So from reading the various threads on wide angle lens to use for gs100, the HD5000 w/the use of thin Tiffen ring mentioned in this thread is a winning combo?

Robert

Only if you can stand some barreling and are prepared to accept that with a hood, vignetting will also occur. The only way I don't get vignetting is by not using the hood and, if using a filter, using the thins.

Robert, perhaps just get the Pana wide and make a hood fit on it---slip it around or something.

I use the Canon 43mm wides on my Pannys with
fine results.

Please post a link with a pic and specs for this Canon wide, if you know it. Thanks.

Here it is, Frank.
Mild barrel distortion, no vignetting, great coating
(low flare), sharp.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...=233579&is=REG

No front filter thread, though, like the Panasonic. (Of course, by the time you pay for a really good thin filter for a WA - one with enough coating to cut down on more flare - you're practically paying for a second lens. There comes a point when it just makes more sense to go without the front thread?)

What type of filters do you use? For what purpose?

I've used the Tiffen gold diffusion for shooting oldsters indoors. Very nice effect on one video I did, but you have to be very careful if there's a lot of light. For outdoors I've gone through a Hoya UV thin, a Tiffen low contrast (does help a lot in flattening flare, but best for shooting landscapes, not scenes with people, imo) and was finally convinced by our only really worthwhile camera shop on Oahu to try a B&W polarizer (the Kaeseman -sp?- glass one). The polarizer (without a hood) worked very well for shooting my cousin's daughter's outdoor at-the-beach almost mid-day, i.e, killer sun, wedding. Still got some flare, but it was off to the side, and these days people think it's some special effect added by your software - if they notice it at all. (Indoors, I just shot without any filter at all and used the gs100's "smoothing" mode.)

Are there filters that can reduce contrast?
This would be good for shooting outdoors
in a bright sun.
You could get a larger, non-slimline filter
and tape it over the lens with gaffers tape.