Any draw back of using a step down ring?

[whchan]

Hi,

My collection of lens all require different filter sizes (52mm, 58mm and 67mm). I have a set of filters (a few UVs, circular polarizer, warm polarizer...etc.) with 58mm. I guess using a step up ring (52mm to 58mm) for the 52mm lens should work fine since the filter is larger than the lens. However, would the quality of pictures be affected at all if I use a step down ring for my Tamron 28-75 lens which is 67mm (using a 67mm to 58mm step down ring) since a little portion of the frontal glass is actually blocked.

Thanks.

[bolantej]

it should not matter if you use a larger filter with a smaller diameter lens, but i would assume that there will be a ring if you use a smaller filter on a larger lens. check out products like the cokin filter system, lee, or similar. the filters are tons cheaper IMO and if you get them to fit your largest diameter lens, then they will work with all of them.

[lancea]

Depends :) Not sure what type of camera you have, but if it has a smaller than 1:1 sensor (which most do) you have a bit of leeway: at the wide-angle setting the light isn't coming from the very edge of your filter. That's the same reason why you don't really need "thin" filters for wide angle lenses (unless you also use them on a 35mm or think you'll one day have a digital with a 1:1 sensor).

No doubt someone's tried it, but if you want to check for your particular lenses I guess you have no option but to try it yourself.

[MTalley]

I used a 58mm to 52mm stepdown ring on my kit lens for a while, since I had a bunch of 52mm filters from my previous camera. I would get some mild vignetting (dark corners) usually just at the widest lens setting (usually around 18 - 22mm or so).

Just watch in your viewfinder when you are at the wide-open end of the zoom range and see if you see dark corners. If not, you should be good to go. If so, or if you find out later, just crop the outside edges.

[whchan]

Thanks. I will take the chance and order the step down ring since it only costs ~$15. It will save me $60-70 for a new set of filters.

[ron chappel]

You can check it all out before you buy -just the filter on the front of the lens with a some small blobs of blue-tak and take some pics.
You can even hold it there by hand-moving it closer and further away to see how close it is to vignetting