mm and 72mm. If I purchase a 72mm filter to fit the largest lens, could I use the same filter with step down rings to fit the filter to the smaller lens? Or do I need to purchase separate filters for each lens. I appreciate any advice and/or comments and recommendations for a good polarizing filter.

That is usually the way to go, to save a few bucks. It is particular satisfying , if you have some very expensive filters, that you can just put on about every lens of yours, with a little 5 bucks step-up/down ring!

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

nancytompkins wrote:

I have Sony A7rii and would like to use a polarizing filter on my lens to deepen the blue in sky and cut down on glare, etc. My lens sizes are: 49mm, 55mm and 72mm. If I purchase a 72mm filter to fit the largest lens, could I use the same filter with step down rings to fit the filter to the smaller lens? Or do I need to purchase separate filters for each lens. I appreciate any advice and/or comments and recommendations for a good polarizing filter.

Especially If you want to get the less expensive standard thickness filter, and the 72mm is for a wider angle lens, I would think about using a 72-77mm step up ring and get a standard thick 77mm CPL to reduce vignetting factor. The standard thickness filters are physically more robust and less prone to problems.

I do not think ? you can get a single step up from 49/55 to 72/77 - may take two steps to do that. 8-(

nancytompkins

thanks for the good info. i'll check out the recommended filters before i purchase and glad the step down rings will work.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

nancytompkins wrote:

thanks for the good info. i'll check out the recommended filters before i purchase and glad the step down rings will work.

Actually, ask for step up rings.

mborn Loc: Massachusetts

rmalarz wrote:

Your approach is a good one. Get one for the largest diameter you need and then rings to adapt it to the smaller diameter lenses. My personal choice is B+W XS-Pro Kaesemann High Transmission Circular Polarizer MRC-Nano Filter. They may appear expensive, but consider that the filter is part of your lens, which is not a cheap piece of glass either.
--Bob

RWR Loc: La Mesa, CA

imagemeister wrote:

Especially If you want to get the less expensive standard thickness filter, and the 72mm is for a wider angle lens, I would think about using a 72-77mm step up ring and get a standard thick 77mm CPL to reduce vignetting factor. The standard thickness filters are physically more robust and less prone to problems.
I do not think ? you can get a single step up from 49/55 to 72/77 - may take two steps to do that. 8-(

Good advice on going one size larger for wide angle lenses.
I believe only Heliopan makes brass rings, my preference.
Heliopan 49-72mm Step-Up Ring (#156)
Heliopan 49-77mm Step-Up Ring (#148)
Edit:
Heliopan 55-72mm Step-Up Ring (#153)
Heliopan 55-77mm Step-Up Ring (#146)
Heliopan 72-77mm Step-Up Ring (#141)
And don’t forget appropriate lens hoods, if you use them.

RWR Loc: La Mesa, CA

nancytompkins wrote:

thanks for the good info. i'll check out the recommended filters before i purchase and glad the step down rings will work.

Think of it as going forward from the front of your lens. So-
Male thread smaller = Step-Up ring.
Male thread larger = Step-Down ring.

repleo Loc: Boston

nancytompkins wrote:

I have Sony A7rii and would like to use a polarizing filter on my lens to deepen the blue in sky and cut down on glare, etc. My lens sizes are: 49mm, 55mm and 72mm. If I purchase a 72mm filter to fit the largest lens, could I use the same filter with step down rings to fit the filter to the smaller lens? Or do I need to purchase separate filters for each lens. I appreciate any advice and/or comments and recommendations for a good polarizing filter.

Your suggested approach will work fine. Its what I do. However, be aware that you won't be able to use a lens shade when the 72mm filter is on the 49 and 55mm lenses. A CP filter works best when the sun is at right angles to the line of the shot so that shouldn't be a problem. If you are shooting more into the sun, you may need to take the CP off and put the shade on to avoid flares. That could be a lot of switching around.

Also, if you really want to increase the blue in the sky consider a graduated neutral density filter. However the step ring approach won't work with a round GND filter. You would need to get one of those square filter and holder set-ups.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

nancytompkins wrote:

I have Sony A7rii and would like to use a polarizing filter on my lens to deepen the blue in sky and cut down on glare, etc. My lens sizes are: 49mm, 55mm and 72mm. If I purchase a 72mm filter to fit the largest lens, could I use the same filter with step down rings to fit the filter to the smaller lens? Or do I need to purchase separate filters for each lens. I appreciate any advice and/or comments and recommendations for a good polarizing filter.

Marumi is good.
http://www.lenstip.com/139.25-article-Polarizing_filters_test_2015_Results_and_summary.html

RWR Loc: La Mesa, CA

repleo wrote:

However the step ring approach won't work with a round GND filter.

A round graduated filter will work as well with a stepping ring as without.

Robertl594 Loc: Bloomfield Hills, Michigan and Nantucket

My personal favorite: its large but I love it. https://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?A=details&O=&Q=&ap=y&c3api=1876%2C%7Bcreative%7D%2C%7Bkeyword%7D&gclid=CP3ul8jC4NQCFRa2wAodu6AIeA&is=REG&m=Y&sku=1332561