Camera Labs

Hi, I had purchased a Lumix DMC-FZ35 camera from Amazon.Now I want to buy lens and filters for this camera. I have following questions in my mind.
1. What are the essential thing do I need to buy?
2. Do I need to buy the Conversion Lens Adaptor for attachement of these lens/filter to my camera?
3. If it is needed then what is difference between DMW-LA3 E and DMW-LA3?Which will be suitalbe and better?
4. How much is the quality difference between single-coated and multi-coated lens/filters?
5.I am planning to buy telephoto conversion lens and polirizer lens and UV maze filters. Is it ok?
6.Can I used all of them together at a time?
Please suggest some economical and good quality brand for the same.

I can only answer #4:
If you value high quality images you should buy multi-coated filters: They tend to produce less reflections/glare and have a better color-transmission.
A good quality company with reasonable prices is Hoya. I bought all my filters from them.

_________________
Thomas (beware: Nikon-fanboy and moderator!) My Lens Reviews, My Pictures, My Photography Blog
D800+assorted lenses

Answer to number 6: yes you can stack filters, but the more you use, the worse the optical quality will be - and you run the risk of blocking some of the view at wide-angle (called vignetting). Always try and use one filter at a time for the best results.

Do I need to buy Hoya HMC UV filter or ND filter will serve the purpose.
Because out of these two whatever filter I buy, I want keep it on camera.

I would never leave a ND filter on the lens. The UV-filter is the right one to stay on the lens and protect it.

_________________
Thomas (beware: Nikon-fanboy and moderator!) My Lens Reviews, My Pictures, My Photography Blog
D800+assorted lenses

Do I need a UV filter? I mean, is lens getting dirty is such a problem? On a few rare occasions I used lenspen to clear the lens in my ultra-compact when small particles of water hit it during the rain or sea shots. Does it get that much worse with bigger lens that you need a filter? How will filter like this affect image quality?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... K:MEWAX:IT

vitalyx, Hi.
There are many opinions on this, but my view is that like many Superzoom
cameras similar to the FZ38/35, you are basically looking at a pretty expensive
Leica lens on a pretty standard CCD sensor
The FZ35 lens extends a fair amount, and if you are doing any macro
work, the risk of scratching the lens is always there. Simply put, if you so
much as even give your Leics lens a small scratch, you may well be
throwing the camera away! Why chance it? It's the main reason so many
professional photographers use them - Its about protecting the lens... not
about using UV filtering. (I use the same Kenko as in your post).
Also, if anyone tries to convince you that a UV filter will reduce the image
quality, take a look at Ken Rockwell's well known site, he has posted lots of detail about this too.
http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/filters.htm
Regards

Thanks, dbnnet! I missed the macro work risk factor. And this is something I would love to play with. I'll probably get this filter then. Thanks for link as well -- good info.
EDIT: OK, ordered it

Hi,
I am randomly answering your questions of what I know:
The most important filter is the polarizing filter. It is a must. If you are serious photographer and willing to lug around a tripod, consider a neutral density filter. UV filters are generally used for protection, but can help in sunny conditions to reduce the blue fringes. You will not need an adaptor for the lens, a 42mm one will fit directly. As far as the teleconvertor lens is concerned, I believe it is a 1.7x lumix lens. If you are on a budget, I feel you already have 18x zoom and 35.2x extended zoom. So, buy it only if you really need it. As of what I know, you can sometimes have unpredictable results with them.
Hope this helps,
Jinay.

The FZ38/35 uses a 46mm thread.