Step up or step down for filters?

[kennylovrin]

Hi

I have two Zeiss lenses with 43mm filter size, and as it turns out it is close to impossible to find the filters I want in that size.

Ideally I'd like to step them down to 39mm as that is the common leica thread size, but I am not sure I can do it without vignetting?

Does anyone know for a fact if it will cause vignetting if I step down? The lenses in question is a 50mm Planar and a 35mm C-Biogon.

Thanks!

 

[kennylovrin]

Actually, we might just scratch that. I had another look, and 39mm seems really hard to find as well (I want an ND110 filter).

Might just as well go for 46mm..

 

[segedi]

Better to go up and you can stack more filters that way as well - if you wanted to leave a clear filter on for example. Or wanted to stack an ND and a color filter. I haven't really seen much vingetting with stacking , but you'd have the step-up and the filters.

 

[kxl]

Don't know if the step down to 39mm will vignette but it's probably a better idea to buy 43mm filters or step up. B&H has a lot of 43mm filters.

If you need filters just to protect the lens, then you should just get the 43mm for each lens, since you probably won't ever remove those filters anyway.

However, if you do frequently use "enhancing" filters - red, orange, polarizers, etc... then it would be a good idea to standardize.

 

[kennylovrin]

Yeah I know they exist, it's just that ordering from BH to Sweden adds shipping cost that essentially doubles the price of the filter. 🙂

 

[Bill58]

Step up to 49mm--a "common" size (for filters and hoods) and get a brass step-up ring--not one made in China of aluminum. You'll have galling troubles forever if you do.

B+W from Germany are fine. BTW-Hoya HMC filters are very good.

 

[btgc]

Yeah I know they exist, it's just that ordering from BH to Sweden adds shipping cost that essentially doubles the price of the filter. 🙂

Is BH your only choice? I hope there's something closer to Sweden. How about Germany if local purchase isn't an option?

 

[kennylovrin]

Is BH your only choice? I hope there's something closer to Sweden. How about Germany if local purchase isn't an option?

Well after a little messing around I did find a store locally that in fact can get the filter for me even though it's not in their standard catalog, so it worked out in the end. 🙂