Broken Filter Stuck on Lens: I dropped my D4S camera with a 24-70 mm lens on it with an NC filter. Even though it was in a case, it shattered the filter. The lens appears to be fine.

bob100

I dropped my D4S camera with a 24-70 mm lens on it with an NC filter. Even though it was in a case, it shattered the filter. The lens appears to be fine. The frame of the filter is frozen on the lens and I cannot budge it. I have tried rubber bands and a rubber pad to remove tops of cans all to no avail. I tried lightly tapping the ND filter. It remains frozen. Any suggestions would be appreciated. I am considering sending the lens to Nikon to see if they can help. Thank you.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

bob100 wrote:

I dropped my D4S camera with a 24-70 mm lens on it with an NC filter. Even though it was in a case, it shattered the filter. The lens appears to be fine. The frame of the filter is frozen on the lens and I cannot budge it. I have tried rubber bands and a rubber pad to remove tops of cans all to no avail. I tried lightly tapping the ND filter. It remains frozen. Any suggestions would be appreciated. I am considering sending the lens to Nikon to see if they can help. Thank you.

You're not the first to have a filter stuck on a lens. It can be removed.

Place upside down on rubber jar lid opener.
Donât grip top of filter too tight. That can spread thread area.
Put in freezer for about six minutes.
http://www.camerastupid.com/how-to-get-a-stuck-uv-filter-off-a-lens/
https://fstoppers.com/other/canons-terrifying-recommended-way-remove-stuck-filter-3988
https://www.picturecorrect.com/tips/how-to-remove-a-stuck-lens-filter/
https://nofilmschool.com/2017/06/no-tools-no-problem-how-remove-jammed-lens-filter-without-wrench

I don't know if this is listed in one of the links, but here's a no-fail solution. Carefully cut into the edge of the filter ring with a hacksaw. Using just the blade will give you more control. If you make several cuts around that ring, it will decrease the tension and make removal easy.

EDIT: Yes, a Canon tech recommended the hacksaw solution.
https://petapixel.com/2012/12/15/canons-official-solution-for-stuck-lens-filters-use-a-hammer-and-hacksaw/

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

jerryc41 wrote:

.....

EDIT: Yes, a Canon tech recommended the hacksaw solution.
https://petapixel.com/2012/12/15/canons-official-solution-for-stuck-lens-filters-use-a-hammer-and-hacksaw/

Don't laugh about the hacksaw.
Another is to carefully remove the filter glass and carefully grab the filter ring with a pair of long nose pliers, gently twisting the pliers, deforming the ring.

bob100

Thank you for your suggestions.

fourg1b2006 Loc: Long Island New York

Let us know if it works.

bob100

No luck yet. Tried the freezer for 6 minutes, tapping softly, rubber matts, .... still no luck. I do not think I am brave enough to use the hack saw method. It remains frozen solid. Will try over the next day or so and then will ship to Nikon. Lens came through the incident fine so I do not want to mess it up. I hate to send it in but so far no luck freeing up with the easy things to try. Anyway, thanks to all for the suggestions.

Graham Smith Loc: Cambridgeshire UK

The rubber drawer liner mat in the third video works brilliantly.

BB4A

A photographer I mentor recently had the same thing happen. I advised placing an electrical cable tie around the outside of the filter frame, pulling it tight, and then using the tag end to unthread it. The cable tie applies pressure evenly around the bent filter frame, pressing back in where it’s bulging out of the lens thread and thus freeing up the area where it’s bulging into the lens thread.

Worked like a charm, first time.

bob100

Tried the rubber Matt. Not freeing it. Maybe the treads got pinched from the impact, though there is no visible damage from the outside. I will try the cable tie. Need to go pick them up. Thanks for the tip.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

bob100 wrote:

I dropped my D4S camera with a 24-70 mm lens on it with an NC filter. Even though it was in a case, it shattered the filter. The lens appears to be fine. The frame of the filter is frozen on the lens and I cannot budge it. I have tried rubber bands and a rubber pad to remove tops of cans all to no avail. I tried lightly tapping the ND filter. It remains frozen. Any suggestions would be appreciated. I am considering sending the lens to Nikon to see if they can help. Thank you.

I have customers come into my store often with exactly your same problem. I remove the ring by cutting it in two places about 1/4" apart with a pair of diagonal cutting pliers. It is they easy to use the pliers to grab that section and twist it which shortens the ring and it comes right off with no damage to the filter threads of the lens. I have done this at least 50 times successfully on almost every filter size from 49mm to 86mm.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

BB4A wrote:

A photographer I mentor recently had the same thing happen. I advised placing an electrical cable tie around the outside of the filter frame, pulling it tight, and then using the tag end to unthread it. The cable tie applies pressure evenly around the bent filter frame, pressing back in where it’s bulging out of the lens thread and thus freeing up the area where it’s bulging into the lens thread.

Worked like a charm, first time.

Just like a strap wrench.

bpulv Loc: Buena Park, CA

bob100 wrote:

I dropped my D4S camera with a 24-70 mm lens on it with an NC filter. Even though it was in a case, it shattered the filter. The lens appears to be fine. The frame of the filter is frozen on the lens and I cannot budge it. I have tried rubber bands and a rubber pad to remove tops of cans all to no avail. I tried lightly tapping the ND filter. It remains frozen. Any suggestions would be appreciated. I am considering sending the lens to Nikon to see if they can help. Thank you.

I will leave it to others to recommend methods to remove the filter, but I will point out to everyone that this is an excellent example of why you should use lens caps and lens hoods to protect your lenses and not filters. A lens cap over your filter probably would have saved both your filter and your lens.

bob100

Probably good advice. The lens did have the lens on in the camera case but the hood was on reversed to reduce overall size. Close examination of the lens now shows a tiny scratch from when I question a piece of filter glass touching it :-(. Not enough to effect photos, I hope, but my stomach aches. I will try the cutting pliers when I find a small pair.

Thanks to all for the suggestions and advice.

alby Loc: very eastern pa.

the pliers method sounds perfect.. two nips and a twist ... twisting left will also help unscrew it also. ...

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

alby wrote:

the pliers method sounds perfect.. two nips and a twist ... twisting left will also help unscrew it also. ...

Twist left on the left side of the cut with the cut facing you.
(Twist right on the right side of the cut. You want to bend the cut in towards the center which will effectively reduce the diameter of the ring.)