Adapting filters to the G15

There are two ways to adapt a filter to the G15.  First is the Canon adapter which uses 58 mm filters and makes the camera larger, heavier, and ugly. (Sorry Canon, that's just the way I feel) You have to remove the ring around the lens and then mount the adapter which sticks out quite a ways and effectively makes the camera un-pocketable.  It's a clever design, it works well; but it just is not my cup of tea.  I had one for the G12 and hated it.

The second way is the Lensmate adapter ring.  It bonds to the end of the lens, and small and light filter holders, attached to 52 mm filters bayonet onto the adapter.  I used one of these on my G11 and G12 with very good resilts.  The adapter ring only adds a couple of mm to the end of the lens, so the camera is still pocketable and still fits in a short pocket (my criteria for pocketability).

However, there is a problem.  The G15 lens is a few thousandths of an inch (a tenth or two of a mm) larger than the G10/11/12 and the alignment tube that is used to accurately center the adapter on the lens is too small to fit over the G15 lens.  I'm sure Lensmate will introduce a solution; but in the meantime I wanted to find a way to use the Lensmate system from my G11; and I did, in fact, find a way around this.

First, I needed to know that a 52 mm filter would not vignette.  So I placed a Hoya polarizing filter in the adapter on the lens with the camera on its back and took a shot of the ceiling.  No vignetting!!!  Next, I very carefully centered the adapter ring on the lens  by eye and then pressed down.  That got the adhesive to stick.  This is risky; but happily, I got it right and the adapter is well centered.  The alternative is to wait for Lensmate to come up with a better alignment tool.