Tried to kill my fifty - what now?

Took my 50mm 1.4 into work to let a workmate try it on his 350D. When he was putting my lens on his camera he was super careful as most people are when they use other peoples stuff. He took quite a few shots then gave it back to me.

Lens caps were on and the hood was on (inversed). I am turning it over in my hands as we are chatting for about 5 minutes. What a great lens it is etc. Next thing I know it is rolling out of my hands and heading for the floor. Solid office carpet and my fifty come into contact with a horrbile sound.

Gently pick it up but the rattle of broken glass doesn't sound good. Take the front lens cap off and


the uv filter is in a million pieces, please let that be all I am thinking. Empty glass gently into bin then try and unscrew the filter (or what is left of it) it doesn't budge. Gently lift out a few large pieces of glass that are left attached to the filter ring. Doesn't look like there are any scratches on the front lens, but I still cant budge the filter ring. OK I think I will wait until I get home and try a small pair of pliers to get a good grip.

That evening, I try the pliers. No movement at all. In fact I have deformed a little the filter ring as the tip of the pliers are straight and the ring is of course a, well,mmm, ring. The lens cap just fits and no more. Tried it on my 20D and the lens seems to work fine the filter lets through 100% of available light, which you would expect from a filter with no glass

So what to do now. The lens works, I dont want to force anymore in case the ring bends and I cant get the lens cap on. No chance of stacking another filter on top but that does not really bother me. Less need for a CP on a 50mm than wider angles. It is not too pretty but I guess that is not too important. Would canon/camera repairer be able to fix it (remove the ring?)

Anyway it could be better but it could have been a hell of a lot worse.

cheers
Ali

Can you trap the rim of the filter in a vice and squeeze it? Then snip it with a pair of cutters and remove the remains?
Otherwise just leave it and use the lens without a filter! I wouldnt risk damaging the lens.

Simon

try a shoe string or similar, strung around the ring, and use that to rotate it, even pressure all the way around.

try putting on a rubber dish washing glove and give it as even a grip as possible all the way around while you turn it.

Oh man, that's what 18-55 kit lens are for.

Try a rubber band. It's the same idea as the shoestring, but with better grip. Even pressure around the entire ring should help. You can also try a filter wrench:

http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …d1.jsp&A=search​&Q=*&bhs=t

Put the lens face down on a flat rubber surface (rubber glove, jar gripper etc). Use even pressure, push down and twist. The rubber will hold the filter in place and the lens should rotate off. The pressure downward helps relieve the pressure on the threads that holds it on.

That sucks. So which lens is this? 1.8 or 1.4? Either way, at least it works.

Put the pliers back on and twist them, spinning the pliers in your hand. The idea is to make the diameter so small that it just pulls right out.

These are a bit big, but they probably have them in 58mm.

http://www.amazon.com …ers-Package/dp/B00009R8I6

at least lens is OK, dropping lens my worst nightmare .
I am sure filter ring can be removed.

Just curious, what filter was this?

A friendly camera repair guy removed a broken filter ring for me once, crushed it as far as I remember because it was well and truly jammed on.

So much for using 'protective' filters though...

Steve

piggy wrote in post #4192489
Just curious, what filter was this?

HOYA HMC UV, it is a good quality filter

cheers
Ali

svpworld wrote in post #4190853
Can you trap the rim of the filter in a vice and squeeze it? Then snip it with a pair of cutters and remove the remains?
Otherwise just leave it and use the lens without a filter! I wouldnt risk damaging the lens.

Simon

A friend suggested the vice idea, but the problem is if it doesnt work you end up with a filter ring all distorted and you cant get the lens cap on. Tempted by the send suggestion.

cheers
Ali