Any tricks to getting a filter off a lens?

I have a Quantaray 100-300mm (junky I know but it's my backup lens)

The lens took a little fall, the uv filter chipped inside and there is a piece of the UV filter glass floating inside. The lens works fine but I cannot get that darn filter unscrewed!!! I have tried wrapping a rubber band around the filter only but it still won't come off.

Is there a secret trick to get it off???

Donna

Its going to be difficult if you bent the outer ring of the filter or lens. Try using one of those round, flat pieces of rubber that they sell for loosening jar lids. If it doesn't come off fairly easily, you might need to send your lens somewhere for repair.

I had this problem once and basically, I just kept trying and trying until it worked. It is important for you not to put direct pressure on any lens components though, so be careful. Just be persistent. If worst comes to worst, crack the filter carefully and use plyers to remove the ring. Or you could use a dremel tool.

Worst case scenario - break the filter glass (very carefully, of course) and then slice through most of the filter's threaded ring using either a very fine (jeweler's or razor) saw or a Dremel tool with a carborundum cutoff wheel. Then use a small but rugged pair of pliers to start bending the filter's ring inwards (towards the center of the lens) at the cut. Once you get it started, you can complete the cut and just pull the ring out. You may find that you also damaged the lens' filter threads.

Buy a filter clamp.

Put a rubber band around the filter, don't let it overlap onto the lens itself and twist it off.

Never tried this but get one of them plastic cable ties. Put a rubber band around the filter then the cable tie, then you may get more leverage pulling the end of the cable tie. That is if this makes any sense to you. Just be sure you are just grabbing the filter and are turning it the right way. Lefty Loosy, Righty Tighty.

A filter clamp (a specialized tool) is the safest bet. Take it to a camera repair shop and they'll remove if for you for free (or for a very nominal fee).

Mark

Can you leave it somewhere very cold e.g. under an air con unit set to its coldest setting? This happened to me and it was because the filter was made of a different material to the thread and the thread expanded in hot weather.

I had this trouble on a lens where the filter hadn't been off in 25 years. I put a thick rubber band on it and used a large channel lock pliers very carefully of course, and that worked.

Easy and foolproof - screw something big, like a lens hood, into the front of the filter, not too tight, and then tape it on to the filter with a strip of gaffer tape. Make sure the tape doesn't stick to the lens. Now you've something BIG to grip when you turn it.

Strange but true - Try to "tighten" it a tad before trying to undo it with the above mentioned remedies. Tighting it slightly can help to "unfree" it.

damn it i thought i made that up..
no one else i know uses it lol

lefty loosy righty tighty

Filter wrench.

Cant remember where I saw this tip, but wear a washing-up rubber glove and position the filter in the palm of your hand. Never neaded to try it myself, but it sounds as though it might help get more grip on it. Good luck.