Panasonic Lumix 7-14mm - no filters?

[PeterAit]

I just got this lens and noticed that there are no filter threads at the front. I can see why, as the front element  bulges out past the rim! Are there any work-arounds for this? I find a polarizer important in many scenarios.

[Christopher Sanderson]

The video solution would be rails, matte box and circular Polarizer. It works just as effectively for stills but gets into the cumbersome clutter of DSLR video rigs...Check B&H under ProVideo/Lenses/Matte Boxes & Shades

[francois]

I just got this lens and noticed that there are no filter threads at the front. I can see why, as the front element  bulges out past the rim! Are there any work-arounds for this? I find a polarizer important in many scenarios.

This is what I found so far:

http://helge-suess.com/hwphoto.php
http://pen-and-tell.blogspot.com/2011/06/filterhalter-fur-das-7-14.html
http://forum.getdpi.com/forum/showthread.php?t=17043

[PeterAit]

Thanks, very helpful!

[Colin4May]

Oh! I've just got a Lumix G3, and am about to get some additional lenses with it...  http://www.panasonic.co.uk/html/en_GB/6065413/module/general/compare/productsCategory.html  Am I going to have a similar issue to overcome?

I'm only a rank amateur photographer, but I remember being told that you should really try to avoid using effect filters.. natural is best!

But sometimes you do see striking sunset photos etc, and you think they must have been enhanced. But possibly after they've been taken in the surgery of photoshop!!

[pw-pix]

A polariser isn't particularly usable on wider lenses, this would be a 14-28 efl lens and there would be a high likelihood of getting very uneven skies with a polariser over much of that range. It doesn't usually look very good to have one side of a sky blue and the other side almost black.

[tomrock]

Oh! I've just got a Lumix G3, and am about to get some additional lenses with it...  http://www.panasonic.co.uk/html/en_GB/6065413/module/general/compare/productsCategory.html  Am I going to have a similar issue to overcome?

For the most part, no you won't have this issue. Most of the Panasonic lenses accept filters. If you click the View Product link and look at the specifications, one of the specifications is Filter Size. If you see that, the lens accepts filters.

[algrove]

I have been using this lens for about 8 months now and never needed a filter.  Just watch the histogram and shoot away.  The images are very nice.