First post here...

Question: I've been looking at CPL filters, ND filters, etc. These can get expensive it seems. To make matters worse, it also seems like every different lens that I have uses a different sized filter! So it's expensive x the number of lenses you have.

But, I have seen these things called step up rings, where you can buy just on set of (say) 77mm filters, and then use these brass step-up rings to fit this one set of filters to all of your lenses. But I have also seen some pictures on BWCA.com of people using some kind of big square filter set up on the end of their lens....

Advice? What is an economical and also a somewhat rugged (for BWCA) way to go about getting set up with filters.

Thanks.

the big square thing is a sunshade.step down rings can leave a dim ring around the edge of the photo where the ring blocks the light.there is a word for that which i don't recall at the moment.
there is not much general info about filters these days because modern camera's work by computers and all that is done in the camera by picking out a mode of shooting or a Photoshop program.
i did a lot of "wet darkroom" work years ago and have sets of filters i still use for BW film work that i send out.in the end it was just a haze or UV filter that got the most work to bring out all that sky in canoe country.
if you use filter keep a note book of which are used for what photos.
i failed to do that sometimes and seeing a nice shot but forgetting how i took it was a real hassle.

I use the Cokin P system. I have 3 adapter rings to attach the 1 filter holder to the different lenses. I have the Cokin P circular polarizer, 2 rectangular HiTech neutral density graduated filters (2 & 3 stop or ND0.6 and ND0.9 with soft transitions), and a square HiTech ND2.4. I carry the 4 filters in a nylon fabric filter wallet. The adaptor rings and 3 UV filters are carried in a separate wallet. The filter holder can fit in any convenient space. The Cokin and HiTech resin filters are reasonably priced.

Your idea of step up rings will work fine, too.

As mentioned step up rings can be your friend as long as they don't cause vignetting.

I use the Lee filter system, aka. big square thing on the front of my lens.
It's a spendy affair but works well. With the Lee system you have to your choice it to get adaptor rings for every size of lens you have or again use the step up ring and just buy one adaptor ring. Personally I have separate adaptor rings so I dont have to move the ring from lens to lens.

I carry with me the Lee Big Stopper, Little Stopper, 2 stop soft ND grad, and a CPL. CPLs for this system are expensive because they're 105mm .

A lot depends on your style. If you're going to be in a hurry this system might not be for you, but if you don't mind carrying the gear and taking the time to set up a shot then it's good stuff.

I'd like to make one other point about graduated ND filters, if you plan to use them. Rectangular or square filters are better than the round, screw-in variety because you can adjust the transition to your composition by sliding the square filter. The Lee and Cokin systems allow for this flexibility.

I don't use Cokin ND filters because they imparted a magenta tint to my images when i used slide film. Cokin may have changed its ND tint by now, but I haven't had the color shift problem with the Hitech filters.

Lots of people do just fine without ND grads, but you have to pay close attention to the image's histogram and be willing to live with blocked-up shadows (don't blow out the highlights).

I honestly almost never use my grad nd, I can just fix it in post or I use the black card technique. But my big stopper and little stopper see a lot of action.

Ok. I read up on the square filters. Maybe a bit pricy for me, but I get it. I think I will try the cheapest stepup ring that I can find and a moderate price circular filter, as a trial to test the "logistics". Thoughts? Error? Then my next question is, what filters to you most frequently/never pair with different lenses. Wide angle, etc. Just trying to get a sense of the optimal filter size I might want. But, I suspect 77mm for every filter.

I'd agree with getting the 77mm circular polarizer and associated step up rings. You'll find a CPL useful in many circumstances so it's really suited to all lenses in my opinion.

Wide angle lenses are the ones that will most likely show vignetting with filters, but avoiding that problem really depends on the particular lens and how many rings you'll need.

What are the filter sizes of your lenses? If 77 mm is the diameter of the largest lens, then go with that filter size.

You will notice that you need to be careful with a circular polarizer on a wide angle lens if the scene includes the sky. The polarization will darken the sky unevenly across the frame.

quote Ausable: "Wide angle lenses are the ones that will most likely show vignetting with filters, but avoiding that problem really depends on the particular lens and how many rings you'll need.


What are the filter sizes of your lenses? If 77 mm is the diameter of the largest lens, then go with that filter size.


You will notice that you need to be careful with a circular polarizer on a wide angle lens if the scene includes the sky. The polarization will darken the sky unevenly across the frame. "

My biggest lens now is only 67mm. But if I ever upgrade from my used stuff, both the wide angle lens and the telephoto lenses are both 77mm. That's why I was thinking 77mm maybe. I had read where the wide angle lens would have the most issues, so I was thinking a slim 77mm might work on that lens without the stepup rings, etc.

I understand & that seems like a reasonable plan. Have you thought about new lens hoods for your current lenses? You might not be able to use your current hoods with the step up rings. You might have to buy some generic rubber lens hoods to attach to the filter or the step up rings. Some hoods allow additional filters and some don't.

quote Ausable: "I understand & that seems like a reasonable plan. Have you thought about new lens hoods for your current lenses? You might not be able to use your current hoods with the step up rings. You might have to buy some generic rubber lens hoods to attach to the filter or the step up rings. Some hoods allow additional filters and some don't."

I thought about the hood issue, but I'm not sure what to do. I saw where they have 3 position rubber hoods that will screw into 77mm threads. They have some for less than $10, so I was thinking of ordering one to try. Problem is, From what I've read, "slim" filters don't have threads to stack filters/a hood like that. Kind of a hole in the plan.

Oops. Have you contacted the lens manufacturer (or some other expert) to make sure that you really need a slim filter? Maybe you could try the new wide angle lens in a camera store, assuming that one is nearby that handles your brand or try calling B&H Photo or Adorama or even KEH.

Also, look at Kaiser 3-in1 hoods. They have internal threads that accept filters.

a crude substitute i've used is my sunglasses. i don't have any filters and on this particular day the light was so bright all i was getting was either white or blue, and the tent, vehicles were all really dark.

without "sunglasses filter"



with "sunglasses filter"

I suggest buying a cheap set of step up rings from Amazon so that you can standardize on a filter size for your largest lens, e.g. 77 mm. The most useful filters for me, in descending order are: ND 10 stop, ND 3 stop, circular polarizer. I don't use grad ND filters because they are expensive, bulky and time consuming. I prefer to bracket and/or adjust the image in post processing.

Someone alluded to vignetting. That can occur from step-down rings to use smaller filters. You should not get vignetting with step-up rings unless you use a very wide angle lens and a rather thick filter.

quote Mocha: "a crude substitute i've used is my sunglasses. i don't have any filters and on this particular day the light was so bright all i was getting was either white or blue, and the tent, vehicles were all really dark.


without "sunglasses filter"



with "sunglasses filter" "

Wait, when you put the sunglasses filter on, a beer tent appears! I've got to start wearing sunglasses!

I bought three $8 items from amazon. Just to try things out for size. Two step up rings, and a screw in retractable rubber lens hood.

62mm is not big at all. 77mm is bigger than I'd maybe like, especially with a hood. But I think 77mm is the wise choice. Jury is still out on the hood - but it works.

Pictures...

I don't think I've ever even installed a hood on one of my lenses, plus with the Lee adaptor rings I have they wouldn't work anyway, but I've just never had much use for a hood. Though one might be handy in a light rain or mist to keep the glass dry?
Can that hood be used with the CPL or is it a "one or the other" scenario?

I think the hood is supposed to turn with the CPL - I'll find out when I get around to ordering the CPL. But if I order 77mm filters, I am thinking that hood will be just gigantic.

Using one of these hoods with a CPL usually works fine - just rotate the hood which rotates the filter. Make sure you verify that the hood does not cause vignetting which it is certain to do at some threshold with wider focal lengths.

If you like this arrangement, you will soon want to spend much more money on brass step up rings (e.g. $50 each for B&W or Heliopan) as they are much more solid and their threads less likely to bind.