Camera Labs

I'm hoping you all can help. I own an FZ28 which I love, it does everything I need. I mainly do closeup shots of flowers etc. outside but when we travel, its nice to do wider shots.

Before our recent trip to Paris, I purchased a 46mm circular polarizer. It worked great if I zoom past the most wide angle but if its at the widest angle, I get vignetting on the corners.

I understand that I could get a step up ring and a larger polarizer but would it not impede being able to zoom in on shots as it would be affixed to the outer part of the camera lens housing as opposed to the lens itself?

What would you suggest is the best strategy that would allow for the most useful (and cost effective) use of both the wide angle and more close up shots? Do I just have to keep changing the polarizer between wide angle shots or is there a polarizer that works on the lens itself without causing vignetting?

Hi Karsan,

I don't know whether you were able to resolve your problem, e.g by buying a filter with a thinner/shorter frame.

I'm interested in this, because I'm about to buy an FZ35/38 (the successor to your camera, with the same lens, if I'm informed correctly).

Could you please measure by how much the length of the lens barrel is increased by the filter's frame? That would give me an indication of the maximum filter length/height.

Thanks, and regards,
Mark

_________________
A good photo starts with a good lens.

Mark, Hi.
I bought a UV filter for my FZ38/35 the very next day after I took
delivery (back in December), but only to protect the lens.
I like to use the macro capability, but it can also easily lead
to accidental scratching, thus my belief that a uv is necessary
on a superzoom with a "long" reach
(Basically if I scratch the lens, I may as well throw the camera away).
The FZ 38/35 uses a 46mm thread and fits on the lens extender itself,
and not the barrel. It will add additional 4mm to the lens extender
length, but the lens cap will still easily close on the barrel with it on.
Regards

Hi dbnnet,

OK, 4 mm is a pretty standard width for a filter rim. But just to come back to the point of this thread: are you not getting any vignetting in full wide-angle?

Thanks and regards,
Mark

_________________
A good photo starts with a good lens.

No, and to my knowledge have not read any reports or posts in the three
forum sites that I follow either - This is probably the main reason why the
FZ38/35 has outsold the FinePix S200EXR which, even though a popular
camera, some owners have reported these issues as well as purple fringing.
Regards

... a folk in a spanish forum had the same
trouble. i have a 4.5mm framed (polr) filter and
i havent problems. before i had fz28. exactly the
same like fz38.