LUMIX SPLITTING FILTER Readable licence plates in one picture and one flash shot only thanks to the splitting filter added in front of the photo-lens, into the thread for accessories.

Splitting Filter prices March 2012 :

S T A N D A R D	Filter diameter (mount)	1 to 9 parts	10 to 49 parts	50 to 99 parts	100+ parts
	37 to 39 mm	285 Euros	263 Euros	240 Euros	220 Euros
	40.5 to 52 mm	250 Euros	230 Euros	210 Euros	190 Euros
	55 to 62 mm	250 Euros	227 Euros	203 Euros	180 Euros
	67 to 72 mm	330 Euros	293 Euros	257 Euros	220 Euros

W I D E R A N G E	Filter diameter (mount)	1 to 9 parts	10 to 49 parts	50 to 99 parts	100+ parts
	37 to 39 mm	540 Euros	499 Euros	458 Euros	417 Euros
	40.5 to 52 mm	480 Euros	442 Euros	403 Euros	365 Euros
	55 to 62 mm	440 Euros	399 Euros	358 Euros	317 Euros
	67 to 72 mm	440 Euros	391 Euros	342 Euros	293 Euros

Notes : Prices in Euros, without VAT, for one splitting filter, and subject to changes without prior notice.
For the time being, Lumix's splitting filters are not for sale in UK, Germany, Czech Republic, Switzerland, Italy, Austria, The Netherlands, Ireland, Spain.

Available sizes :

37 to 39 mm	40.5 to 52 mm	55 to 62 mm	67 to 72 mm
37 x 0.75 37.5 x 0.5 39 x 0.5	40.5 x 0.5 42 x 0.75 43 x 0.75 46 x 0.75 48 x 0.75 49 x 0.75 52 x 0.75	55 x 0.75 58 x 0.75 62 x 0.75	67 x 0.75 72 x 0.75

- The purpose of Lumix's splitting filter is to enhance readability of over-shiny parts of a photographic picture, e.g. retro-reflecting licence plates. For this purpose, a Splitting Filter duplicates the all main picture into an under-exposed secondary picture. Comparatively to the main picture, the secondary one is approximately 5 f-stop less exposed, and geometrically shifted by approximately 6% of the picture height.

The main picture retains more than 90% of its original luminosity, on all its surface.

This makes that the over-exposed parts of the main picture become readable, providing they fall on a part of the main picture either averagely exposed or rather dark.

Splitting Filters come in two grades: "Standard" and "Wide Range".

- "Standard": The picture duplication is quasi even (*) in all the image-field, and within the aperture range of 2 to 3 f-stops, starting from the lens maximum aperture; e.g. for a lens with f 2 max aperture: range from f 2 to f 4, or f 2 to f 5.6 according to the optical formula of the lens.

- "Wide Range": The picture duplication is quasi even (*) in all the image-field, and within the aperture range of 5 f-stops, starting from the lens maximum aperture; e.g. for a lens with f 2 max aperture: range from f 2 to f 11.

(*): "quasi even" means that the intensity ratio between main and secondary pictures remains within a 30% tolerance providing the lens is compatible with the splitting filter.

- Splitting Filters are compatible with most fixed-focal-length lenses, preferably for focal lengths longer than 1.6 times the picture diagonal. Example: for a 24x36 full format, the lower limit is around 70 mm focal length.

Compatibility depends on the exact lens optical formula, and can be ensured only by tests for each specific model.

Splitting Filters are usually not compatible with zoom lenses.

- A Splitting Filter is mounted in front of camera lens, into the front thread. It has the shape of any screw-in additive filter, or close-up lens. The shortest possible distance between the front lens and the splitting filter leads to the best results. The use of a lens-hood is particularly recommended in order to avoid parasitic light on the Splitting Filter.