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Filters and Step Up Rings......
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Sep 10, 2018 10:37:53   #
SuperFly48 Loc: NE ILLINOIS
 
Looking to get into using ND filters. I have two basic filter size requirements, 52mm and 72-77mm. I presume the jump from 52 to 77 is too great and not something to do??? Who makes quality step up rings? Singh-Ray ND filters have a quality reputation from what I have researched, however they come with a price, a VERY HEFTY PRICE! OUCH! Thoughts? Suggestions?

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Sep 10, 2018 10:47:07   #
jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ
 
If I were you I'd either buy 82mm filters and step up rings for each size lens or I'd go with a filter system like the Lee filters that take slide in square or rectangular filters and buy a ring for each size lens.

The reason I say 82mm is because many of the newer lenses are 82mm objective lenses and if you have all 77mm screw on filters, then none of them will work on your 82mm new lens.

Oh, and as far as filters and the price of filters goes, you get what you pay for. Most of the cheap filters will create a color cast on your image. Not that this is the end of the world or anything, but you will have to correct for it in post. This adds one more step you your post processing. I use the Lee filter system. I've used Hoya, Tiffen and B&W filters and they all fell a little short of my expectations. I've never used the ones you are considering.

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Sep 10, 2018 10:47:11   #
SteveLew Loc: Sugar Land, TX
 
I would look into either Lee filters or Breakthrough. Breakthrough is a wonderful company located in San Francisco. You are right about one step up ring covering your requirements. It appears that you may require three sep up rings if you have 52, 72 and 77mm.

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Sep 10, 2018 10:54:31   #
rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona
 
My first choice in filters is B+W. I purchased their polarizer and ND filters to fit the largest dia. lens I have and then rings to adapt that filter to my smaller dia. lenses. Remember once placed on a lens the filter becomes part of the optical system. You don't want cheap lenses for a reason. The same should apply to any filters you want to use.
--Bob
FlyGuy47 wrote:
Looking to get into using ND filters. I have two basic filter size requirements, 52mm and 72-77mm. I presume the jump from 52 to 77 is too great and not something to do??? Who makes quality step up rings? Singh-Ray ND filters have a quality reputation from what I have researched, however they come with a price, a VERY HEFTY PRICE! OUCH! Thoughts? Suggestions?

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Sep 10, 2018 11:31:10   #
Stardust Loc: Central Illinois
 
Remember when ordering the filter(s) & ring(s) you'll need a new sized lens shade(s) too.

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Sep 10, 2018 13:02:36   #
speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho
 
FlyGuy47 wrote:
Looking to get into using ND filters. I have two basic filter size requirements, 52mm and 72-77mm. I presume the jump from 52 to 77 is too great and not something to do??? Who makes quality step up rings? Singh-Ray ND filters have a quality reputation from what I have researched, however they come with a price, a VERY HEFTY PRICE! OUCH! Thoughts? Suggestions?
Yes, Singh Ray filters are nice (that's what I use)! You can get step-up- rings from about anybody, I usually use B&W, I think they are around 5 bucks, but one can find many even cheaper ones very easily. There's nothing wrong with making the jump from 52 to 77, hey, that's what they are there for, right?

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Sep 11, 2018 07:26:24   #
jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY
 
FlyGuy47 wrote:
Looking to get into using ND filters. I have two basic filter size requirements, 52mm and 72-77mm. I presume the jump from 52 to 77 is too great and not something to do??? Who makes quality step up rings? Singh-Ray ND filters have a quality reputation from what I have researched, however they come with a price, a VERY HEFTY PRICE! OUCH! Thoughts? Suggestions?


Yes, hefty prices for filters are not unusual. On the other hand, step up rings are not very expensive. Going form 52mm to 77mm is a bit of a step, but the price is nothing compared with buying multiple ND filters.

Check out these ND filter comparisons. Maybe you can save money without losing any noticeable quality.

https://improvephotography.com/40253/nd-filters-30-filters-reviewed-compared/
http://nofilmschool.com/2016/02/5-filters-go-head-head-neutral-density-shootout
http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/10-Stop-Neutral-Density-Filter.aspx

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Sep 11, 2018 08:29:49   #
billnourse Loc: Bloomfield, NM
 
My biggest lens is 82mm so I have step rings to cover my smaller lenses. I also have a set of Lee ND filters, but they are bulky and unless I need a graduated filter, I don't use them.

I recently discovered Breakthrough Filters, and they have become my go to filter. Compared to the Lee, they have no color cast, they are well made, and come with a 25 year warranty. My second choice for screw on filters would be B+W. None of these are cheap, but they are good.

Bill

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Sep 11, 2018 09:25:12   #
dbjazz Loc: Long Island, NY
 
Go with Breakthrough or Cokin and use step up rings for each lens. It's far more economical than individual filters to fit each lens, and the IQ is the same.

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Sep 11, 2018 11:49:42   #
dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida
 
FlyGuy47 wrote:
... Who makes quality step up rings?

Short answer .. quality is quite universal:

I find this question to be a tad confusing steeped in the "you get what you pay" for myth .... My feeling is that manufacturers would have to try hard to make a stepup ring that is not quality. Aluminum gaulling plastic distortion and heavenly brass... my bet is that clumsy photographers quick to aggravate their clumsy hands can cross thread, and tighten as tho it is it is imperative that the threads be stressed to the point of distortion. Brass is a shiny advertising object... even stainless steel is subject to galling.

Sensibly one should just tighten til the end is just felt, that is enough, after all, you are not tightening a lug nut on your spare tire. Galling [welding] of Aluminium can be prevented by using a touch, invisible coating of paraffin. Paraffin has a very high melt and vaporization point and will not in the normal world redeposit onto lens surfaces.

Checking the MSDS of Hard Paraffin [source candle hobby supplies] the vaporization is about 220 C or 428 F ... liquifies at 135 F. So leaving your camera in the car trunk in sunny California will just smooth out the almost nonexistent paraffin coating... we are talking an almost monomolecular coating.

If you plan to make an atomic bomb there is useful part thread galling info by Atomic Energy Commission [smile]:
https://inis.iaea.org/collection/NCLCollectionStore/_Public/11/535/11535173.pdf

Another wow I came across in researching this thread.... "So brass is *considerably* softer than hard anodized aluminum. " I would not have thought that!!
https://backpackinglight.com/forums/topic/90820/

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Sep 11, 2018 13:23:13   #
bfstuff
 
Also check thickness of step-up rings. Thinner ones allow you to use more joined together and avoid vignetting in the corners longer when you need to use additional step-up rings.

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Sep 11, 2018 14:10:39   #
williejoha
 
I never use screw on ND filters. Strictly use the Lee ND sheets and hand hold them while taking the shot. No muss no fuss, works every time.
WJH

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Sep 11, 2018 14:29:59   #
wolfman
 
williejoha wrote:
I never use screw on ND filters. Strictly use the Lee ND sheets and hand hold them while taking the shot. No muss no fuss, works every time.
WJH


I totally agree. Screw on ND filters are a PITA! Been there, done that, and now using the Lee filter system.

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Sep 11, 2018 14:36:35   #
Largobob
 
rmalarz wrote:
My first choice in filters is B+W. I purchased their polarizer and ND filters to fit the largest dia. lens I have and then rings to adapt that filter to my smaller dia. lenses. Remember once placed on a lens the filter becomes part of the optical system. You don't want cheap lenses for a reason. The same should apply to any filters you want to use.
--Bob


I totally agree with Bob. Also, step-up rings are not expensive on eBay.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/8x-Step-Up-8x-Step-Down-Ring-Filter-UV-CPL-Set-49-52-55-58-62-72-77-82mm-H1N5/122691936797?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649

I think they are less than $10 including shipping?

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Sep 11, 2018 15:26:46   #
ggenova64
 
B & W filters have good German quality glass.

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