This was so incredibly helpful, thank you for posting -- not just this video, but the many other videos and guides. Panasonic owes you a commission fee, as your site/videos helped me decide on the Z200 when I recently purchased a new camera for bird photography. Thanks again and hope YOU are having a great day!
Thanks, i have gotten dust inside the outer element from of all things feeding ducks with chicken scratch which has very fine dust. I now feed the ducks without any camera near me. Love the FZ-200, it's my favorite high shutter speed camera, it has a lot brighter lens than my Sony HX-400V.
I would like to thank you very much Graham for uploading this. I just bought an FZ200 on Craigslist only to find a big dust particle inside the front lens there after coming home with it, I overlooked this problem while seeing the camera. It was creating an orb in the photo image. Thank goodness this worked 😃 👍.
Graham thanks for posting up this video. I recently bought the FZ80 and mounted a macro lens on the front that had moisture in it and it clouded up the front lens (inside) and since I didn't see an access ring I had no idea how to fix it but thanks to your video I was able to restore the lens to perfect condition! Kenn
Thank you! My lens is different, the G Vario 14-140, and it has 4 screws, not 3, and a "rubber band" around the lens. BUT...it was all the same during the first 2 crucial steps, and I needed that reassurance to move forward. For the G Vario 14-140, AFTER the outer bezel is removed with the knife, and then the screws, like I said there is a bubber band that is just sitting inside of there, and the lens itself has 2 brass holders, a kind of "tripod" affair. ONE of the brass swivel holders comes out (say the screw position is Noon, then it's the 8PM position brass one that simply pops out. The 4PM position one is locked in). But once you get the 8PM brass pin removed, the entire lens comes out easily by carefully lifting on the tab where the screw was (noon position). Yep, that all did the trick, was very easy. it's just the reverse then to put back. Thank you again for getting me started!
Hello, i need your desperate help😅 I just screwed both screws without looking at your instructions thinking they would just come out... now the lense is just a bit tilted and wont come off, i dont want to do anything because more i dont want to destroy it. Do you have any tips? I dont know what screws is which because i did not look at the position, and they are defnitley not at their original position. I feel so stupid, thanks in advance.
Wish I had seen this before my most recent trip. A few grains of sand got inside and in certain light would cause big diffraction spots in the picture. Got it taken care of now. Thanks!!!!
Great video - The FZ200 is my primary camera I use for my RU-vid channel and your videos have been very helpful especially when I first got the camera! Thank you!
Don't know how a very small particle arrived inside the front lens, was going to ask you how to clean - your timing and the video is great. It's a very, very small, off to the side particle, so, I'll leave it for now. However, I'm glad to know how to clean should more particles appear. Thanks a lot!!
THANKS SIR I SWEAR TO GOD THAT YOU'VE MADE ME HAPPY THIS EVENING THE LENSES ARE SO CLEAN YOPIIIIIIIIIIIII thanks god its easy and not that hard like the tz60
Thanks Graham ... this is very helpful. I hope you could also make a video on how to replace the LCD screen on the FZ200 , including the tools to be used, just like on this video. Cheers from down under! :)
I like how in 09:03 there is so much dust on the lens or inside of it. I know this video is just to show case how to clean inside of the lens, but I found it funny. By the way nice video, I have some dust particle inside my fz1000 so I hope this tutorial apply to fz1000 too.
and it will for sure , I am so in awe of those who can do such ( yes I'm clumsy) it always takes my breath away when I see such .My pal who has just bought this model was very impressed
Hi and thanks for your video which partially helped me... I have a Lumix DMC- FZ60 which somehow managed to get some spots on the inner of the 2 lenses and when I removed the first lens label with the scalpel, there weren't 3 screws holding the outer lens in place... There were though 2 holes, one at 12 and one at 6 which I thought were to anchor a 2 pin plier, but this didn't seem to allow me to turn the lens ring and I didn't want to use too much force... Can you tell me if you're familiar with the next step for the outer lens removal.. Thank you
Hi Graham, Your videos are an absolute treat to watch! They are lucid and easy to follow!! Is the procedure to clean the front element of FZ1000 same as FZ200?? I own an FZ1000 and would like to clean its front element. I would implore you to upload a similar video for FZ1000 too. Thank you again!
I've have had to remove a FZ2000/2500 front element. The plastic decal need to be removed by slicing around the thin adhesive which holds it to the lens front. Then there are two screws at the top of the lens which hold it in place and also have adjustment for side to side focus ( I think this is their function) - they are beneath white rubber locking compound I've never split the FZ1000 but it looks similar to the 2000 in the way it has the decal ring fitted
This video inspired me to clean my Panasonic FZ70 camera front lens, but after remove the front element I realised its combination of two lens. It need to clean between the two lens - front element. Is it safe to take apart 2 lens of front elements?
Agreed. The front lens ring removal is as far as you can go. Repair shops want to much $$$. Better off buying a new/used one but maybe Graham knock it out of the ballpark with diy series for us🤔👍
Graham, I have a question. Photos from my FZ200 are marked by what I'd call a 'sooty thumb print' (typically visible against a background of sky). Might this be caused by dirt inside the front lens element? In which case, I will try the cleaning routine that you describe here. Or is it frankly more likely to be dirt on the sensor? In which case, on your evidence, I will just have to live with it. May I join the chorus of thanks to you for your explanations of this camera. You are most of why I bought one. Cheers Mark
hi Graham , I have the panasonic fz330 and the lens has fungus inside the front element i saw your video and got to the part to open the 3 screws but the lens would not come out my guess is have the panasonic stuck the lens with some glue or is some lock or screw I have the service manual but the lens part is not mentioned .If you can help out with the video for DMC-FZ330/300 thanks a ton
What a nice video Graham, I only wonder why they changed the way the front element of an FZ300 is attached. I removed the 3 screws, but it's stil fixed :-(
Cleaning the sensor on the FZ200 is not that straightforward and requires quite a bit of camera dis-assembly first of all and then the cmos sensor to be re-aligned after it is removed. It's a task that's best left to skilled camera technicians.
Yeah, that's a real shame isn't it. I would love to be able to clean mine myself as the cost to repair would likely be too great on a camera of this age.
Thank you Graham. I was wondering if you would know how to get behind the front element of an LX100 lens. got a couple of water spot inside lens. Any feedback would be appreciated.
Just in time after a little over a used of my FZ200, the enemy show is face underneath of the lens! Grrrr!!! The informations you gave us save users from huge deception. Ouf! Multi-thanks Graham, we have two FZ200, yes it is a great little camera. But I still don’t understand how the dust could came under that lens! Is there a way to stop that? Not blowing air? Thanks again Graham.
The action of the lens extending each time is like a vacuum pump - it sucks in air from within the camera and around the lens flanges. The dust sealing is not 100% but it doesn't seem to go any further than in the chamber between zoom and front lens - hence I made this short instruction of how to clean it without having to spend a lot of money returning it to Panasonic repair depots.
My Fz200 is giving a error message only in A and S position "mode dial is not in proper position" the mode continues to remain in P mode when the mode dial is turned to A mode or S mode position. .. what can be done
Would a cleaning pen be the best way to clean the outer most lens also or just use a fiber optic cloth with a drop of solution on it? I have the FZ300. By the way I find all your videos very informative. :)
Absolutely, I use one all the time for removing dust, pollen and the occasional finger print. like the one shown in the video with the replenished cleaner in the cap
Hi G great video. Just wondering if you knew how to clean a telephoto lens that has been stored in a damp place and has developed fungal spores on the inside of the front element (sigma 100-300 ex to be exact) as I've trawled the Internet and all I keep finding is that I'm doomed! Surely there is some way to clean it...any idea would be greatly appreciated.
Hi Ben, generally the front element normally screws in and concealed behind a stuck on bezel. The retaining ring usually has to slots diametrically opposite each other. Its best to find a piece of flat, thin metal and file it to fit across the slots to use it to act as a key to turn the ring. A watch case opener might span wide enough or a pair of scissors as a last resort. You can clean the surfaces with lens cleaner but the mould may have already attacked the glass coatings but its worth a try
Thanks for the Video. Could anyone give me some advice : I have a FZ48 where the 1st Leica lens looks exactly the same as the featured FZ200. But when I remove the ring as shown, there are no screws, only 2 pin holes and 6 "dots". Can I still remove the lens to clean it? Other videos on RU-vid show how to remove the whole lens body but this is a major job! I also noticed that the end of the lens cylinder was threaded on the inside. Is this to screw add on extensions?
Most front elements unscrew after removing these stick on bezels, the FZ200 is fairly unique in that it is fixed with screws and probably not the best way to ensure good optical alignment!
The Fz300 has a different method to fix the front element which also includes part of the dust/waterproofing . I haven't had the need to open my lens yet.
hi @@GrahamHoughton12 , I am from Indonesia. do you currently have information about how to open it? or instead you can open the front element by yourself? I hope you can explain how to open the front element. my fz300 lens is very dusty, i am confused even though it is dust proof. thank you
