Fredrick
Loc: Former NYC, now San Francisco Bay Area
Just found a simple solution to removing stuck filters from lenses. I recently purchased a 10 stop circular ND filter for one of my lenses ... and couldn't remove it! Went online and read solutions such as put a rubber band around the outer edge of the filter, but that didn't work. Then I read how you can buy special wrenches from B&H photo ... but you need different wrenches for different size lenses.
Then came across a great article. Basically, turn your mouse pad to the other side, so the side with a slight grip is facing upwards. With your lens on your camera, place the front of the lens onto the mouse pad, apply slight downward pressure, and turn your camera counter clockwise. It loosens right up! Works every time.
This techniques applies grip pressure on the "entire" front of the filter lens ... which is why it works!
Great idea!
Using the whole palm of a rubber dish glove should work as well.
Fredrick wrote:
Just found a simple solution to removing stuck filters from lenses. I recently purchased a 10 stop circular ND filter for one of my lenses ... and couldn't remove it! Went online and read solutions such as put a rubber band around the outer edge of the filter, but that didn't work. Then I read how you can buy special wrenches from B&H photo ... but you need different wrenches for different size lenses.
Then came across a great article. Basically, turn your mouse pad to the other side, so the side with a slight grip is facing upwards. With your lens on your camera, place the front of the lens onto the mouse pad, apply slight downward pressure, and turn your camera counter clockwise. It loosens right up! Works every time.
This techniques applies grip pressure on the "entire" front of the filter lens ... which is why it works!
Just found a simple solution to removing stuck fil... (
show quote)
I think it may have come up once or twice.
https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/search-topic-list?q=stuck+filter§num=0&username=But reminders are always good.
MadMikeOne
Loc: So. NJ Shore - a bit west of Atlantic City
Fredrick wrote:
Just found a simple solution to removing stuck filters from lenses. I recently purchased a 10 stop circular ND filter for one of my lenses ... and couldn't remove it! Went online and read solutions such as put a rubber band around the outer edge of the filter, but that didn't work. Then I read how you can buy special wrenches from B&H photo ... but you need different wrenches for different size lenses.
Then came across a great article. Basically, turn your mouse pad to the other side, so the side with a slight grip is facing upwards. With your lens on your camera, place the front of the lens onto the mouse pad, apply slight downward pressure, and turn your camera counter clockwise. It loosens right up! Works every time.
This techniques applies grip pressure on the "entire" front of the filter lens ... which is why it works!
Just found a simple solution to removing stuck fil... (
show quote)
You can also use one of those round jar lid grips. They are thinner than mouse pads. I keep one in my camera bag along with a set of the wrenches. So far, I haven’t had any stuck filters. The second I decide not to carry them any longer, I will have jinxed myself.
MadMikeOne wrote:
You can also use one of those round jar lid grips. They are thinner than mouse pads. I keep one in my camera bag along with a set of the wrenches. So far, I haven’t had any stuck filters. The second I decide not to carry them any longer, I will have jinxed myself.
You're carrying "insurance". Leave the jar grip at home and you'll get a stuck filter.
My solution is to utilize one of those rubber jar openers you can find at dollar stores. Gives you plenty of leverage.
But the only times I have to deal with stuck filters is when I buy a used lens and the previous owner twisted a filter on too tight. I really don't understand why some people do that... just not necessary. Simply turn until you feel resistance, then stop. The filter won't spin itself off the lens.
Fredrick
Loc: Former NYC, now San Francisco Bay Area
Oops, sorry. I'm a new user, and didn't realize there were other articles on the subject. Will look at history of articles before posting in the future.
BTW, this forum is great! So many skilled photographers willing to share their knowledge and insight.
Fredrick wrote:
Oops, sorry. I'm a new user, and didn't realize there were other articles on the subject. Will look at history of articles before posting in the future.
.....
FYI-
But if the prior post(s) do not have the words in the title that you are searching for, the article will never be found.
The search does not include the contents of the article, only the title.
Many people use poor titling, like "Help", "Printer Problem", etc.
If you want your prior post to be found in a search, it needs words relative to the subject or body in the title.
(Lets call it effective communication.)
Fredrick wrote:
Just found a simple solution to removing stuck filters from lenses. I recently purchased a 10 stop circular ND filter for one of my lenses ... and couldn't remove it! Went online and read solutions such as put a rubber band around the outer edge of the filter, but that didn't work. Then I read how you can buy special wrenches from B&H photo ... but you need different wrenches for different size lenses.
Then came across a great article. Basically, turn your mouse pad to the other side, so the side with a slight grip is facing upwards. With your lens on your camera, place the front of the lens onto the mouse pad, apply slight downward pressure, and turn your camera counter clockwise. It loosens right up! Works every time.
This techniques applies grip pressure on the "entire" front of the filter lens ... which is why it works!
Just found a simple solution to removing stuck fil... (
show quote)
Sure, you can improvise--but why not buy a lens filter wrench? $4.95 at Adorama,
fits 48-55 mm.
https://www.adorama.com/flfw.htmlStick one in the camera bag and you'll never have to worry about this again.
I keep one with each camera, just in case.
Yes, we all say "I will never screw a filter on that hard" but it does happen,
especially with filters that rotate (some effects, some graduated neutral denity,
and the old linear polarizers for film cameras). Filter rings can also
get tiny dents. Stuff happens.
Latex glove wads up small and allows an even grip when using two fingers and a thumb.
Fredrick wrote:
Oops, sorry. I'm a new user, and didn't realize there were other articles on the subject. Will look at history of articles before posting in the future.
BTW, this forum is great! So many skilled photographers willing to share their knowledge and insight.
There are also those who don't understand the purpose of social media and how it works. They are the ones who insist on pointing out how a topic has been previously discussed and appear to take offense to anyone who brings up something that has been previously discussed.
Point being, not everyone here lives for UHH and knows what all has been posted or has read every posting. Repeat topics still generate conversation. I'm sure admin appreciates that more than someone who just does a search.
I have found the best way to deal with a stuck filter is as a few have mentioned, the rubber straps used to remove tight jar lids. Also, a good prevention method is to not crank them on so tight in the first place.
I saw a couple mentions of mouse pads. This is 2018, who still use mouse pads? I don't believe I've used a mouse pad in at least 15 years. The optical mouse has been around for quite some time now and they don't require a mouse pad.
Fredrick
Loc: Former NYC, now San Francisco Bay Area
Goodness ... you list so many cameras and photographic equipment.
I could send you my mouse pad to round out your collection. 😊
At the top of the page is Search, put in "stuck filter" and read all day .... 22 threads... why again???
Perhaps use the same wrench you used to tighten the filter in the first place. [sorry, could not resist that comment
]
J2e
Loc: Canandaigua, NY
MadMikeOne wrote:
You can also use one of those round jar lid grips. They are thinner than mouse pads. I keep one in my camera bag along with a set of the wrenches. So far, I haven’t had any stuck filters. The second I decide not to carry them any longer, I will have jinxed myself.
My wife refers to the jar lid grip as a “rubber husband.”
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