Can you just replace the front glass on a GH1 14-140 lens?

[jimpascale]

Hello,
When I bought my GH1 camera I did not know you could purchase a clear lens that you could screw over the stock 14-140 lens to protect it. Unfortunately, the lens cap regualrly falls off , exposing the lens to possible scratches. Well, I scratched my lens & replaced it TWICE. And I don't have to tell you all how expensive this lens is to replace.
I still use the camera because the scratch isn't too bad i.e. I don't see the scratch in the photos. But the other day I wondered if the front of the lens, with the scratch, could be taken off & replaced. It looks like it could come off. Well, I called Panasonic & they told me, no, I have to buy the whole lens ($1K!). Well, in that case I'll keep using the camera with the scratch, since I can't really see the scratch anyway.
Then I thought about this group and wondered if any of your knowledgeable-types know if there is a way I can replace just the front glass of the lens. It seems like this should be do-able. Has anyone done this?
Thanks in advance for any/all advice.
Regards,
Jim

[keylight]

How severe is the scratch? Sounds like it's very minor and not having any negative impact on your photos, so I wouldn't worry about it.

But..... if you want to see about getting it fixed, you might try contacting a local camera repair shop, but they'll probably tell you the same thing. I've never heard of anyone ever getting the front lens element replaced.

FYI, just about every lens is threaded in the front so you can add different kinds of filters, with the exception of super wide angle lenses.

[jimpascale]

Ty for your reply.
I'm a camera novice. I found out about purchasing a clear screw on lens, to protect my expensive lens, AFTER I scratched two 14-140 GH1 lenses.
IMHO, they should have come with clear, replaceable screw-on lenses, to protect the expensive lens!

[Bruce Foreman]

Hello,
Well, I called Panasonic & they told me, no, I have to buy the whole lens ($1K!).

Jim, that lens is $619 at B&H in NYC.

Probably doesn't make a lot of difference anyway, but I would continue using that lens as long as you see nothing resulting from that scratch. Now, you will likely see some extra flare when you have it pointed at a light source, so avoid that whenever possible.

Seeing as you've had to replace that lens TWICE it looks like you have a "penchant" for "banging" the front lens element against things. I would advise two things:

Put a UV filter on the front of EACH lens you want to keep. Make it a good quality (will cost a bit) filter, I recommend Hoya SMC or HMC, the coating is more effective at reducing flare than most others. Don't skimp here if you want good image quality.

Second put an appropriately sized RUBBER lens hood on over the filter.

It won't look "uber" cool but it can be an effective damage preventing "bumper" and they are relatively inexpensive. Good lens shading too, if sized right.

[jimpascale]

Ty very much, Bruce.
Yes, I did put an OV filter in front of my lens. Unfortunately, I found out about this two lenses too late.
I guess I'll just live with the scratches. I honestly don't see them in my photos, which to me is very fortunate.
The damn stock lens cap for the GH1 falls off so easily!
Thanks again.
Jim

[deturbanator]

Relevent: http://kurtmunger.com/dirty_lens_articleid35.html

I doubt you have ANY damages severe enough to warrant a lens replacement. Just buy a UV filter, and cut your losses and avoid any FURTHER scratches.

EDIT: Also, you know that when you put on the lens cap, you gotta push it in as far as it can go, you may not be using the entire thread of the lenscap.

[keylight]

Relevent: http://kurtmunger.com/dirty_lens_articleid35.html

I doubt you have ANY damages severe enough to warrant a lens replacement. Just buy a UV filter, and cut your losses and avoid any FURTHER scratches.

EDIT: Also, you know that when you put on the lens cap, you gotta push it in as far as it can go, you may not be using the entire thread of the lenscap.

That's a great link!

[deturbanator]

Yeah, it was really eye opening to see how that massive hole in the front element was still able to take (relatively) good pictures, however I wish he had posted the full resolution images for our own inspection.