[carrrlangas]

short version:
So, the silly question is: Should I buy 77-49 + 77-52 + 77+58 step down rings or 77-58 + 58-52 + 52-49 ?

Long version:
I have no experience with step down rings. I just bought a 77mm CPL filter for my DA16-50. I have a 52mm CPL filter that I used with the kit lens but I am selling it.
I have lenses with 49, 52, 58 and 77mm filter threads. Only the one that uses 77mm filters is wide angle so the question is regarding what is more practical, useful, future-proof?
Can they be bought as a kit?

Thanks in advance,
Francisco

[kev.pride]

IMHO unless you are going to have other filters of eg 58mm then direct step down rings from 77 to 49/52/58 would be best. Otherwise you would be stacking various step down rings which may cause you problems say if you used all 3 to use on the 49mm lens.

regards Kevin

[steve1307]

How about just buy a 49mm and a 58mm CPL. They're not as expensive ad the 77 u already have.

Its just easier than messing with step rings, and then you can actually use the hoods on the smaller lenses.
Just my opinion.

[TER-OR]

I bought step-up and step-down sets from Fotodiox on Amazon. Quality is good, and they're suprisingly useful to have on-hand...

[Canada_Rockies]

The stacked rings will extend out further, and may cause vignetting, particularly with the CPL filter. Polarizing filters are thicker than other filters. There is a slight possibility of increased flare as the distance between the filter and the front lens element increases. For the cost of step up/down rings I wouldn't go through the multi step hassle myself.

[bdery]

I would not feel comfortable using a 77mm filter on a 49mm threaded lens. Just too cumbersome. I suggest you keep your 52mm polarizer, in addition to your 77, and work from there.

[Ratmagiclady]

It's unclear if you really want *step up* rings, if you're keeping the 77mm filter and want to put that on the smaller lenses. (you 'step up' to a bigger filter size, step down to a smaller one, just to be clear. The lens thread comes first when you order them, filter thread second)

I'd actually keep the smaller CPL or trade it in on a 58mm one: and use it on your smaller lenses, anyway, it's a lot more convenient to use two sizes, one bigger and one that's at or around the biggest of your smaller-threaded lens sizes.

If you're really set and determined on using the big filter on the smaller lenses, it's so big that you needn't worry about vignetting if you make the jump in two or three stages, though. at least.

I'd suggest though that you only buy the bigger and more expensive 77mm filters you will actually want to use on that particular lens, though.

[JimJohnson]

My concern is will a larger filter fit inside the hood of the smaller diameter lens? I would have to really need the effect of a CPL before I would shoot without a hood.

[bdery]

My concern is will a larger filter fit inside the hood of the smaller diameter lens? I would have to really need the effect of a CPL before I would shoot without a hood.

Not likely when matching a 77mm ffilter with a 49mm lens...

[carrrlangas]

Guys, Thanks everyone for your advice. I took a lot of good ones:
- You are correct, I need step up filters, not step down!
- Hoods are really important to me, I didn´t think of that.

What do you think about this?: I´ll keep the 52mm CPL (it´s very good, if anyone is interested: Amazon.com: Marumi DHG Super Circular Polarizer CPL PL.D 52 52mm Filter Japan: Electronics. Bought it after seeing this: Polarizing filters test - Results and summary - Lenstip.com) and use it with the new 77mm CPL in the following way:

My lenses threads are:

77mm: DA*16-50 - Definitely deserves it´s own CPL, that´s why I bought one here on the marketplace.

58mm: FA80-320 - Being a full frame lens I think I might get away with the 52mm CPL I already have, will it vignette on APS-C?. I´ll need a step-down ring 58-52mm. But, how do I mount the hood afterwards? Will it work if I mount hood first, adapter and CPL at last?

52mm: DA18-55WR (no longer use because of the DA16-50. Thinking if selling or not) - A24/2.8 prime. No adapter required for existing 52mm CPL

49mm: F50, F28, M35/2.8, M135/3.5, M50/4 - Will need a step up ring 49-52mm. I can mount the hood first, then the 49-52mm adapter to the hood´s thread and finally the 52mm CPL. They range from normal to tele on APS-C so no worry about vignetting.

If no one has any objection, then I´ll buy:
58-52mm step down ring
49-52mm step up ring
correct?