Polarizer filter and step down rings

I am planning to get a good circular polarizer. I would like to be able to use it on a variety of lenses with filter diameters ranging from 58-52 mm. Will there be any difficulties if I get a 58 mm filter and step down rings? If there is any loss of image quality or vignetting, I would rather just get one size for a targeted lens and not use step rings at all.
Feedback will be appreciated.

In most cases you won't be able to use the orignal style lens hood on the lenses where you have to use a step ring. That can effect image quality and the lens won't be as well protected.

You can get screw-in lens hoods instead. Those might help in another way... they allow you to rotate the polarizer more easily, to adjust it's effect.

I originally tried what Alan suggests and it works just fine (no loss of IQ or extra vignetting), but I found it to be too much of a pain - remembering to bring the extra hood, the space, and trying to get the step-down rings off the polarizer.

So not I have 3 separate ones and much prefer it.

Of course YMMV. Step down rings are certainly cheaper.

If you buy a 58mm filter, you would need a step-UP ring (BH Photo link of 52-58 step-up rings). "up" or "down" is from the lens diameter to the filter diameter. Don't buy a step-down ring.

amfoto1 wrote in post #16075395
You can get screw-in lens hoods instead. Those might help in another way... they allow you to rotate the polarizer more easily, to adjust it's effect.

That's the way I do it when travelling light....polariser and matching size B&W rubber hood for the largest diameter lens and step-up rings to use the setup on the other lenses.....works well.

Bob