stuck UV filter

[Volatile]

I bought a used lens that was about 6 months old, and I've had it for a year now, and a speck of dust has gotten between the filter and the lens. The filter has been on it since day one (1.5 years) and does not want to budge. It's hard to get a good grip on it, but I don't want to force it anyways for fear of damaging the lens itself.

Any suggestions?

TIA

[mattchase]

I probably wouldn't worry about a single speck of dust, being that it is on the filter (or lens) surface it is not likely to show up, since the point of focus will be well beyond it. If it is showing up, or is just driving you nuts that it is there, there are a few things to try to get it off. Get a towel, one with some tack to it (not the softest cotton towel you have), and start with that. I think there is even a product made just for doing this that is one of those soft neoprene type fabrics. But a normal hand towel or micro-fiber towel should work fine too. Put the towel over the top of the lens / filter, and grip it the same way, so your fingers are on one side of the filter / towel, your hand covers the top of the filter, and your palm near your thumb is on the other side of the filter. This way you are squeezing the filter ring a bit less around it's circumferance.

If that doesn't work, they make a tool specifically for removing stuck filters. Don't remember what it is called (filter wrench or something), but a decent photo store would probably have one.

There was some other trick like using a touch of soapy water or something like that, I can't remember exactly what it was. Might not have been soapy water, might have been something else...anybody remember that?

[CyberDyneSystems]

The thing they use for jar lids is a big round peice of rubber.. that may not be enough.. it gives the grip so your hand won't slip.. but your hand may not be enough mechanical advantage.

Try a really large pair of slip joint pliers (Channel locks)

One simple thing to try though is this;
try twisting while pulling out.. then try twisting while pushing in.. then try no front to back pressure at all...

Sometimes the threads bind up because of front to back pressure on them in one form or another...

[Persian-Rice]

If you are a car nut like I am..........oil filter wrench worked like a charm for me, just be very carefull.

[Volatile]

Thanks for the replies. I was hesitant to apply any sort of tool because I'm afraid I'll squeeze it out of round or possibly screw up the AF mechanism.

It hasn't had any noticable effect on any pictures, it just bothers me that it's there.

[dhbailey]

Turn the AF/MF switch to MF so you won't run the risk of damaging the AF mechanism.

[Jon]

You can also press the filter against an auto tire and turn the lens that way.You can get a bit more torque that way, without risking distorting the filter or lens.

[iof]

You can also press the filter against an auto tire

I’ve had this technique work with my mouse pad. Just spongy enough to grip, and still firm enough to not to touch the glass.

[MrKickalot]

I all else fails pit it in the freezer for a minute or two and hope that the filter material will contract faster than the lens material. Just a thought..

[charlesu]

This is an issue with aluminum filters all the time and it's why someone invented filter wrenches. You can buy them or just pop down to a real camera store (not a minilab) and they'll probably help you out.

.

[CyberDyneSystems]

I’ve had this technique work with my mouse pad. Just spongy enough to grip, and still firm enough to not to touch the glass.

Mouse PAD!!!!

Now why didn't I think fo that! Perfect :)

[gramps]

I read somewhere that putting a large rubber band around the filter might give you a better grip.

[tpinchback]

get the filter and the lens cold and it will be eaiser to remove.

[ron chappel]

If allelse fails and nothing wants to work-
Grab the edge with a set of pliers and twist the filter frame into an "S" shape (or begin to)
This is an absolute guarantee that it'll come loose while putting allmost no pressure on the AF parts or focussing helicals.It works so well that it doesn't even put much pressure on the filter thread of the lens
The filter is ruined of course but as i say-it's a last resort way of getting the filter away from the lens without damaging the lens

[Bruce Hamilton]

I have a pair of plastic filter "wrenches" that work great... Grab the filter with one, the lens barrel with the other, and twist them in opposite directions to loosten. Don't remember where I bought them, but any good camera shop should be able to get you a pair.