UV Filter and Wide Angle

[lzrdking28]

I recently ordered the Phayee adapter for my FZ20. While waiting for that to arrive.... I have a few questions if anyone can help.

I want to get a UV filter to attach to the adapter. There are a mind boggling amount of filters to chose from and I have no idea what the differences are. Some are specifically made for digital cameras, some are thin, some have threads on the end, some do not, etc. Prices to around $100 are not a problem if there is a benefit to getting one at that price/quality. I have been looking at the "Hoya 62mm Haze UV(0) (S-HMC) Super Mutli-Coated Glass Filter"

I currently have a 55mm thread wide angle lens from Fuji from my old digital camera. I was going to see if i can use this somehow with the FZ20. I was thinking a stepdown ring 62mm->55mm should work right? However, is it possible to incorporate the UV filter into this setup?

Example: phayee (62mm) to UV (62mm) to stepdown ring (55mm) to wide angle lens.....

Any compromise in quality by doing any of this? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks, Steve

[ktixx]

I really don't see any reason to get a UV filter for a point and shoot. Normally these "filters" are used to protect the lense, they actually usually degrade the quality of the pictures. When you have an expensive lense it is much easier to replace a $100-$200 UV filter than a $1700 lense. I would not suggest one for a point and shoot.
Ken

[genece]

Well I am on the other side of the fence...I believe a UV filter is a wise choice
However something about $30.00 should be fine. I have this one on my FZ20.
It is Multicoated and will pass 99.7% of the light so there will be no loss of quality.
Even if we do have "point and shoot cameras" there is nothing wrong with taking care of it.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=23732&is=REG&addedTroughType=search

Now about the wide angle lens you can almost never use a WA lens with a step ring and never on top of a filter. But there is only one way to find out buy the stepup ring and try it.

[lzrdking28]

Gene, I agree with you on protecting the lense. I will check out the filter you suggested - maybe I was overdoing it a bit with that other filter. What kind of set up do you have on your dz20 as far as adapters and accessories if any? or do you use the panasonic supplied adapter and 72mm attachments?

[genece]

You are much better off with an aftermarket adapter I have a Phayee but I use Lovelifes adapter most of the time but if you have the Phayee thats fine.
I also use a Linear polarizer and a ND8 filter for waterfalls.
If you are thinking of a teleconverter the 14B works real well on the FZ20.
And while I use a Raynox dcr720 WA lens it is not a great lens.Satisfactory and cheap but not great.

[road_rascal]

I just got my pemaraal adapter and 62mm Hoya multi-coated filter yesterday and haven't noticed any loss of quality. I actually slightly notice better quality with this setup than using the Raynox adapter and Quantaray 52mm UV lens I had been using for the last 9 months.

[genece]

I just got my pemaraal adapter and 62mm Hoya multi-coated filter yesterday and haven't noticed any loss of quality. I actually slightly notice better quality with this setup than using the Raynox adapter and Quantaray 52mm UV lens I had been using for the last 9 months.

IMHO that would have a lot more to do with the Quantaray filter not being Multicoated than the adapter. You do lose light with no coatings.That seems backwards but true.

[bchung]

Well I am on the other side of the fence...I believe a UV filter is a wise choice
However something about $30.00 should be fine. I have this one on my FZ20.
It is Multicoated and will pass 99.7% of the light so there will be no loss of quality.
Even if we do have "point and shoot cameras" there is nothing wrong with taking care of it.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=23732&is=REG&addedTroughType=search

Now about the wide angle lens you can almost never use a WA lens with a step ring and never on top of a filter. But there is only one way to find out buy the stepup ring and try it.

When it comes to optics, while transmission is important for high energy potential applications like IR and x-ray, it is irrelevant for most 400-700nm applications (visible). the number you should be concerned with is the reflection.

The degradation in intensity is due to high reflection, not high absorbtion. Although it might be absorption, I get them mixed all the time.

[genece]

Multicoating also helps big time with reflections...but I do have one suggestion ..if you do not believe in filters don't use them.

[lzrdking28]

Thanks for that info. I ordered all the stuff i wanted, the phayee adapter, a uv filter, and two step rings. I forgot I have the panasonic 72mm ND and MC filters, so i got a 62 to 72 step up ring to use those with. Hopefully it all works well together.

Just wondering, do you guys use any of the on camera image adustments with any success or do you just change everything in photoshop if you have to? I usually dont use any of the adjustments but i was thinking of trying the noise reduction in camera to see if that helps.

[genece]

I use all the settings on standard except the NR on low.

I also use a minus 1/3 exposure compensation....but most of these settings are dependent on your style of shooting. We all seem to meter a little different.

Those other filters will work with the step ring but since you have a UV filter you would not seem to have much use for the MC filter.

Quite honestly try different metering modes and styles to get a correct exposure, and noise should not be much of a problem.
For most uses I never use a NR program but its nice to have one when its needed.