BF Hammer
Senior Member
Last year I wanted to take new photos of the wind turbines in southwest Wisconsin, but this time put some motion into them. I failed entirely due to it being too light out and I could not slow down exposure enough. I needed and ND filter, and the ones I had were hopelessly wrong for my current lenses. I had a set of 52mm filters, which made a lot more sense in 2009/2010. I did have a 77mm variable ND filter I bought for a different lens, but no step-up adapter for the 24-70 f/4 that I had with me. I made up my mind then I would try to fix this filter situation I had and do it in an intelligent way that fit with my future lens plans.
So the 52mm filters got boxed. I only have old F-mount lenses that they will work with. Looking at the current lenses and expected lens upgrades I am planning, I felt that 77mm filters would be the correct choice for most things. Not overly large, more affordable, and I can get the adapter rings for smaller size lenses. That would mount straight to my 70-200mm f/2.8G, a 72-77mm adapter ring to fit my Z 24-70 f/4, and I already had a 62-77mm adapter that would work with my MC Z 105mm f/2.8. But my Sigma 150-600mm needs 95mm, and the planned replacement for it being a Z180-600mm would also take the same size. Just a 95mm CP was all I feel is needed for the telephoto of this size. Then the Z14-24mm f/2.8 needs a lens hood to hold filters, and they are 112mm size. I'm not buying a set of 112mm filters.
Here is the breakdown. I bought the 77mm adapter rings. I bought a new set of Neewer 77mm ND filters (16, 32, 64, and 1000) to get darker than the K&F variable ND/CP combo filter I already have. I bought a 95mm CP by K&F. But now I needed to address the odd large sizes.
I purchased the filter-holder lens hood for the Z14-24mm f/2.8, but went with the aluminum NiSi aftermarket version. More expensive than a Nikon original, but superior also. It mounts directly to this lens, and will also mount to the Z24-70 f/2.8 and Z70-200mm f/2.8 to become a common filter holder to those lenses also. I don't have either lens now, but they are in the future plans. Why do this if I won't buy 112mm filters? I measured carefully my lens diameter and did some considering. The outer part of my lens is really smaller than 95mm. After mounting the hood to the lens, the 112mm threads are right there at the outer lip of the lens. A 95mm filter really should be fine. I have a 112mm-95mm step-down ring incoming from China right now. If it does do any vignetting I expect it will barely be visible on 14mm and fine zoomed in to 16mm. May be no vignette at all, but I have to get the adapter ring first to find out. I will update.
Now the wildcard. I have some 150mm square filters and a filter adapter that was purchased to fit a Sigma 20mm lens I no longer have. Ideally I buy a lens adapter to fit this filter holder and the Z14-24mm lens. It does not exist. But the hole for this lens adapter is larger than the Z14-24mm so some modifying is in order.
I found some medium-density foam weatherstrip in the junk drawer, but was too thick as it was. I cut out some pieces and shaved half the height off and applied to the Sigma adapter.
That gives me square 150mm ND64 filter, night light pollution filter, and a solar ND filter that can be used with the ultrawide lens now. This square filter holder also has a 95mm screw adapter which I have used in the past. If I need a different ND filter down the line I have the option of getting it in 95mm screw-on size or 150mm square size. Or overspend and get the filters that install in the back of the lens. A set of those cost more than the 77mm set I bought.
I did strongly consider magnetic filter systems. I noticed they all require an adapter to screw on to your lens, and if you leave it installed you also needed to buy their own magnetic lens caps. If you remove when not needed...well why buy the magnetic kind then? Plus you are then committed to a brand system once you buy in.
So the 52mm filters got boxed. I only have old F-mount lenses that they will work with. Looking at the current lenses and expected lens upgrades I am planning, I felt that 77mm filters would be the correct choice for most things. Not overly large, more affordable, and I can get the adapter rings for smaller size lenses. That would mount straight to my 70-200mm f/2.8G, a 72-77mm adapter ring to fit my Z 24-70 f/4, and I already had a 62-77mm adapter that would work with my MC Z 105mm f/2.8. But my Sigma 150-600mm needs 95mm, and the planned replacement for it being a Z180-600mm would also take the same size. Just a 95mm CP was all I feel is needed for the telephoto of this size. Then the Z14-24mm f/2.8 needs a lens hood to hold filters, and they are 112mm size. I'm not buying a set of 112mm filters.
Here is the breakdown. I bought the 77mm adapter rings. I bought a new set of Neewer 77mm ND filters (16, 32, 64, and 1000) to get darker than the K&F variable ND/CP combo filter I already have. I bought a 95mm CP by K&F. But now I needed to address the odd large sizes.
I purchased the filter-holder lens hood for the Z14-24mm f/2.8, but went with the aluminum NiSi aftermarket version. More expensive than a Nikon original, but superior also. It mounts directly to this lens, and will also mount to the Z24-70 f/2.8 and Z70-200mm f/2.8 to become a common filter holder to those lenses also. I don't have either lens now, but they are in the future plans. Why do this if I won't buy 112mm filters? I measured carefully my lens diameter and did some considering. The outer part of my lens is really smaller than 95mm. After mounting the hood to the lens, the 112mm threads are right there at the outer lip of the lens. A 95mm filter really should be fine. I have a 112mm-95mm step-down ring incoming from China right now. If it does do any vignetting I expect it will barely be visible on 14mm and fine zoomed in to 16mm. May be no vignette at all, but I have to get the adapter ring first to find out. I will update.
Now the wildcard. I have some 150mm square filters and a filter adapter that was purchased to fit a Sigma 20mm lens I no longer have. Ideally I buy a lens adapter to fit this filter holder and the Z14-24mm lens. It does not exist. But the hole for this lens adapter is larger than the Z14-24mm so some modifying is in order.
I found some medium-density foam weatherstrip in the junk drawer, but was too thick as it was. I cut out some pieces and shaved half the height off and applied to the Sigma adapter.
That gives me square 150mm ND64 filter, night light pollution filter, and a solar ND filter that can be used with the ultrawide lens now. This square filter holder also has a 95mm screw adapter which I have used in the past. If I need a different ND filter down the line I have the option of getting it in 95mm screw-on size or 150mm square size. Or overspend and get the filters that install in the back of the lens. A set of those cost more than the 77mm set I bought.
I did strongly consider magnetic filter systems. I noticed they all require an adapter to screw on to your lens, and if you leave it installed you also needed to buy their own magnetic lens caps. If you remove when not needed...well why buy the magnetic kind then? Plus you are then committed to a brand system once you buy in.
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