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Everyone knows that lenses come in different focal lengths, but many new photographers find themselves dismayed when they learn that the lenses themselves often require screw-on filters of different sizes. Different lenses have different filter thread sizes, which makes filter buying an expensive proposition — instead of just being able to buy one polarizing filter or neutral density filter to use on all of your lenses, you’re now faced with having to buy one for each of your lenses that has a different filter thread size.
While having a separate filter for each of your lenses is certainly the convenient option, it’s not cost-effective for most people. Fortunately filter adapters exist! These adapters, known as step-up and step-down rings allow filters designed to fit one size of lens to be adapted to lenses with larger or smaller filter thread sizes.
Step-up rings are the most commonly used form of filter adapter ring, and enable photographers to use filters designed for lenses with larger filter thread sizes on lenses that normally accept smaller filters. For instance, a photographer wanting to use the same 77mm ND filter on their Canon 16-35mm f/4L IS USM Lens on their Canon 50mm f/1.8 II Lens which accepts much smaller 52mm filters could use a Goja 52-77MM Step-Up Adapter Ring.
Step-down adapter rings allow smaller filters to be used on lenses with larger filter thread sizes. Since this tends to result in bad vignetting, step-down adapters are used much less frequently and are best used on lenses where the filter thread size is only slightly different.
The closer your filter is mounted to your lens, the better the image quality. Because of this, it’s best to use just one step-up ring that adapts the filter directly to the smaller lens rather than a string of progressively smaller adapter rings.
Brass vs. Aluminum Adapter Rings
You’ll find that step-up rings are typically manufactured in either anodized aluminum or brass, with aluminum being the inexpensive option of the two. Most photographers will find anodized aluminum step-up rings meet their needs just fine, but brass is a harder metal and the threads tend to be smoother and easier to screw on and off. Photographers who make frequent filter changes may find the added expense of brass step-up rings like the Sensei Pro line to be a worthwhile investment.