I am unpacking my gear after getting home from the cottage as I have just now finished preparing a storage cabinet. Everything was packed carefully in padded camera bags and placed in the car for optimal protection. Unfortunately I was not the only “packer.” As I took my canon 100 mm 2.8 L lens out of the bag I could hear some tinkling. I removed the lens cap and was met with shattered glass! (This was the first L lens I had purchased after starting this hobby a couple of years ago.) After the palpitations subsided I realized it had a Tiffen UV filter on it but I couldn’t get the darn filter off! (Maybe the guy I bought it from couldn’t either and that’s why it was included.) I tried a number of methods to remove the smashed filter all to no avail but then ......
I took a tray of ice cubes out of the freezer (why I’m using ice cube trays is a whole nother story,) covered the ice with Saran Wrap, put the lens, filter side down on the ice and counted to 30. The filter then unscrewed with ease. I held my breath and removed it to reveal my lens in fine shape. I have always thought it unnecessary to add more glass in front of an expensive lens but I think I might now be a convert! Well, it’s either that or assume responsibility for all the future packing myself.

I am unpacking my gear after getting home from the cottage as I have just now finished preparing a storage cabinet. Everything was packed carefully in padded camera bags and placed in the car for optimal protection. Unfortunately I was not the only “packer.” As I took my canon 100 mm 2.8 L lens out of the bag I could hear some tinkling. I removed the lens cap and was met with shattered glass! (This was the first L lens I had purchased after starting this hobby a couple of years ago.) After the palpitations subsided I realized it had a Tiffen UV filter on it but I couldn’t get the darn filter off! (Maybe the guy I bought it from couldn’t either and that’s why it was included.) I tried a number of methods to remove the smashed filter all to no avail but then ......
I took a tray of ice cubes out of the freezer (why I’m using ice cube trays is a whole nother story,) covered the ice with Saran Wrap, put the lens, filter side down on the ice and counted to 30. The filter then unscrewed with ease. I held my breath and removed it to reveal my lens in fine shape. I have always thought it unnecessary to add more glass in front of an expensive lens but I think I might now be a convert! Well, it’s either that or assume responsibility for all the future packing myself.

I am unpacking my gear after getting home from the cottage as I have just now finished preparing a storage cabinet. Everything was packed carefully in padded camera bags and placed in the car for optimal protection. Unfortunately I was not the only “packer.” As I took my canon 100 mm 2.8 L lens out of the bag I could hear some tinkling. I removed the lens cap and was met with shattered glass! (This was the first L lens I had purchased after starting this hobby a couple of years ago.) After the palpitations subsided I realized it had a Tiffen UV filter on it but I couldn’t get the darn filter off! (Maybe the guy I bought it from couldn’t either and that’s why it was included.) I tried a number of methods to remove the smashed filter all to no avail but then ......
I took a tray of ice cubes out of the freezer (why I’m using ice cube trays is a whole nother story,) covered the ice with Saran Wrap, put the lens, filter side down on the ice and counted to 30. The filter then unscrewed with ease. I held my breath and removed it to reveal my lens in fine shape. I have always thought it unnecessary to add more glass in front of an expensive lens but I think I might now be a convert! Well, it’s either that or assume responsibility for all the future packing myself.