Sure- the PL8-18 is a semi-internal zooming lens. What I mean by that is that is there's an inner barrel (to which the front element attaches) that moves forward and backward within the interior of the outer barrel. At 8mm, it's close to the filter threads, further away at 18mm. The lens is not water resistant at the point where the inner barrel meets the outer. However, put a filter on it and the whole lot in enclosed.
To be honest, I can't 100% confirm that weather sealing is compromised without a filter - but you'll certainly acquire water in the recess of the barrel without one and gaskets are not 100% effective in general. Putting a filter on is a belt and braces approach though. In addition, if you don't use the hood (which I don't - it's very wide and not very deep so it just makes the lens bigger, but doesn't add much protection either physically or in terms of shading), then the filter will add protection to the front element. It gets very close to the filter thread at the 8mm setting.
I didn't want to write my m43 life story but to elaborate it's been close to 10 years since I owned the 9-18. Bought it full msrp and ended up selling it shortly simply because I needed the money. For the last 9 years 12mm is the widest I had shot so I felt the 'problem' I tried to solve was simply exploring wider angles.
Nope,
Well, maybe - but there's nothing you can do about gaskets on most other lenses, but fitting a filter on the 8-18 will add additional protection. As I said, belt and braces.Of course you could then say ALL the weatherproof lenses (Oly or Panasonic) then are not really 100% effectively weatherproof since they all use gasketing. So arguing for a filter on one lens for this theoretical failure you really should then be arguing for all weatherproof lenses needing a filter, right?
But again, I am not sure what it is you think is more deficient on this lens than any other lens that you think you need an addition of a filter, which offers no extra gasket BTW, you think somehow compensates for a poor weather sealing design. You are essentially telling people that Panasonic's claim of weather sealing is not factual or that this lens is less effective than others which may be a disservice to people who are on the fence about this lens.
I intend to do it to keep dust out of it. Not too worried about water but the small dust finds its way often.
Well, whatever. I gave my view - readers can take it at its face value.
Actually a common feature among the more expensive lenses in other formats. I think they use tromboning lenses in M-4/3 to maintain the 'small' factor. If you ever saw a 100-400 fully extended it ends up almost half again longer, from 7" to 10". If they used an internal zoom it would be more expensive and be 10" long all of the time. They can use internal zooming on a lens like the 8-18 due to the inherent small size and short 2.25X zoom without adding a lot of cost.
What I really like about the design is it retracts as it get's toward the longer focal lengths- making the lens hood effective at all lengths.The 8-18 is unique in the design I think, have never seen any lens with "internal slide" like this. The front element slides on the inside of the barrel. Usually there is no barrel like this and the front part slides externally. Like the 12-45 Pro, 40-150R, P12-35/2.8 and such lenses.
The sliding part is the most weak I think, very exposed to dust that can slide into the lens. Have some dust in my P12-35/2.8. On those lenses it is impossible to protect the sliding part. BUT, on this lens, you can protect it with a filter if you want
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I was thinking about that as well, well not cars, but the focal length in the new 8-25. I don't have anything wider than 12mm, but if I decided I wanted to get one it would be a tough decision between the Oly 7-14, Panny 8-18, and the new Oly 8-25. But, assuming that once the new one gets into more people's hands and we are sure the image quality is as good or better as the others, this new lens not only offers an ultra wide angle but in the same lens gives a field of view of the traditional 35mm (great for full body length shots of people from not much more than a body length away from them) and nifty 50mm (suitable for portraits) of the film days. To go as wide as 8mm and also be able to shoot normal "35mm" and "50mm" fields of view on the long end is pretty enticing.
Got the filter, I went with B+W as as usual. Now it is sealed even better!
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Easy to wash off also
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