How to remove filter from lens? I had a UV haze filter on my 18-400 lens and a waiter knocked hard into the camera/lens at an event. The camera and lens survived with no problem but...

jsfphotos Loc: New York, NY

I had a UV haze filter on my 18-400 lens and a waiter knocked hard into the camera/lens at an event. The camera and lens survived with no problem but the filter took the real hit and I have not been able to remove it. My husband and son have both tried and so far it won't budge. I'm happy to toss the filter and replace it (if I can ever get it off) but obviously don't want to damage the lens. Any suggestions? Thanks UHHers!

Quixdraw Loc: x

Search Removing a stuck filter from a camera lens - numerous options.

BobHartung Loc: Bettendorf, IA

There are "filter wrenches" that you can purchase. I also always try (and frequently succeed by pressing the filter against my palm of my hand, with varying amounts of pressure, or a flat not slip surface and then carefully turning the camera and attached lens with the other hand. I think the key is to get a grip on the filter without deforming it in any wy.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

You'll get all kinds of ideas. If none work without buying something, my similar experience of trying most everything was finally to get a "OXO Good Grips Jar Opener". You might find one at a kitchen equipment store or just order online.

Country Boy Loc: Beckley, WV

I have never experienced that problem but in other posts I have read that putting a rubber band around the edges makes it possible to get it off. Another said that if the outer band was bent such that it would not twist off that you could take a dremmel tool and cut the rim and remove it.

Bob Mevis Loc: Plymouth, Indiana

A rubber band (wide) is a good trick to try.

AndyH Loc: Massachusetts and New Hampshire

Sticky rubber, disc shaped "jar opener" on a sturdy flat surface, like a kitchen counter.

Press the lens and filter assembly into the rubber surface.

Slowly turn the lens anti-clockwise while pressing the filter into the rubber disc.

As with many stuck things, it may also help to try turning clockwise a hair to tighten it further before trying anti-clockwise.

Last resort is cutting the filter - you really don't want metal filings all over your nice, shiny lens.

Andy

BB4A

A Photog friend once had someone knock a nifty fifty off a table onto hard ground... it had a good quality filter on the front (fortunately) that absorbed all the damage. The filter glass was cracked clean across and the filter ring deformed by the impact... needless to say it couldn’t be budged by hand. I solved the problem in seconds with a large electrical tie, around the filter ring only and snugged up tight. The tag end of the tie was then used to turn the filter on the lens threads until it was hand removable, without damaging the lens threads.

She’s still using that nifty fifty, years later, with a new filter on, of course.

henryp Loc: New York, NY

BobHartung wrote:

There are "filter wrenches" that you can purchase.

Do not leave home without them!! https://bhpho.to/37S3GfE

Najataagihe

A pair of 10" Channellock tongue and groove pliers and piece of leather or a thick washcloth to pad the jaws work wonders.

Be sure to grab JUST the filter and gently, gently!

(I gotcher filter wrainch right CHEER!)

RowdyRay Loc: MN

CHG_CANON wrote:

You'll get all kinds of ideas. If none work without buying something, my similar experience of trying most everything was finally to get a "OXO Good Grips Jar Opener". You might find one at a kitchen equipment store or just order online.

Couple years ago, I googled this same problem and this was one of the most popular solutions. Aside from buying a filter wrench. Made sense to me, it's very similar. Was about to head to the store, when an idea hit me. I had a couple rolls of that non slip shelf liner. You can get it at the dollar store. Used it in the past to get a grip on jar lids. Why not?

Tried like I was opening a jar, but my fingers were too fat and grabbing other parts of the lens. That didn't work. Laid a piece on the table. Set the lens on it, filter down. Pushed down and turned. Came right off. Give it a try.

Edit: I see AndyH replied with the same idea. It works.

John N Loc: HP14 3QF Stokenchurch, UK

Elastic band or cut a sliver off an old cycle inner tube. The inner tube worked for me, if it won't fit over the filter, cut of a length and wrap around.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

jsfphotos wrote:

I had a UV haze filter on my 18-400 lens and a waiter knocked hard into the camera/lens at an event. The camera and lens survived with no problem but the filter took the real hit and I have not been able to remove it. My husband and son have both tried and so far it won't budge. I'm happy to toss the filter and replace it (if I can ever get it off) but obviously don't want to damage the lens. Any suggestions? Thanks UHHers!

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/buy/other-filter-accessories/ci/23477/N/3981697893?sts=cat

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

quixdraw wrote:

Search Removing a stuck filter from a camera lens - numerous options.

Great answer. I am going to copy and past this for any questions I get on filter removal in the future. Real helpful.

ClarkJohnson Loc: Fort Myers, FL and Cohasset, MA

Instead of applying brute force, one thing that has worked for me is to very gently handle and twist the filter. Sometimes the different approacH works!