Third party Filters and Step up/down rings for Sony Alpha lenses

[Atarandas]

Hi all ,

Would like to know where do Alpha users normally get their filters for their lenses from ?

I have a A350 with the 18-55mm and 50-200mm kit lenses . Am considering to get some ND and Polarising filters. Saw the Sony ones selling at galleries actually cost a bomb.

Read in CS forums that we can actually buy the biggest size filter from non-sony brands and get additional step up/down rings instead of buying multiple filters of varying size.

Any particular brands to recommend?

I have also read that each step up/down rings cost around $10 ? Is that so ?


I assume the filters /step rings would fit at the front of the lens. Currently , I have the kit lens hood attached , does that mean with the filters on I cant fit the lens hood and have to get new ones ? Sorry quite noobish here . sheesh.

Appreciate if someone could enlighten me on this filter fitting business . Thanks in advance !

[Rashkae]

The lens hood might get in the way, but in most cases it should be ok. We usually just get stuff from the local buy and sell, or head down to MS Color, Cathay, etc.

[DiGdUb]

ya, sony's filters are way over-priced. better to get hoya, b+w, kenko etc brands from john 3:16, ms color, cathay, alan photo, orient foto, etc. much cheaper.

[Atarandas]

Thanks for the replies. Appreciate them. Guess I will find time to shop around one day. Normally I visit Alan photo . MS color too far , i stay in Jurong lol

[Galdor]

Welcome to the Alpha family.

from your 1st post in this thread, I think you have mistaken. The Sony kit lens is unlike the other brands. Sony kit lens is 18-70mm not 18-55mm.

As what the other bros have mentioned, you can just pop by any of the shops recommended to get the filters. You may also find some from the Personal Classified section.

[Atarandas]

oops yup . Its 18-70mm . Thanks for pointing out =) I read somewhere that step up/ down will cause viginetting , hence better to buy the exact filter size.

Will be a big drawback to picture quality ?

[Galdor]

Vignetting will occur if you are stepping down. Try to get those slim type of filter to avoid vignetting.

[Atarandas]

Thanks for all the advice ! I have gotten Hoya CPL, size fits both my kit lenses, didnt get the step up adapter though heh.

[Titan10k]

How much did you get it? Thinking of gettting one for myself as well

[TME]

How much a filter costs will depend very much on the type of filter, brand and size...

Size: Larger is significantly more expensive... price really goes up when dealing with 77mm and above... most regular lenses spot 69 or 72mm filter sizes... note the 77mm or 72mm refers to the filter thread diameter. These are screw on filters.

Type of filters: The usual skylight or UV filters are generally quite cheap. But there are different types, some purported to be optimised for digital cameras. The ND and circular polariser filters are quite a bit more expensive. O, and slimline filters (to prevent vignetting on super wideangles) tend to be very expensive too...

Brand: B + W is pretty expensive. Top of the line I would say. Hoya has the cheap and expensive lines... the Pro1 Digital series are the most expensive from Hoya while the SHMC are middle range and the normal HMC filters are really cheap (like < $30). I don't use Kenko so can't comment. Other brands include Cokin, Marumi, and other lesser known brands which I never found out the name of... :-)

I currently am using two ordinary Hoya circular polarizer 72mm and 77mm... guess what... the 77mm costs more than 2x the price of the 72mm... The 7mm costs S$119 and the 72mm costs only $40 I think... can't find the receipts but these are the prices off the top of my head... and I did enquire about the B + W, costs > $200...

[Atarandas]

Woot i got mine 55mm CPL for $45 i think =S shucks .

[TME]

Originally Posted by Atarandas Woot i got mine 55mm CPL for $45 i think =S shucks .

I don't think that's expensive... I think mine was about that price too... I can't really remember... can't find the receipts too...

[Titan10k]

So about 40~50 for normal type, not unreasonably expensive. I have a 50mm f1.7 (49mm) and a big beercan (55mm) atm. You guys think I should buy one for each lens or one big one & step up/down rings?

[binxuan]

get the biggest one for ur collection of lens and then get stepdown rings for ur other lens