imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

If none of the above works, you can use a Dremel tool with a disc cut-off wheel to cut two notches in the front edge of the filter directly across from each other or 180 degrees apart. Then take a thin metallic ruler or scale long enough to span the notches and insert the edge in the notches and use the blade to twist the filter off. If this fails, use the cut-off wheel/disc to cut the edge of the filter - carefully !.
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Mark Sturtevant Loc: Grand Blanc, MI

You know, I did look this up, and there are video instructions out there about cutting a filter ring off. But I am still going to walk this one back since the trickiness goes beyond what I had supposed.

I did see this rather clever method that deals with a bent ring, and it seems safe. I don't know if this was already suggested. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4tabpcHfk8

Najataagihe

As an aside, it seems there just might be an advantage to using lenses with non-metallic filter threads!

MrPhotog

We used a similar approach at the camera store for many damaged filters, but used a long-nose pliers instead of a wire cutter.

First remove the glass from the filter ring. Usually this means carefully breaking it. It will need to be replaced anyhow, and I was working at a camera store, so of course I was going to sell a new filter!

Once the glass is gone it is easy to deform the ring of the filter. Gripping just the ring with a long nose pliers ( but I can see where a wire cutter might work as well, or maybe better) it required just a turn of the wrist to deform the filter ring, effectively changing the circle shape to a stepped- cam shape, which had a smaller diameter. Once the ring was smaller it dropped out.

Another poster has suggested using a dremel tool to cut notches on opposite sides. A thin hacksaw blade, or a fine-tooth jewelers saw blade, spanning the center of the filter will cut two notches at once on directly opposite sides of the filter ring. If you use a few gentle strokes with the saw you get an excellent location to place a metal bar or knife edge, which can be used as a spanner. Great, unslipping grip with the bar in those notches, and plenty of torque if the bar is long enough.

I’ve done the two slot method at home and picked up the grip and twist method from my boss at the camera store.

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

A Dremel or any other power tools are worse thing to try, It"s just too easy to lose control of them!!!

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

Yes, this should not be your first approach - but a last resort for most people.

Or , use a hacksaw blade as described above - easier to control - MAYBE - for some people.

ELNikkor

Most drastic case I solved was a deeply dented filter ring with smashed glass filter on my F3, dropped on its 50mm 1.4 lens. Used a hacksaw to cut the filter ring down to the lens, then long nose pliers to twist the filter ring toward the center until it broke. Lens was unscathed, new filter screwed in, no problem. Just one more "glad I had the cheap filter on the expensive lens" story...

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

Where was your lenshood ??

Mark Sturtevant Loc: Grand Blanc, MI

Wow! This is getting graphic all of the sudden. I am reading this thru gritted teeth!
The big concern as I came to realize is to not damage the filter threads on the lens, so there would be hope of mounting a new filter (to protect the lens if it gets whacked again). Of course if the filter thread area of the lens itself is damaged, then that may not matter as much.

Fredrick Loc: Former NYC, now San Francisco Bay Area

If you have a mousepad for your computer mouse, turn it over so the non slip side is facing upwards. Place on your desk. Place leading edge of your lens flat on the mouse pad. Apply a little downward pressure and turn counter clockwise.
Works for me every time with a stuck filter. Hopefully it’ll work for you with your damaged filter. Good luck.

MrPhotog

Not for the faint of heart. :)

The advantage of totally destroying the filter ring by shrinking it is that it actually pulls the threads of the filter cleanly out of the lens threads. There us no potential damage from mangled filter-ring threads affecting the threads on the lens, as might happen if the damaged ring is forced to unthread.

jsfphotos Loc: New York, NY

Thanks so much for responding but I don’t know what you mean by “large electrical tie”. Can you explain or send picture? I have tried all other suggestions but so far nothing worked. Thanks!!!

pdsilen Loc: Roswell, New Mexico

I had the same problem once. What happened was that somehow the filter got cross threaded. So, I looked up on the internet on how to loosen a stuck filter. I put the lens assembly face down a hard surface like a kitchen counter. And I gently but firmly applied pressure until I felt the filter snap into place. It worked. If you do that don't apply any excessive force.

hankswan

Go on to ebay and search for filter wrench. I bought several (they come in sizes) I bought two sizes (covers most all of the normal sizes) and two sets, one for each camera bag, and I think the cost was less than $10.00. Shipping was free. Received in about a week or less. Hope this helps. If the filter is really deformed take a jewelers saw with a fine blade CAREFULLY cut part way through, and then use a flat blade screwdriver slipped part way into the slot and twist. this works but the worker must be very careful. Hope this is helpful.

GES

I'm partial to a GOOD pair of the gripper gloves (what my son likes to call spider-man gloves) from Home Depot or a similar store; they maximize your strength and provide good control. This assumes that the lens and mount remain undamaged.