A Question about UV and Polarizer Lens Kit for my FZ20

[indiawala]

A lot of people in these forums mention that one should never get a 72mm filter kit cause its too far from the lens. Most you them recommend a 62mm...but if i got a good deal on a raynox UV filter and Polarizer but with a 52mm thread...is that ok? Or is it a bad idea to go with this filter kit. Just so you know they are specifically tailored to fit the FZ20 as per raynox's homepage.

Here is the link to the item on ebay so you see it...but my general question is about raynox. Is it good quality? Also the fact that its a 52mm lens...does that automatically mean lesser quality? Please help me...

the link... http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=3865876871&ssPageName=STRK:MEWN:IT

[genece]

It will work just fine.
I have the adapter but not those filters but there is not much difference in filters.

[StanStan]

It will work just fine.
I have the adapter but not those filters but there is not much difference in filters.

Gene: Do you get any vignetting at 1x with the Raynox 52mm adapter?

Still cannot find any 1/4" thick aluminum: Not Sears, Not Lowe's. ????

StanStan

[indiawala]

Hey guys and gals another question...is it ok to keep the UV filter on as a permanent lens protector or does it interfere with the functioning of any other lens. I read some place that the polarizer should not be used over a UV filter, is that true? or is that the way most people use it...UV as a permanent filter and add the polarizer on top when needed?...thanks

[andyn]

I have the Raynox and its OK only so long as you use just one filter (and no hood) otherwise you get serious vignetting at 1X. If it's a good deal and you don't mind fiddling about changing filters then go for it, otherwise I'd look for another solution. Hope this helps. Andy

[Tyler]

Gene: Do you get any vignetting at 1x with the Raynox 52mm adapter?

Still cannot find any 1/4" thick aluminum: Not Sears, Not Lowe's. ????

StanStan

I bought the Raynox 52 mm adaptor as a kit that included the Raynox MC filter and circular poarizer. I just got through shooting over 700 pics on vacation last week, most of those through the MC filter. In all but a very few cases there was no noticable vignetting. What vignetting there was could only be seen in the very fringe corners of the image and even then you had to really look for it.

From what I have read in various places you generally don't need to use a UV filter with digital cameras. The CCD sensor is not nearly as sensitive to UV light as traditional film cameras are. A good Multi-Coated (MC) filter makes a good lens protector and will not affect the color of your digital images - which makes it ideal for leaving it on all the time.

I am much less happy with the Raynox 6600 pro .66x wide angle adaptor. Vignetting is a serious problem with this lens.

[genece]

That very slight fringing under very bright conditions can be seen at times with a FZ camera with no adapter on at all.
I really only use the Raynox adapter to mount a couple different lenses. (The drc 720 and the C210 and 160) I use Yoshida adapters almost all the time. I have a 55mm and a 62mm adapter and use one on each camera.
And I use the Phayee adapter to mount 62mm lenses with no filters involved.
But someone wanted to know how small a filter you could use and I taped a 49mm to 55mm step ring to a Raynox adapter and took a couple dozen pictures and I saw no vignetting.
Not a very scientific test but a test none the less.

[EllenH]

I have very recently purchased a Lumix FZ20 and, after reading the forums, I ordered a Raynox filter kit. I have no experience with filters so I am wondering if I should keep the two filters (a MC Lens protector and a polarizer filter) on the camera permanently. Because if I only put the protector, the cap comes off very easily. Maybe this is normal, but I don't like it.

Also, I see that I can put them on in any order. Which one should I put on first?

Thanks,

EllenH

[genece]

A polarizing filter blocks about 2 stops of light so you do not want to leave it on all the time.

It is my guess that a different type cap would solve your problem as a cap should fit most filters.

[indiawala]

Hello Ellen...as far as advice genece is right. The polarizer cuts down the amount of light coming thru to the lens therefore you shouldn't use it all the time. Its most beneficial while shooting in bright outdoors, reducing glare, shooting thru a window, clearing the water if you are shooting ducks or fish, etc. The MC or UV filter, although almost useless for a digital cam, act as more of a lens protector than anything else. I leave my UV on all the time...it doesn't really affect light input and I would much rather scratch this lens that the lens from my camera. So as you can probably tell the UV filter goes on first...and then any additional filter you want to use.

One piece of advice...don't overdo the additional lenses. Each addition just increases the chances of something going wrong...keep the stacking of lens to the bare minimum whenever possible.

hope this helps

seth

[EllenH]

Thanks both,

What I wanted was just a protection for the lens, but since the kit had the polarizer, I figured I might just as well have it too. I got it at bugeyedigital. (Very fast service by the way).

I wonder why I felt this need because I've been using film cameras all my life and have never even thought about protecting the lens, nor have I ever had the slightest problem. Getting old maybe.

Anyways, to get back to the cap issue, they have a snap on lens cap here (http://www.bugeyedigital.com/product_main/lenscap.html)

Has anyone tried it with the adaptor and protector?

It only costs about $3.95... plus $29 shipping to France! So I'm not happy that I didn't order everything at the same time. I suppose I could try and find a cap here first.

Ellen

[indiawala]

Hello Ellen...I wouldn't spend that kind of money on a cap even if it was the only one being made in the world...lol. I am talking about the shipping ofcourse. I would say that its better for you to try to make do with the cap that came with the filter with or shop around in europe. I know there are tons of people on here from europe, just hope one of them sends you a link or a site you can get reasonable cheap shipping from.

seth

[genece]

That is a pretty generic cap and my guess is it will work.
But it should be available at most any camera store.
Does France have an Ebay or Amazon.com as I said that is a pretty generic cap.
How about acecamera?

[indiawala]

Hello Ellen I found this link on Ebay...they say that they are based out of England and will ship to other countried in Europe. Shipping is 4 British Pounds. but the item is only 1.99...maybe this will suit your needs. Just pick the size you need.

seth

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=30035&item=3869064807&rd=1

[EllenH]

I really appreciate your kind replies. I'll look into the cap thing tomorrow. It's midnight here and tomorrow I do have to go to work.

But while I have your attention, would you know if the polarizing filter I got with the Raynox kit is circular or linear? The box doesn't say.

Ellen

[indiawala]

Hello Ellen if you are talking about the Raynox PLP-P20 then yeah the PL is a linear polarizer. Its the best thing for the FZ20. Here is the link for a seller in case you don't know the model number for the kit...if you kit is the same as this then you know its a linear polarizer.

seth

http://www.bugeyedigital.com/product_main/ray-plpp20.html

[EllenH]

Yes, that's the Raynox kit I bought: PLP-P20. I am a bit confused because I had understood that digital cameras should use circular polarizers... I don't know exactly where I read this, most likely on some thread on this forum, but I've read so much stuff in so little time that I may have gotten mixed up.

I figure though that if Raynox made this kit for the Lumix FZ20, it should be appropriate.

Oh, and my cap problem is solved. It was very stupid of me not to realize I could just go and buy any cap with the proper diameter. I got a Nikon cap with clips for 12 euros that is solid and stays put. Since I never lost a cap, I never had to buy a new one... I do think Raynox should have included a better cap with their kit.

Now I'm set for a while. Many thanks for your support.

Ellen

Like someone said : I'll be back :-)

[indiawala]

hello ellen glad to be of help...lol. About the type of polarizer to use...Linear is best in quality and price...Circular has an additional mechanism built in to help cameras that use auto focus thru the lens (the FZ20 does not do this) but this reduces quality to a certain extent and these lens happen to be more expensive too. The quality drop is debatable but at best it equals a linear polarizer in effectiveness.

so I guess we lucked out and are able to use the linear polarizer.

seth