Posted by Bruce King on December 26, 2014 at 7:00 PM
Is there a sensible solution to step down from 77mm to 52mm other than stacking a bunch of gradually smaller rings? I recently picked up a thin Singh Ray I-Ray filter to use with my Nikon 12-24 lens. I would like to use it on my 24-70mm lens but it doesn't come in that larger diameter so my next best option might be to step it down to 52mm and use it on my 35mm prime. Is this even possible? I've done some web searching and this ring doesn't appear to be available. Might there be some exposure issues stepping down that far? thanks
Posted by Richard Ditch on December 26, 2014 at 7:27 PM
Please clarify:
- diameter of the "thin Singh Ray I-Ray filter" = 77mm?
- diameter of the filter mounting thread on the 12-24 = 77mm?
- diameter of the filter mounting ring on the 24-70 =?
- diameter of the filter mounting ring on the 35 prime = 52mm?
Posted by Bruce King on December 26, 2014 at 7:41 PM
Singh Ray filter= 77mm
filter size needed for 24-70= 82mm
filter size needed for 35 prime= 52mm
Ok I thought that would be a step down not step up. that's why my search came up empty.
thanks Richard.
Do you think there might be any issues using basically only the center of this filter?
Posted by Richard Ditch on December 27, 2014 at 12:06 AM
Using the central part of the filter (i.e., a 77mm filter on a lens that takes 52mm) shouldn't be any problem at all.
Using the 77mm filter on the lens made for 82mm filters means you'll be blocking some small amount of light from the edges, and the step-down adapter will push the filter farther away from the lens increasing the loss. You might be able to get away with this depending on the focal length and aperture set on the 24-70 but you'd want to test this. I'd personally not use a filter smaller than the lens designers specified.
Beg your pardon if I'm confusing the issue, Bruce. I have the 24-70/2.8 that I just double-checked uses a 77mm filter size. But yours is 82? Bummer if that's the case; I'd recommend going by Richard's advice and NOT use step down rings from 82 in order to accommodate to the 77mm filter. The quality of your images would suffer. At the least, expect some vignetting.
Posted by Greg Vaughn on December 27, 2014 at 9:15 AM
As far as stepping down to 52mm, that shouldn't be any problem optically, just will require several step down rings. I have a set of these http://www.amazon.com/Fotodiox-Step-Down-Anodized-77-72mm-72-67mm/dp/B001G45VTE/ and they work quite well. Adorama (and probably B&H) sells individual step-down and step-up rings. If your 24-70 is 82mm, it would be possible to put the S-R filter on there, but most likely you'd have strong vignetting at the wide end of the lens.
Posted by Bruce King on December 29, 2014 at 11:26 AM
Thanks for all the responses. Catherine yes my Sigma 24-70 is 82mm.
Discussion
6 replies- diameter of the "thin Singh Ray I-Ray filter" = 77mm?
- diameter of the filter mounting thread on the 12-24 = 77mm?
- diameter of the filter mounting ring on the 24-70 =?
- diameter of the filter mounting ring on the 35 prime = 52mm?
From B&H Photo:
Sensei 52-77mm Step-Up Ring - use to mount a 77mm filter on a lens with a 52mm threaded front.
filter size needed for 24-70= 82mm
filter size needed for 35 prime= 52mm
Ok I thought that would be a step down not step up. that's why my search came up empty.
thanks Richard.
Do you think there might be any issues using basically only the center of this filter?
Using the 77mm filter on the lens made for 82mm filters means you'll be blocking some small amount of light from the edges, and the step-down adapter will push the filter farther away from the lens increasing the loss. You might be able to get away with this depending on the focal length and aperture set on the 24-70 but you'd want to test this. I'd personally not use a filter smaller than the lens designers specified.