UV lens stuck - any tips?

[Jane Hakes]

My Canon Elan 7E (not a digital but assume it doesn't matter in this case) has a 72mm Tiffen UV Protector lens/filter that has been on my Canon 28-135mm zoom lens and it's apparently stuck fast. I'm afraid to try too hard to force it as I don't want to break my zoom lens.

Does anyone have any tips for safely loosening a UV filter?

Whimpering,

Jane

[Scottes]

I just had this happen to me with a circ pol in the field. I wasn't very happy, but managed to get it loose.

Have you got a thin "grippy" leather belt? Try wrapping it around the UV kinda like the tool used to remove an oil filter. The grooves should let the belt grip the UV but not so much the lens. Wrapping it around like this will help it keep the round shape - big pliers might compress the UV into an oval and make it tougher as well as more dangerous.

Sears actually makes a type of Strap Wrench tool which would work perfectly - $20 to save a UV and lens might be worth it.
http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?vertical=TOOL&pid=00945533000&bidsite=C RAFT

[Jane Hakes]

I just had this happen to me with a circ pol in the field. I wasn't very happy, but managed to get it loose.

Have you got a thin "grippy" leather belt?..

Thanks for the tip. I used one of those little non-slip mats for opening jar lids, which sounds like a similar thing, but it won't budge. I'm in the UK (a Texan American in Queen Elizabeth's court!) and we don't have Sears here. I could only wish.....

I am thinking of perhaps a bit of vaseline smeared on it... I've heard of photographers smearing vaseline on their lenses for a muted effect so it 'should' be safe. I think I'll keep it as a last resort, though.

Jane

[CoolToolGuy]

You could give it a careful, but firm rap against a soft wooden surface. Naturally, the lens should be at its shortest when you do this (and not mounted on the body), but sometimes this can be oxidation or other crud that has just 'glued' the two together, and a little firm persuasion may be the answer. If you do it, it should be a flat strike on the rim of the filter.

Again I emphasize 'careful'.

[Scottes]

The one thing with the jar openers is that you're putting pressure on two points, and kinda squeezing the UV into an oval. The idea behind using the belt is to keep even pressure around the UV rim, thus you're not distorting it's natural round shape.

Another thing you could try is to heat the edge of the lens hoping that it might expand a bit? Or frezze the rim of the UV?

[Andy_T]

I'd rather think about using some fluid substance like MOS2 (very little of it!!!) before heating the lens. ouch.

Best regards,
Andy

[CoolToolGuy]

Another thing you could try is to heat the edge of the lens hoping that it might expand a bit? Or frezze the rim of the UV?

I think the application of heat would be a bad approach. The lens body is in the middle of this (as opposed to the filter), and the heat should be kept away from the filter - very difficult. Lubricants can liquify, elements could dislocate if the lens body expands - way too many bad things could happen.

Chilling of the filter - now there's an idea, if you can find a chilled surface you could put the flat part of the filter on it - but chilling the whole lens (if, for instance the chilled surface is inside a freezer) would not help.

This might be a good thing to try in a bar, with the beer coolers, but if Jane is in Britain where they drink their beer warm, I don't think that is an option. :roll:

Have Fun,

[Scottes]

It's not like I'm talking about throwing the lens in an oven!

...heat the edge of the lens...

Considering how little contact there is between the filter and lens you would only need to heat the rim. And how much? Not much. I'd take a washcloth and run it under very hot water, throw it into a Ziplock and hold that against the edge of the lens trying not to touch the filter. If the lens rim expands minutely it should loosen up the filter.

[stopbath]

There are filter removers (I don't know the name) but basically they are one piece items made of hard board like material. You put this arount the offending filter and squeeze. The material flexes a little, and you get a tight grip on the filter and lots of leverage. Ping. It's free.

Perhaps a repair shop may have some that they might use to free up the filter (can't hurt to ask - maybe they charge you $5 or $10 bucks)

If not, try the jar opening mat. Put it on a dry surface and put the lens on the mat filter down. Try to grip the lens behind the filter (not the focusing ring or zoom ring if they are not part of the filter mount.) and push down and twist. If you hold on to the zoom ring or focusing ring and twist you may bend something inside as you would be forcing the mechanism beyond where it naturally stops.

Do not heat or freeze, wack or otherwise abuse the lens in favour of removing a filter. If the filter is expendable, dismantle the filter (remove the glass), then carefully use plyers to remove the filter thread. You may have to deform the filter ring to remove it (use plyers and twist (clockwise or anticlockwise) so that the circle formed by the filter colapses in) but this is dangerous, and it might be better just to leave the filter on. :(

[where1]

Filter wrenches can be found on this page (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=NavBar&A=search&Q=&ci=122). Browse down some, there are 3 sets to choose from.

[RichardtheSane]

Since you are in the UK try Jessops

Filter Wrench (http://www.jessops.com/search/viewproduct.cfm?Product=JESFRW&CFID=2621129&CFTOKE N=4657a0-bea4b747-8622-4887-9c89-aab273daa954)

If that doesn't work then go to www.jessops.co.uk and search for 'Filter Wrench'

£4 = bargain

[Jane Hakes]

If that doesn't work then go to www.jessops.co.uk and search for 'Filter Wrench'

£4 = bargain

I actually took my camera IN to Jessops, but alas.... their filter wrench doesn't fit a 72mm lens.

I've tried spraying it (very carefully) with WD-40, using the rubber mat both while holding the lens and while using the mat on a flat surface, very lightly tapping the filter, and everything else. Nothing works. The man at Jessops said I could send the lens with the filter into their repair department, but it would cost a lot (he didn't say how much). Since it's not absolutely and frantically necessary to remove the filter at this time, I think I'll probably wait while. At least until it becomes critical to get it off.

Jane

[Scottes]

One last suggestion...? Since you tried the WD40 - which I wouldn't have done for fear of it penetrating into the lens itself - perhaps you could try it again, but this time tap the filter. Take something small and light, like a pen, and tap the edge of the filter quickly and lightly. Just like as if you were tapping a pen on your desk out of boredom or something. Lightly, but quickly. I'd say that 200-300 taps around the rim may help.

I've done this for many many years when trying to unstick stuck parts, and this works particularly well with a penetrating oil. The tapping can set up vibrations, but will move things very very slightly, allowing new crevices to open allowing the oil to penetrate better. For rusty nuts & screws mixed with penetrating oil, this has failed me only a couple times.

[Jon]

One tip I ran across years ago was to press the front of the filter against something firm but soft, say, a car tire, and twist.

[LordBrian]

I know it has been a while but just had the same problem with a 77mm filter.

I got three cable ties and tightened them around the filter, as they have groves on the inside they grip quite well and allow you to easily remove the filter.

[tvphotog]

Filter wrenches (http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Lens-Filter-Wrench-Review.aspx)

Wrenches just for this purpose. Very inexpensive, BH Photo, Adorama, Amazon, anywhere.

Puts even pressure all around the rim, rather than finger pressure on a couple places.

[RDKirk]

Push the lens (with the filter on it) against the sidewall of a big vehicle tire and twist.

[fotoworx]

Rubber dishwashing gloves can help you get a better grip.

I never put my filters on very tight for just this reason. I have has a few 'scares' in the past trying to get them off.

[cspratt]

Sounds silly I know, but try to tighten it just a tad then try to loosen it.

[snails]

One tip I ran across years ago was to press the front of the filter against something firm but soft, say, a car tire, and twist.

This approach, combined with the rubber "jar helper" that the op posted would be my idea. Lay the jar helper on a table, press the filter to the flat surface and turn.

[RDKirk]

This approach, combined with the rubber "jar helper" that the op posted would be my idea. Lay the jar helper on a table, press the filter to the flat surface and turn.

But car tires are more easily found when out on the street shooting.

[B-ham Gary]

But car tires are more easily found when out on the street shooting.

That may take a while with a polarizer. :D

[terry_glover]

I had the same problem and was able to remove it by stretching an elastic band around the filter.
Circular polarizers can be a problem as the front rotates.
Once my fingers could get some traction it was easy to remove. I now keep two elastic bands in my kit stretched around my CPL case.

[UK_Tomcat_Fan]

I had this issue.... Elastic bands worked for me :)

[RDKirk]

That may take a while with a polarizer. :D

What, you take those off? Get a second lens to use without the polarizer.

;)