Standardizing Filter Sizes

Buying filters to fit all the different size lenses In your collection can get very expensive. Wouldn’t it be great if you could buy just one filter that would fit all your lenses? Well, you can.

Gather all your lenses together and determine which ones will be used most often. Of those lenses, find the one with the largest filter thread diameter. Buy all the filters you need in that size, and buy inexpensive step-up rings to adapt all the other lenses to that size.

If your most used lens is 77mm, you’ll pay a premium for that size, so only make that the standard if you plan on using a lot of different filters on that lens. If it’s a long telephoto for example, you may only need a UV or skylight filter for that lens.

The exception is that you should always keep a clear, UV, or Skylight filter on each of your lenses at all times for protection, so by all means get one of those in each size.

Some bayonet hoods can still be used with slightly larger filters and rings. But you can use a single screw-on lens hood in your standardized size if you need to.

This was the thinking behind the Cokin creative filter system; Rectangular filters and holders in only four sizes with adapter rings to fit every size of lens imaginable.