Generic Lens or the Real Deal

[brakeshoe]

I just bought a Panasonic Lumix DMC FZ28 camera. The manufacturers lenses are ungodly expensive. For something like a wide angle lense I understand that it makes sense to buy a quality lens even if it costs more. What is the expert opinion as far as getting cheapo brand lens for things like a UV lens, a ND lens or a polarizing lens?

Thanks
Dave

[SmartWombat]

Same again, you get what you pay for.
Anything you put in front of the camera's lens can reduce quality.
UV filter is not normally needed on a digital camera.
Polarising filter can be expensive, but you want one that is good quality, multi-coated to prevent reflection, and doesn't have a colour to it - that is grey not a brownish tinge.
Same for ND, though they shouldn't be as expensive as a polariser.

[Frog]

Also you can get adapters for your lenses and buy one polarizer filter for all of them.
Whatever your biggest or planned on biggest is.