Solution for one size filters across multiple cameras?

[Twotone]

Hi folks,

In a bid to keep on top of costs, hassle and storage space, I'm looking to find a way to buy one set of filters which I can use across multiple lenses/cameras.

To be more specific, I have several EF lenses (49mm filter mount, 77mm filter mount) plus a Hasselblad 80mm lens with a B50 mount.

I'm thinking of buying some filters to fit the standard ef screw mount, 77mm size and then get various step up/step down rings to help fit the relevant application (plus adaptor for B50 mount)

Is this effective? E.g. will a space of about an inch (added in step up rings from 49-77mm) cause any optical disadvantages?

I'm sure there is a reason why I don't see this very often, but I'm just trying to get a single set to reduce cost, reduce the amount of gear I need to carry, and generally simplify things!

Alternatively, if there are any setups which could work and should be considered, please let me know?

Thanks!
TT

 

[L Gebhardt]

I have done that with 77mm filters for my large format lens and it works, but I don’t like it for any camera I want to handhold. The issue is the stepped up filter precludes the use of the factory lens hood an adding an additional screw in hood is cumbersome. It also precludes the use of slim polarizers which don’t have front threads.

One advantage is the step up rings can act as a hood when you are not using the filter. On large format lenses this is nice and since the camera is on a tripod I can manually shade the lens if needed.

It’s a compromise that might work for you or might drive you crazy. Also nothing wrong with doing it for most of your lenses but getting a few smaller filters for your most used combinations.

 

[Rick A]

How about looking into something like a Cokin P series filter set with the appropriate adapter ring for each lens or a Lee Filter set, or similar.

 

[ant!]

I use a few different sizes, and the rest with step-up, e.g. cover 49mm and 55mm for 35mm cameras with 55mm filters, and another set of 82mm for medium format, with step-up from the sizes I use. The filters itself I bought all used in larger packs (with the few things I wanted, e.g. yellow & red, polarization,..., kits of maybe 5 filters), in very good condition, and quality brands (the smaller sizes are all Heliopan, the larger some Hoya). Filters sell used quite cheap when looking at kits. Some other filters, mostly polarization or skylight, came with lenses I bought.
For my Minolta Autocord (Bay 1), I have a Bay 1 to 49mm adapter, but the most common stuff as well in a Rollei bay 1 kit I had found for a good price with Rolleinars.

 

[xkaes]

I have done that with 77mm filters for my large format lens and it works, but I don’t like it for any camera I want to handhold.

I also have settled on 77mm as a standard. Works fine for everything with cheap step-up rings. I don't use it for small cameras and lenses -- but for them I rarely use filters, so I have a few 55mm. I have a COKIN P setup for special effects, but if you only use standard filters, stick with circular glass.

 

[GregY]

Hi folks,

In a bid to keep on top of costs, hassle and storage space, I'm looking to find a way to buy one set of filters which I can use across multiple lenses/cameras.

To be more specific, I have several EF lenses (49mm filter mount, 77mm filter mount) plus a Hasselblad 80mm lens with a B50 mount.

I'm thinking of buying some filters to fit the standard ef screw mount, 77mm size and then get various step up/step down rings to help fit the relevant application (plus adaptor for B50 mount)

Is this effective? E.g. will a space of about an inch (added in step up rings from 49-77mm) cause any optical disadvantages?

I'm sure there is a reason why I don't see this very often, but I'm just trying to get a single set to reduce cost, reduce the amount of gear I need to carry, and generally simplify things!

Alternatively, if there are any setups which could work and should be considered, please let me know?

Thanks!
TT

49mm filters are pretty inexpensive. I like small filters on small lenses. I'd find a 77mm filter pretty bulky on a small prime lens.

 

[xkaes]

49mm filters are pretty inexpensive. I like small filters on small lenses. I'd find a 77mm filter pretty bulky on a small prime lens.

Of course. If you only have, or plan to have, lenses with a 49mm thread -- no problema! But I have long lenses and wide lenses that have 77mm front threads -- and others in-between -- and I want to use them. I'm not going to get a full set of filters for my thin lenses and another for my fat lenses -- that's the same dilemma Twotone faces. It's not perfect, but it works.

 

[ant!]

Depending on which filters you want to use (as said, I use mainly the black and white contrast filters and polarizer sometimes, but certainly other people use more, from ND to funky stuff), and buying a used complete kit of filters is pretty cheap as long it has what you are looking for. I prefer having a small and a large kit over having a 80mm filter on a 49mm lens, but sure, you could do it. Smaller filters are also much cheaper then the larger diameters, new or used.

 

[Sirius Glass]

I have stuck to Hasselblad CF lenses which use the B60 filter which handles almost all my lenses. When I could not get Hasselblad, B+W or Heliopan filters in B60, I bought a B60 to 67mm adapter, a 62mm to 67mm adapter, and a 67mm swing away adapter for really dark filters such as the 720.

 

[GregY]

Of course. If you only have, or plan to have, lenses with a 49mm thread -- no problema! But I have long lenses and wide lenses that have 77mm front threads -- and others in-between -- and I want to use them. I'm not going to get a full set of filters for my thin lenses and another for my fat lenses -- that's the same dilemma Twotone faces. It's not perfect, but it works.

I have a number of cameras and of course the lenses are different sizes (from a series 5.5 Summicron to a Fuji w 67mm, and Rolleiflex in between) I hope your solution works for you. A one-size-fits all with 77mm just doesn't work for me.

 

[Bill Burk]

How about looking into something like a Cokin P series filter set with the appropriate adapter ring for each lens or a Lee Filter set, or similar.

I use a Cokin with its 49 and 55 adapters for Olympus and Galen Rowell ND graduated filters. Haven’t used it in years but I will when I shoot slides again someday.

I carry 49 and 55mm filters for the classic B&W filters with the Olympus cameras.

But for special purposes I match the filter to the camera. This is Polaroid Pathfinder type filters for a converted Polaroid. Kodak Series filters in a Series adapter for 6x9 folders. And a couple 67mm filters for my Super Takumar 35mm f/2 that is my favorite lens.

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

There are step up rings allowing 49mm lens' filter mounts to use 77mm filters. Why use a number of rings to get there? That's what I did with my 4x5 lens and used my existing 77mm filters from my Mamiya RB67 medium format system. For ND filters, I use Cokin P. Don't know about how you do Hasselblad. You could call B&H and ask them what adapter you need.

step up ring adapter | B&H Photo Video

Shop B&H's in stock, large inventory for fast shipping, great service and everyday low prices on step up ring adapter. For more info, please call 800-947-4415

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[Huub]

I settled on two sizes: 49mm for my Pentax 35mm system - most of the lenses in that set have a 49 mm tread anyway and this makes i can use the original hoods and such. Next to that i have a full set 67mm filters for my 4x5 kit, using stepup rings for those lenses that have smaller thread.

As the yellow filter is my most used one, i have a few extra yellow filters in odd filters sizes, for instance for my Rolleiflex and my Contaxt G2. Technically it can be done perhaps, but i wouldn't want to use a 49 mm or even 67 mm on either camera, thinking how it would block the viewing lens or view finder.

 

[Europan]

How about filter foil and some self-adhesive tape?

 

[foc]

As suggested by @Rick A , the Cokin P system or Lee filter system could suit.

The Cokin BP400 holder can be fitted with lens rings from 52mm to 82mm (for 49mm just get a stetup ting 49-52mm)

The Lee filter system has lens rings from 49 to 95mm, so that might be a better choice.

Either system is very easy and simple. Buy the holder, then the filter you like and then the lens thread rings you need. Simple as.

 

[xkaes]

I have the Cokin P setup. It's great except for wide lenses. The filter holder is just too wide and ends up in the corners. I did manage to find a Cokin filter holder that was designed to be thinner and only holds one filter -- which I guess is hard to find -- which helps, but still not enough on my 17mm. And "forget about it" on my 12mm. But the 17mm & 12mm both work perfectly with my 77mm filters.

 

[Sirius Glass]

There are step up rings allowing 49mm lens' filter mounts to use 77mm filters. Why use a number of rings to get there? That's what I did with my 4x5 lens and used my existing 77mm filters from my Mamiya RB67 medium format system. For ND filters, I use Cokin P. Don't know about how you do Hasselblad. You could call B&H and ask them what adapter you need.

step up ring adapter | B&H Photo Video

Shop B&H's in stock, large inventory for fast shipping, great service and everyday low prices on step up ring adapter. For more info, please call 800-947-4415

www.bhphotovideo.com

The only time a step up ring would be a problem is if and only if the step up ring and filter on a wide angle lens display vignetting.

 

[eli griggs]

A problem, in my book, is that in which you'll need be very careful about shading the lenses and filters with a 77mm lens hood, which may vex you in actual shooting where stray light will need taming.

 

[koraks]

E.g. will a space of about an inch (added in step up rings from 49-77mm) cause any optical disadvantages?

Yeah; any dust will be in focus sooner, and you'll run into trouble with wide angle lenses.

Besides, lugging around 77mm filters on an apparently compact lens (49mm filter size after all) sounds a bit counterproductive.

I've got a couple of filters in sizes I use the most. I think ultimately this is more convenient than the 'one size fits all' approach. YMMV.

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

Yeah; any dust will be in focus sooner, and you'll run into trouble with wide angle lenses.

Besides, lugging around 77mm filters on an apparently compact lens (49mm filter size after all) sounds a bit counterproductive.

I've got a couple of filters in sizes I use the most. I think ultimately this is more convenient than the 'one size fits all' approach. YMMV.

I keep a step-up adapter on each lens ready for the 77mm filters.

 

[BrianShaw]

I've got a couple of filters in sizes I use the most. I think ultimately this is more convenient than the 'one size fits all' approach. YMMV.

Likewise. I have multiple filter wallets with the basic filters I use in each size. Costs a bit more to have "redndancy" like that but filters are basically a one-time cost if treated right. Only time this is inconvenience in terms of bulk is when using multiple cameras with different filter sizes.

 

[BrianShaw]

A problem, in my book, is that in which you'll need be very careful about shading the lenses and filters with a 77mm lens hood, which may vex you in actual shooting where stray light will need taming.

Yep... sometimes even shading from behind as well as from the front.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Yeah; any dust will be in focus sooner, and you'll run into trouble with wide angle lenses.

Besides, lugging around 77mm filters on an apparently compact lens (49mm filter size after all) sounds a bit counterproductive.

I've got a couple of filters in sizes I use the most. I think ultimately this is more convenient than the 'one size fits all' approach. YMMV.

One should take the time to inspect all filters and lenses and clean them as necessary.

 

[GregY]

it's also worth considering the cost of 77mm brand name filters....using them on 49mm lenses seems like a sense of false economy

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

it's also worth considering the cost of 77mm brand name filters....using them on 49mm lenses seems like a sense of false economy

I already had a set of 77mm filters which goes with my Mamiya RB67 medium format lenses. All I needed was the step up adapters to attach to the 4x5 lenses. The P adapter from the Cokin holder also attaches to the adapters.