58mm Filter on a 72mm or 77mm size lens?

[ddt0725]

B & W Step-Down Adapter Ring From Filter 72MM To Lens 58MM. This adapter enables a filter with an attachment size of 72mm to be used with a lens with an attachment size of 58mm.

B+W Step Up Ring enables a filter with an attachment size of 72mm to be used with a lens with an attachment size of 58mm.
<script src="http://logo.cnetcontentsolutions.com/hook/?h=60131a2a&amp;mf=B%2BW&amp;pn=65069438&amp;local e=en&amp;style=1&amp;layout=1x1&amp;locationId=ccs logos" type="text/javascript"]</script>


Heliopan Step Down Rings allow smaller sized filters to be used on lenses with larger front filter thread sizes.

[^o)] Excuse my ignorance once again but I find the above titles and corresponding definitions very confusing &amp; they are directly from the Overview sections to purchase them! I came real close to almost ordering what I don't want and already have! [8-)]

Anyway, I have two brand new B &amp; W 58mm filters that werepurchased to useon my Canon 85mm lens that I now no longer own. I am looking for adapter rings that will allow me to use these filters on my 72mm&amp; 77mm sizelenses. Obviously, it is the Heliopan Step Down Ring that I need. Only problem is I can only finda 72mmat B+H and it takes 6-10 weeks (non-cancelable, non-returnable) plus it costs over twice as much as a B &amp; W adapter ring. The 77mm is out of stock and they will notify me when it becomes available.

Next Option - sell the two filters (at a loss) and buy the sizes I need.

Does anyone know where B &amp; W adapters are availble in the sizes I need or is it a bad idea to attempt this size difference (possible vignetting)? Would it be best to only go up to the 72mm or doesn't it make a difference? Going the oppposite way, I have adapters that make my larger filters fit on smaller lenses and they seem to work ok.

Thanks!

Denise

[Richard Lane]

B &amp; W Step-Down Adapter Ring From Filter 72MM To Lens 58MM. This adapter enables a filter with an attachment size of 72mm to be used with a lens with an attachment size of 58mm.

B+W Step Up Ring enables a filter with an attachment size of 72mm to be used with a lens with an attachment size of 58mm.


Heliopan Step Down Rings allow smaller sized filters to be used on lenses with larger front filter thread sizes.


Denise

Denise you are correct, you need a step-down ring, "stepping down from lens to filter."


I think part of your confusion stems from the fact that the definitions that you have listed above for the B&amp;W rings are the same for the step-down ring and step-up ring. So either the website has it wrong or you made a simple copy and paste mistake.





Step-Down Rings: 72mm Lens to 58mm Filter (only General Brand seems to be in stock)


http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt=step+down+rings+72+58&amp;N=0&amp;Initi alSearch=yes





Step-Down Rings: 77mm Lens to 58mm Filter


http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/160353-REG/Heliopan_700423_700423_Step_Down_Ring.html





I'm not sure about Vignetting, but I would think that it would be a legitimate concern (I'm sure others with more experience will comment), but I hope this helps clear up some of the confusion.





Rich

[ddt0725]

I think part of your confusion stems from the fact that the definitions that you have listed above for the B&amp;W rings are the same for the step-down ring and step-up ring. So either the website has it wrong or you made a simple copy and paste mistake.

No mistake on my part ...
http://www.amazon.com/Step-Down-Adapter-Ring-Filter-72MM/dp/B0012FJGK2/ref=sr_1_11?s=electronics&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1292 707080&amp;sr=1-11

Thank you for your help with finding something that will work for my needs. Some have said not to use the "general" brands but it looks like that might be my only option. Unless I can find someone interested in paying close to what I paid for these filters.


Denise

[Richard Lane]

Yep, It looks like they don't know which way is up.


I found 2 more on Adorama, to step-down from 72mm lens - 58mm filter only.


http://www.adorama.com/CIART7258.html





http://www.adorama.com/FLD7258.html





Again, I don't have any idea about vignetting.


Rich

[ddt0725]

Thank you!

[neuroanatomist]

Vignetting with a step-down ring and smaller filter is going to depend on the lens you're trying to use it on. Look at the front element of two of your lenses with a 67mm filter size, the 70-200mm f/4L IS and the 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS, and notice how much more 'dead space' there is around the front element of the 100L Macro. You can step down without risk of vignetting with the macro (you do with the MR-14EX ring lite), whereas the zoom would likely vignette with a 58mm filter.


I tried a quick experiment with my 24-105mm f/4L IS, and it started to vignette at ~60mm (which is pretty much the diameter of the front element, inside the black ring where the ID of the lens is printed.


Hope that helps...


--John

[ddt0725]

Thanks for the helpful info.


Starting to sound like the best (easiest but most expensive) way to go would be to just buy the sizes I actually need and sell these. The two filters I have are a UV and #103 ND 0.9 and I was planning to use them interchangeably as needed on any of my 77mm &amp; 72mm sized lenses, mainly the 135mm, 35mm &amp; Sigma 85mm.

[neuroanatomist]

In general, you're best off using the correct size filter. A step up ring is fine, too, but hopefully not such a large step that you can't use the lens hood. In most cases, using a smaller filter than required isn't a good idea, especially with a fast lens.


However, you might be just fine with a step down ring, come to think of it - my 'test' with the 24-105mm was on the 5DII - if you're talking about using lenses with a full frame image circle on your 7D, you've got a reasonable buffer against the vignetting.