Brian —
That is really good to know.
I took the camera to a Panasonic dealer– after talking with a rep there. This was a place called Specialized Communications in Hagerstown, MD. The service there was super. Aside from the travel — the trip cost me nothing.
What we found was likely a supersmall speck of hardened concrete. For fear of scratching the lens, I didn’t attempt a fix after the first few tries w/lens cleaner.
The tech there was knowledgeable and very helpful. He kept after it for about 15 mins — and managed to get all but the very slightest trace — a shadow visible only with effort — off the lens.
It was so small I couldn’t imagine it was debris, but it was. I may go after the final bit with your solution.
Thank you for your help.
JR