In order to use one size of filter on a lens with a different size filter thread, do you need a Step-Up adapter ring or a Step-Down filter adapter ring?
While this isn’t a new question, I’m writing this post because the question has been asked of me several times lately. Even some of my pro colleagues have to stop and, “uh, wait a minute, it’s, uh it goes to, I mean…I have to check”. So read on for the simple answer.
The basic thing to remember is that the rings are specified by ‘mm’ (millimeters) going in the direction from the front thread on the lens to the filter size. We are talking about the filter thread size, NOT the focal length of the lens (also measured in mm/millimeters).
‘UP’ means up to a larger filter; ‘Down’ means to a smaller filter.
All you need to remember is this:
From the Lens thread size Step ‘up’ or Step ‘down’ to the Filter thread size
Step Up + Step Down Filter Rings / Adapters
__________ Step-Up filter adapter rings __________
If you are going from a lens with a smaller filter thread to a filter that is larger, you need a Step-Up filter adapter ring. So, if your lens takes a 52mm filter size (common to many Nikon Nikkor lenses), and you have an existing filter with a thread size of 58mm, you need a 52 to 58 Step-Up Adapter Ring.
If you have a lens that takes 55mm thread size filters (common to many Canon lenses), and you want to put the same 58mm filter on it, you need a 55 to 58 Step-Up Adapter Ring.
________ Step-Down filter adapter rings _________
If you need to go from a larger lens thread to a smaller filter (only recommended for longer focal length lenses since you may find the smaller filter blocking the edges of your visual frame) then you need a Step-Down filter adapter ring. Example, if you have a 55mm filter thread lens and you want to use a 52mm filter, you need a 55 to 52 Stap-Down ring.
Nikon Nikkor 20mm 2.8 AF-D Lens Which Takes 62mm Filters
_______ Finding the Correct Thread Sizes________
So, how do you determine the thread size of your lens?
- Check the inside of your lens cap (many show the thread size there)
- Check the specifications for you lens
- In your lens instructions
- In an online search using the following keywords:
- the Brand of lens (Canon, Nikon, Sigma, Tamron, etc.)
- the type of lens written on the top of the lens barrel or on the front of the lens (where the filter would go)
- the fStop range of the lens (written in the same places as the ‘type’ of lens as noted above)
- and the words filter thread size
So, how do you determine the thread size of your filter?
- The filter size will be written on the outside of the filter itself (usually) as seen on the filters pictured above
- or, the thread size of the filter will be written inside the filter’s ring as viewed from the front (the female thread side) as shwon below
Another gender-driven way that this Step-Up or Step-Down dilemma is designated refers to the female/male thread metaphor. Female thread is what your camera lens has. Your filter has the Male thread to it’s rear, and on most filters (except for the ‘slim’ varieties) it will have a Female thread to accept other filters (and most lens caps). In short, the Male thread penetrates the Female thread; a shocking insight into the intimate lives of photographic filters and their lens lovers.
Again, All you need to remember is this:
From the Lens thread size Step ‘up’ or Step ‘down’ to the Filter thread size
Good shooting!
Is there any way to use a step-up or step-down adapter ring on the camera body to connect a lens of another size? One example I am exploring is a Canon Rebel 55mm camera to a an old & sweet 62mm Nikon lens.
I’ve also heard of reversal lens mounts that can be camera-specific. Can you tell me a little bit about that. Could one of those mounts be used with my 55mm camera-to-62mm lens project to ensure no light sneaks through?
So many dreams, so little budget…
Thanks very much!
Love the site!
Crafty Girrl
Hi Girrl,
There used to be adapters for Nikon lens onto Canon body. I haven’t seen them for a while, and you’d lose auto features. Might be better to get an old Nikon body if you love the lens so much.
It is, after all, the lens which makes the image.
On the reversing ring issue, that is for macro photography. A lens can be mounted onto the body in reverse, losing all auto functions, but some lenses can make great close-up lenses this way. The reverse ring must match the camera body, and the other end just screws into the filter ring of the lens, on it’s own, r with a step up or down to match filter size.
I hope this helps!
I like your line ‘So many dreams, so little budget…’
I fabricate and mix/match stuff all the time.
Cheers
Ken
Adaptor rings that are threaded on both sides come in three versions. Male to Male thread, Female to Female thread, and Male to Female thread. The MtoF are often called step up/ step down rings. Looking at some I have from K&F and Rise(UK) They both follow the same pattern. The first number is Male and the second number is Female.
So a 52mm-49mm ring and a 49mm-52mm ring would have the first number be male, a 52mm male and a 49mm male followed by the 49mm female and 52mm female.
If the lens had 49mm filter threads a larger filter could be used with an adaptor. Thinking that 49mm male thread would fit to the lens then a 49mm-52mm or a 49mm-55mm would allow use of 52mm or 55mm filters.
Male to Male thread work to reverse mount one lens to another lens for closeup and macro photos. If the 200mm lens had 52mm filter threads and the 50mm lens had 49mm filter thread a MtoM 52mm-49mm would join them. Which would be close to 4X. Divide the long lens by the short lens to get enlargement factor. These adaptors would work to mount a reversed lens to an adaptor that has female thread and the male lens mount.
I have not noticed if the adaptor would be labeled 52mm-49mm or 49mm-52mm. On Amazon I have only found one maker that has lots of M/M options and they are all listed single rather than a list to choose from so it is a pain to find them. They have big yellow numbers on the listing web page. Lots of scrolling through the pages.
Rise(UK) have odd sizes like 30.5 and 40.5 that fit enlarger lens for use on bellows. So the enlarger lens have male thread and the adaptor would have the second number be the female to fit it. 52mm-30.5 49mm-30.5 then could fit to a female thread to camera male mount adaptor. Or if your camera adaptor had male thread to Male camera then a Female to Female adaptor would join them all together.
Hi Ivan,
Thanks for your detailed addition to this thread.
Ken