Help! I can't unscrew my filter!

Outis · 07-25-2014, 07:46 AM

So, I keep a UV filter on my 15mm Limited, and I managed to screw the filter on so tight that I can't get it off on my own! Just to add insult to injury, there is a giant fingerprint on the inside of the filter. Help! What do I do!

As to how I managed to get into this mess in the first place-- I'm guessing it's from the extra torque from the screw-on lens cap. Aargh...

VoiceOfReason · 07-25-2014, 07:55 AM

Get a piece of leather, press it across the front of the filter, hold the lens firmly, and unscrew it off. It distributes the pressure and will allow a stuck filter to come off. I've done it before.

**marcusBMG** · 07-25-2014, 08:10 AM

...aye, and my back up tools are a simple (rubber) strap wrench, or one of these...

**jatrax** · 07-25-2014, 08:29 AM

Trick is do not squeeze it. The harder you squeeze the tighter it gets. Press something against the top not the sides and turn gently. If nothing else is available use your fingers on the edge but press toward the lens as you turn, just do not squeeze it.

**lenp** · 07-25-2014, 08:38 AM

Had the same issue. Bought one of these. Work great. Sensei 48-58mm Filter Wrench (Set of 2) FW-4858 B&H Photo Video

**interested_observer** · 07-25-2014, 09:00 AM

You can also take a couple of ice cubes and set them on the filter's frame. You want to make the filter's frame colder than the len's barrel (cold contracts, warm expands). This will loosen the filter and enable you to twist it off.

**Ahab** · 07-25-2014, 09:15 AM

Just smash it, it doesn't belong on there anyway.

**blackcloudbrew** · 07-25-2014, 09:15 AM

No suggestions from me but...after you remove the filter...don't put it on again. The DA15Limited needs no filters, period. There is a whole other debate on whether or not modern digital lenses need UV filters at all but I won't go into that here (I'm in the 'we don't need UV filters any more' camp).

forensicscientist · 07-25-2014, 10:10 AM

Same thing happened to my 15mm. I screwed the lens cap into the filter really tight....then was able to remove the lens cap and filter at the same time. Then, it was much easier to remove the filter from the lens cap.

I tossed that filter directly in the trash, and problem solved.

Outis · 07-25-2014, 10:52 AM

Thanks for all the suggestions, guys!

Yeah, yeah, I know I don't need a UV filter, but I'm a little bit accident-prone, and I would much rather put scratches in my UV filters than my expensive lenses!

Na Horuk · 07-25-2014, 11:12 AM

Oh one more thing, try a temperature change. A filter can get "stuck on" due to pressure change caused by temperature change. Just making it a little warmer can make it easier to take off
Then there is also the "rubber sole of shoe" technique

pxpaulx · 07-25-2014, 11:12 AM

Originally posted by Outis

Thanks for all the suggestions, guys!

Yeah, yeah, I know I don't need a UV filter, but I'm a little bit accident-prone, and I would much rather put scratches in my UV filters than my expensive lenses!

Whenever this happens to me, if I pinch only one side of the filter and twist it surprisingly usually works to get the filter off. They are usually not on that tight, it is just the added pressure being applied that causes the difficulty in removing the filter.

SpecialK · 07-25-2014, 11:28 AM

Quote:

You want to make the filter's frame colder...

Quote:

Just making it a little warmer can make it easier to take off...

Quote:

Just smash it, it doesn't belong on there anyway.

Quote:

Bought one of these. Work great.

One of those suggestions should help.

**hjoseph7** · 07-25-2014, 01:03 PM

I bet you it was a Tiffen filter ?

**ramseybuckeye** · 07-25-2014, 01:38 PM

Rubber jar openers work well.

07-25-2014, 07:46 AM	#1
Outis Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Cambridge, MA Posts: 935	Help! I can't unscrew my filter! So, I keep a UV filter on my 15mm Limited, and I managed to screw the filter on so tight that I can't get it off on my own! Just to add insult to injury, there is a giant fingerprint on the inside of the filter. Help! What do I do! As to how I managed to get into this mess in the first place-- I'm guessing it's from the extra torque from the screw-on lens cap. Aargh...

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07-25-2014, 07:55 AM	#2
VoiceOfReason Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Mishawaka IN area Photos: Albums Posts: 6,124	Get a piece of leather, press it across the front of the filter, hold the lens firmly, and unscrew it off. It distributes the pressure and will allow a stuck filter to come off. I've done it before.

07-25-2014, 08:29 AM	#4
jatrax Site Supporter Join Date: May 2010 Location: Washington Cascades Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,992	Trick is do not squeeze it. The harder you squeeze the tighter it gets. Press something against the top not the sides and turn gently. If nothing else is available use your fingers on the edge but press toward the lens as you turn, just do not squeeze it.

07-25-2014, 08:38 AM	#5
lenp Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Orange County California Posts: 110	Had the same issue. Bought one of these. Work great. Sensei 48-58mm Filter Wrench (Set of 2) FW-4858 B&H Photo Video

07-25-2014, 09:00 AM	#6
interested_observer Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Tumbleweed, Arizona Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,707	You can also take a couple of ice cubes and set them on the filter's frame. You want to make the filter's frame colder than the len's barrel (cold contracts, warm expands). This will loosen the filter and enable you to twist it off.

07-25-2014, 09:15 AM	#7
Ahab Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Arnold, Md. Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 762	Just smash it, it doesn't belong on there anyway.

07-25-2014, 09:15 AM	#8
blackcloudbrew Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Cotati, California USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,461	No suggestions from me but...after you remove the filter...don't put it on again. The DA15Limited needs no filters, period. There is a whole other debate on whether or not modern digital lenses need UV filters at all but I won't go into that here (I'm in the 'we don't need UV filters any more' camp).

07-25-2014, 10:10 AM	#9
forensicscientist Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: DFW Texas and Michigan - I commute :) Posts: 1,012	Same thing happened to my 15mm. I screwed the lens cap into the filter really tight....then was able to remove the lens cap and filter at the same time. Then, it was much easier to remove the filter from the lens cap. I tossed that filter directly in the trash, and problem solved.

07-25-2014, 10:52 AM	#10
Outis Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Cambridge, MA Posts: 935 Original Poster	Thanks for all the suggestions, guys! Yeah, yeah, I know I don't need a UV filter, but I'm a little bit accident-prone, and I would much rather put scratches in my UV filters than my expensive lenses!

07-25-2014, 11:12 AM	#11
Na Horuk Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Slovenia, probably Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,186	Oh one more thing, try a temperature change. A filter can get "stuck on" due to pressure change caused by temperature change. Just making it a little warmer can make it easier to take off Then there is also the "rubber sole of shoe" technique

07-25-2014, 11:12 AM	#12
pxpaulx Veteran Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Twin Cities, MN Posts: 2,867	Originally posted by Outis Thanks for all the suggestions, guys! Yeah, yeah, I know I don't need a UV filter, but I'm a little bit accident-prone, and I would much rather put scratches in my UV filters than my expensive lenses! Whenever this happens to me, if I pinch only one side of the filter and twist it surprisingly usually works to get the filter off. They are usually not on that tight, it is just the added pressure being applied that causes the difficulty in removing the filter.

07-25-2014, 11:28 AM	#13
SpecialK Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: So California Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,482	Quote: You want to make the filter's frame colder... Quote: Just making it a little warmer can make it easier to take off... Quote: Just smash it, it doesn't belong on there anyway. Quote: Bought one of these. Work great. One of those suggestions should help.

07-25-2014, 01:03 PM	#14
hjoseph7 Site Supporter Join Date: May 2014 Location: Minnesota Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,051	I bet you it was a Tiffen filter ?

07-25-2014, 01:38 PM	#15
ramseybuckeye Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Hampstead, NC Photos: Gallery Posts: 17,296	Rubber jar openers work well.