You're beyond psyched because you just got home from the electronics store with your brand new, high-tech, (most likely) HD camera and you can't wait to open up the box (tear it to shreds) and play with all its features. You'll probably want to use all of your old camera lenses, so you go retrieve them and try to screw them onto the front and... oh no! The lenses are for 52mm, not 77mm. Now what? You're going to need a lens adapter.
Why Are They Necessary?
Simply put, if you try to put the wrong size lens onto the camera, it's just not going to fit. End of story. If you try and force it on, you'll either damage your lens or scratch the camera, and if you can get it to stay on somehow, you always have the risk of it falling right off and cracking on the ground. Fail. When you buy a camera lens conversion adapter make sure that it matches both your camera and your lenses. Some common sizes include 42mm, 48mm, 50mm, 52mm, 77mm, and fourblah model."
Differences Between Types?
Adapter rings literally just create a buffer mount between the two separate pieces. There's nothing particularly special about them, but they get the job done. They're usually more affordable because they're made of plastic. And, speaking of price, keep an eye out on the material of the lens adapter. Metallic adapters are more expensive because they're sturdier and last longer. Some of the metal ones will include a glass surface, which could also boost up the cost. Some lens adapters can handle more than one kind of filter. These often can handle wide-angle, telephoto, macro, etc. Some are also funnel shaped and not only connect the lens to the camera, but can protect the lens should you drop it.
Drawbacks
Be careful when choosing your adapter. Some are made for specific model cameras but still cause some setbacks. If the lens is too big it could block the viewfinder or flash. Also, some adapters only come in one color like black or silver, and won't match your camera. This is obviously not a big deal, but aesthetically it's just awkward or distracting for some people.
