topic Re: Can´t remove UV filter from lens in EF & RF Lenses

Can´t remove UV filter from lens

mjroberts — Sun, 17 Mar 2013 21:30:34 GMT

I am using a UV filter made by Zeikos on my Canon lens, but I cannot remove this (it has become stuck on the lens). I am worried about forcing it due to the risk to the lens. Can you recommend a product that can be used to help loosen the UV filter? I currently live in the Peruvian Amazon so mail order of a product is not possible, rather I need to know what can be used so I don´t put anything on the lens that could damage it. Many thanks!

Re: Can´t remove UV filter from lens

diverhank — Sun, 17 Mar 2013 22:43:29 GMT

A little heat will loosen the filter right up. I recommend using a hot hair dryer and heat the filter up then unscrew. You can use a flat pan with a thin layer of very hot water, dip the filter in (take care not to wet the lens) then unscrew. Remember to use a rag or gloves to keep from being burned.

Re: Can´t remove UV filter from lens

ScottyP — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 00:40:13 GMT

Hi,

Yes, that can be a pain. If the hairdryer does not work, try setting the lens filter-down on the counter on top of one of those floppy rubber grippy jar openers. Turn the lens (in the correct direction) and see if that will do it. This puts even pressure on the filter ring rather than pressure on just 2 places like if you were trying it with your hand. It keeps it from binding worse.

They also sell "filter wrenches" at B&H, Adorama, etc. They are cheap. I need to get one of those myself.

Good luck!

Re: Can´t remove UV filter from lens

Sami — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 09:24:44 GMT

I had the same with HAMA filter and Tamron lens. I used the palm of my hand to apply even pressure and lots of small wiggles and lots of time. But eventually it came loose.

Re: Can´t remove UV filter from lens

ebiggs1 — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 15:09:13 GMT

Very hot water and a lens? Very bad idea.

Get a set of filter wrenches and don't screw the filter on so tight next time.

Re: Can´t remove UV filter from lens

HDCamTeam — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 23:25:07 GMT

Hi,

If the hair drier doesn't help, try this: put the lens upside down on a rubber cutting board (or any rubber flat surface), this will give you good and even grip/traction on all filter surface. Then try to rotate in the correct direction.

Regards

Re: Can´t remove UV filter from lens

Sami — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 06:33:08 GMT

My problem was a brand new lens and a brand new filter. Screwing and unscrewing it few times made it less tight.

But good tips with the rubber surface and filter wrenches. Maybe I should invest in some wrenches.

Re: Can´t remove UV filter from lens

HDCamTeam — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 06:12:57 GMT

@Sami wrote:
My problem was a brand new lens and a brand new filter. Screwing and unscrewing it few times made it less tight.

But good tips with the rubber surface and filter wrenches. Maybe I should invest in some wrenches.

I personally experienced similar problems, fortunately never had the filter completely stuck.

But since then I do this: put the filter over the lens thread and rotate the filter a bit in the oposite direction until it completely

"fits" on the lens thread, then rotate the filter in the right direction, trying to never overtighten it.

As stated many times out there, the filter is the final step to "weather seal" a "L" lens, so it's extremely important indeed. And of course you protect the front element.

We use to carry two kind of protection UV filters: one multicoated (expensive) and another without coating (cheap). The reason is because the multicoated filters are usually hard to clean, but deliver better image with less internal reflections (especially noticeable at night scenes with light spots on the frame, etc). But when we shoot in a situation we already know the filter will get durty, then we use the cheap filter (easier to clean, but still protects the lens).

Hope you can get your filter removed!

Regards

Re: Can´t remove UV filter from lens

Sami — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 08:14:04 GMT

Thank you for the tips. I did get it out and screwing and unscrewing them made them a bit loose. So now it works without getting stuck. It was just an issue with brand new equipment. Needed to "wear them in".

I've decided to use the UV-filter less, though. Only as a protector if I go to a place where there is a risk of getting the lens dirty and/or scratched. Before I had it on all the time, except when there were bright light sources in the picture.

And thank you all for these tips. You've been very helpful.

Re: Can´t remove UV filter from lens

GraysonHoffman — Fri, 31 Oct 2014 19:50:49 GMT

I had the same problem- I figured out how to remove the filter without breaking or damaging the lens- visit my blog for the full article http://www.graysonhoffman.com/uv-filter-stuck-now/

Re: Can´t remove UV filter from lens

jcphoto — Mon, 17 Nov 2014 17:12:49 GMT

A fat rubber band works a charm for this problem. Just wrap it around the filter, it grips well enough to allow for most stuck filters.

Re: Can´t remove UV filter from lens

GFP — Mon, 24 Nov 2014 08:34:18 GMT

Even though it's solved i'm going to add my 2 cents in here....

If you're in the field with no rubber band or hairdryer then use the soul of your trainer... it applies an even rubber pressure around the ring.... easy as pie. Unfortunately polarisers are a whole other ball game!

Best,

Re: Can´t remove UV filter from lens

bdow — Mon, 11 Jun 2018 13:45:51 GMT

What if I have put on the filter the wrong way round?

Re: Can´t remove UV filter from lens

limvo05 — Tue, 19 Jun 2018 17:48:12 GMT

Check this posting of mine. I had the same issue a couple of weeks back and found a perfect, cheap and safe solution to remove stuck filters "How to remove a stuck filter from front element"

In short, all you need is 2 zip ties, you may get away with just one, but it really depends on the diameter of the filter and how long your zip tie is. Good luck,

Re: Can´t remove UV filter from lens

Knapjb3 — Sun, 23 Sep 2018 00:27:09 GMT

My son was apparently having this problem. Im guessing that he forced it, and he said he heard a popping noise, the lense retracted and now will not work. 😞 So, I don't know much about cameras. Does anyone know if this means that the lense is now completely broken. Is it something that can be fixed? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Re: Can´t remove UV filter from lens

ebiggs1 — Sun, 23 Sep 2018 01:21:43 GMT

What lens?

Re: Can´t remove UV filter from lens

Knapjb3 — Sun, 23 Sep 2018 03:59:43 GMT

he said it was a 18-55mm. Does that seem right?

Re: Can´t remove UV filter from lens

Knapjb3 — Sun, 23 Sep 2018 04:01:00 GMT

He has a T7I

Re: Can´t remove UV filter from lens

Waddizzle — Sun, 23 Sep 2018 12:40:35 GMT

@Knapjb3 wrote:
My son was apparently having this problem. Im guessing that he forced it, and he said he heard a popping noise, the lense retracted and now will not work. 😞 So, I don't know much about cameras. Does anyone know if this means that the lense is now completely broken. Is it something that can be fixed? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

You say the lens dos not work, so I assume that means it refuses to auto focus. You mention is was an 18-55mm lens. If he heard a popping noise, then he could have dislodged the AF motors from their intrernal focusing lenses. He may have been holding it by the focusing ring. It also sounds like he tightened it far more than need be. A lens filter only needs to be snug. Temperature changes can cause filters to become really tight, which necessitates the use of a lens wrench to remove the filter.

This is not an uncommon problem for the older 18-55mm lens designs. The lenses lack a manual focus overrride feature, which would allow the user to turn the focus ring when the lens is in AF mode. The older lenses, EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II, do not have manual override, so turning the focus ring can jam the AF motors.

https://community.usa.canon.com/t5/Lenses/Autofocus-not-working-18-55mm-lens/m-p/138114#M5459

Please refer to the third post by Canon Product Expert Julius in the above thread. He describes a fix for unjamming the AF motors on a specific lens model. I suspect that your issue meets the description. Read the first page carefully. Later posts describe problems people have experienced, and what they did to correct their issue.

The fix is not for the faint of heart. You must twist the lens as he describes until it “pops” again. It will seem as if you are destroying the lens, which is not far from the truth. But, the lens is already ruined in its present state, so what is the worst that can happen. The crunching popping sound would hopefully be the AF motors popping back into place.

This is not an uncommon problem because new users frequently look through the viewfinder, while reaching up to turn the zoom ring. But, they turn the focusing ring, instead of the zoom ring, and jam up the AF motors. I have done it, too.

Re: Can´t remove UV filter from lens

Waddizzle — Sun, 23 Sep 2018 12:43:04 GMT

@Knapjb3 wrote:
He has a T7I

If he has a T7i, then it is likely that he has STM version of the 18-55mm lens. The “fix” I posted above does not apply to STM lenses, because they have manual focus override.

When you say the lens “does not work”, does that mean it no longer focuses? Is there an aperture problem? What exactly?