FZ-20 72mm Lens Protection Cap

[Honest Gaza]

OK...so I've bought a 72mm UV Filter, which according to the Panasonic manual can only be attached via the Lens Hood. What protection do I now have for the UV Filter ?

Obviously the lens cap that came with the camera cannot fit onto the 72mm UV Filter. What do I now have to get for the filter ?

(Hope this ain't a stupid question).

[genece]

To answer your question you need a 72mm lens cap.
But that really in not a good place for a filter. If you are sure you will not ever want to add any converter lens either Tele or wide angle. I would return that filter and get something like this and a 55mm filter.

http://www.nextphoto.net/FZ20.htm

ANd if you think you may want to add lenses later you should most likely read the stickey at the top of this forum.

http://www.dcresource.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2077

If you have more questions ask them here and someone will help

[Honest Gaza]

Thanks Gene.

Yes, I do sometimes use additional lenses. I have the Olympus TCon-17 with Pemaraal adapter.

Is your hyperthread still the right way to go ?

[tim11]

While not contradicting Genece that 55 mm with step down ring; etc. is more ideal filter for FZ20, I still use standard adaptor and 72 mm UV filter.
You need to buy a 72mm filter cap - it has sort of clip-on side pins that stick to the thread of the filter. It's not expensive. Just for comparision, I bought a Hoya filter in Sydney for around mid $30 and filter cap for under $10.

[Honest Gaza]

Tim11....is the 72mm filter cap a slip on cover, or is it like the original camera cap (auto-expanding for want of a better description).

[genece]

If you have the adapter and I imagine its 55mm just get a 55 mm filter and then a Collapsable rubber hood and you will have a better setup.
It is not the best Idea to set the filter so far away from the camera.
I am not saying it does not work ..it just is not the best Idea. I also am a slow sell I have a 72mm UV filter and a 72mm polarizer filter and a 72mm hood setting in a junk drawer.

And while the Hamma hood may be the best available these hoods work fine and this store also has some good deals on filters and shipping. They have a Hoya super pro 1 that is listed on their site at about 50 bucks but when you put it in your cart it comes up about 37 dollars ..I just got one for the FZ30.

http://www.2filter.com/prices/products/rubhoods.html

I am not sure what you are referring to when you ask about a hyperthread.


Gene



Thanks Gene.

Yes, I do sometimes use additional lenses. I have the Olympus TCon-17 with Pemaraal adapter.

Is your hyperthread still the right way to go ?

[StanStan]

My FZ20 set-up which I like is the Phayee Three Piece Lens adapter:
FZ20>Phayee 62mm Lens Adapter>62mm filter, most of the time UV>Second piece of the Phayee adapter which I call a Napkin Ring 72mm>Hama 72mm Collapsible Rubber Hood>62mm teatherd lens cap. I now keep the above stack together. I also have stacks for the extension lenses that I keep together. Provides easy attachment to the FZ20 without handling too many separate components. If I were to buy now I would look into LoveLiffe's CRing adapter, search EBAY, and still keep the stacks together with separate [C]Rings on each stack.
Stan

[tim11]

Tim11....is the 72mm filter cap a slip on cover, or is it like the original camera cap (auto-expanding for want of a better description).
It took a while to get used to standard adaptor and filter and I will never understand why Panasonic came up with such a design while people just use an after-market shorter filter instead - and that works better! Maybe they thought people who buy FZ20 were impressed with bulky look? Just a thought...

[tim11]

but that black filter and cap suit the camera so well as an assembly.

[JLV]

Timm 11, where can one buy the 72mm lens cap you describe?

Honest, I use a plastic freezer bag with an elastic right over the hood. It is not pretty, but it works.

[Honest Gaza]

Thanks Tim11....I now know what to look for.

Gene, while I acknowledge that you are advising what is "best"......because I have already purchased some adapters and accessories, for now I just want a simple solution for providing protection to the filter (which is providing protection to the lens). The 72mm cap appears to be the solution for the immediate future.

[tim11]

Timm 11, where can one buy the 72mm lens cap you describe?

Honest, I use a plastic freezer bag with an elastic right over the hood. It is not pretty, but it works.
It is generic 72mm filter cap available from camera stores.
Freezer bag? hahaha... at least you have more sense than me. I left it until my first filter was scratched before looking for solution.

[Dave6833]

...Honest, I use a plastic freezer bag with an elastic right over the hood. It is not pretty, but it works.

I got this tip years ago when I attended a Nikon school. Take your camera to the grocery store and check out anything with a plastic snap-on lid. You should eventially find something that fits the camera lens barrel and can be used as a lens cover.

[genece]

Any camera store should have a cap as they are all pretty much generic but here is one
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=111312&is=REG&addedTroughType=search

I suppose I am making too big a deal of it but I was hoping I could prevent others from going that route.

[emalvick]

...
I suppose I am making too big a deal of it but I was hoping I could prevent others from going that route.

Actually, I think it is a big deal. I have the Phayee adapter and 2 filters (UV and Polarizer) typically on my lens. I have never had much problem with that setup. However, I occasionally find that even with that setup and two filters, I can get the lens flare that become more of a problem when the filters are even further from the lens as happens with the Panasonic adapter.

Last weekend I was up in the mountains taking pictures of the setting sun. I had put the polarizer on, but not threaded it quite right. I had lens flare all over the place. Reset the polarizer, and it was fixed (temporarily). As the sun kept setting, I had more lens flare, which was corrected by removing the Polarizer completely (with the UV filter on). I then made a simple experiment (no where near scientific) and took the UV filter off and moved it around away from the lens.

I wanted to see if two filters were giving me the lens flare or if the polarizer was just a bit too far. I found that just by taking the UV filter off and moving it out a mm or two, just at the start of the threads, lens flare was a problem.

Conclusion, even the good adapters like the Phayee (the only one I have experience with) will show lens flare if the filters stack up and get too far from the lens. Of course, I've had lens flare with my old camera without any filters. It is also a function of lighting.

Erik

[tim11]

I suppose I am making too big a deal of it but I was hoping I could prevent others from going that route.
I would be making a big deal of it too if I only could. But due to a few reasons, I have to make do with whatever I have at the moment.