topic Re: stuck macro filter... help! in EOS DSLR & Mirrorless Cameras

stuck macro filter... help!

chloew — Mon, 17 Oct 2016 01:22:35 GMT

I have tried just about everything to get a macro filter off of my rebel t3i.. any other suggestions? It has been stuck for quite some time. I just want it off. Not even the rubber band trick will work. Please help!

Re: stuck macro filter... help!

jrhoffman75 — Mon, 17 Oct 2016 02:47:50 GMT

Google "tips to remove stuck lens filter"

Re: stuck macro filter... help!

chloew — Mon, 17 Oct 2016 02:49:17 GMT

Yeah, I have tried that and several other ways of wording it. Nothing is working though

Re: stuck macro filter... help!

jrhoffman75 — Mon, 17 Oct 2016 03:25:21 GMT

Did you try the hacksaw approach?

Re: stuck macro filter... help!

chloew — Mon, 17 Oct 2016 03:26:50 GMT

Nope don't plan on it! Thanks

Re: stuck macro filter... help!

RobertTheFat — Mon, 17 Oct 2016 03:47:56 GMT

@chloew wrote:
Yeah, I have tried that and several other ways of wording it. Nothing is working though

If it's an expensive lens, I'd suggest you take it to a repair shop. If it's a cheap kit lens, you could try more heroic measures, possibly involving wrenches, very small amounts of penetrating oil, etc.

Re: stuck macro filter... help!

ebiggs1 — Mon, 17 Oct 2016 06:15:23 GMT

"... involving wrenches, very small amounts of penetrating oil, etc." These may be more heroic measures but certainly not reasonable in any sane world.

Next time remember a screw on filter doesn't require extreme tightness to work! The problem is you can't get even torque on the filter ring. This causes some places to actually tighten up more the more you try to remove it.

"Not even the rubber band trick will work." I am not surprised. You need something more substantial than a rubber band. But the approch is correct. There are cheap filter wrenches you might try. Those rubber jar lid kitchen aids work too.

If it is still really stuck try a screw hose clamp of the appropriate size. It gives you a much better grip. You can get one at Ace Hardware or an auto parts store.

"...penetrating oil..." OMG

Re: stuck macro filter... help!

ebiggs1 — Mon, 17 Oct 2016 06:16:55 GMT

"...hacksaw..."

You didn't say that????????

Re: stuck macro filter... help!

jrhoffman75 — Mon, 17 Oct 2016 10:52:14 GMT

Yes.

http://petapixel.com/2012/12/15/canons-official-solution-for-stuck-lens-filters-use-a-hammer-and-hacksaw/

Re: stuck macro filter... help!

Jenine — Mon, 17 Oct 2016 12:44:26 GMT

Thanks for your posting! The method above is to be done at your own risk. Canon cannot be held responsible for any damage that may be caused by anyone attempting this process. This process may increase the repair costs if the lens is damaged. For additional questions about this please contact our Technical Support Team via Email at http://Canon.us/SupportCF or by phone at 1-800-OK-CANON (1-800-652-2666) weekdays between 8 AM and 12 AM ET and Saturday from 10 AM to 8 PM ET.

We hope this helps!

Re: stuck macro filter... help!

Waddizzle — Mon, 17 Oct 2016 13:23:35 GMT

@chloew wrote:
I have tried just about everything to get a macro filter off of my rebel t3i.. any other suggestions? It has been stuck for quite some time. I just want it off. Not even the rubber band trick will work. Please help!

Are you talking about a lens filter stuck on a lens, or an extension ring stuck on the camera body?

Re: stuck macro filter... help!

ebiggs1 — Mon, 17 Oct 2016 14:13:25 GMT

jrhoffman75,

"(though he does warn that it’s “not recommended for the faint of heart”)."

Not recommended for the faint of heart? It should have read not recommended for anybody.

The problem at hand is to try and preserve the integrity of the gear. Not destroy it in the process.

Re: stuck macro filter... help!

kvbarkley — Mon, 17 Oct 2016 14:36:10 GMT

I would try one of the rubbery jar opener things and a hair dryer.

Gently heat up the end of the lens and then try to remove it.

Re: stuck macro filter... help!

RobertTheFat — Mon, 17 Oct 2016 14:43:48 GMT

@ebiggs1 wrote:
jrhoffman75,
"(though he does warn that it’s “not recommended for the faint of heart”)."

Not recommended for the faint of heart? It should have read not recommended for anybody.

The problem at hand is to try and preserve the integrity of the gear. Not destroy it in the process.

Quite so. But if you're not willing to consider penetrating oil (and maybe even if you are), it may simply be impossible to get the filter off without breaking something. And if you're going to break something, it's usually better that it be the filter than the lens.

As for me, I'd send it to be repaired, if the repair cost isn't greater than the replacement cost of the lens.

Re: stuck macro filter... help!

ebiggs1 — Mon, 17 Oct 2016 14:49:11 GMT

Now, Robert from Boston,

Somehow 40+ years tells me penetrating oil and/or a hammer near the front element of a lens is not a good thing. Maybe that's just me but I really don't think I will be recommending either. You on the other hand are free to try it.

Re: stuck macro filter... help!

RobertTheFat — Mon, 17 Oct 2016 18:08:26 GMT

@ebiggs1 wrote:
Now, Robert from Boston,

Somehow 40+ years tells me penetrating oil and/or a hammer near the front element of a lens is not a good thing. Maybe that's just me but I really don't think I will be recommending either. You on the other hand are free to try it.

Well, I hope I never have to. Part of my prevention regime is that I don't attach a filter unless I plan to use it in that photo shoot. Then when I'm done, I take it off and put it away.

One potential problem is that if the two sets of threads are composed of different metals (steel and aluminum, for example), it can set up an electrolytic reaction that effectively fuses the two objects together. Good luck getting them apart without resorting to measures that might greatly offend your fastidious self.

Re: stuck macro filter... help!

Waddizzle — Mon, 17 Oct 2016 18:17:44 GMT

If it is a kit lens with a jammed filter, just buy a new lens. Buy a better lens, and leave that one be as your "macro" lens.

[EDIT] If it is an extension tube stuck in the camera body, then that is trickier. You will most likely need to get it professionally removed. Or, you can try this unproven trick. Do not use ice. Ice is wet.

Freeze a thick bottom pot, or frying pan. Remove it from the freezer, and flip it bottom side up. Place the camera on it so that the camera is face down and resting on the extension tube. The idea is too cool down the extension tube, but WITHOUT cooling down the camera body. As the tube cools, try to remove it every couple of minutes. Hopefully it will shrink enough to loosen up and be removed.

Re: stuck macro filter... help!

ebiggs1 — Mon, 17 Oct 2016 21:50:13 GMT

B from B,

A little testy today there Robert?

"Good luck getting them apart without resorting to measures that might greatly offend your fastidious self."

My fastidious self (I don't even know what that means?) has removed more than a few stuck filters. I did DSLR 101 classes for quite some time. Believe it or not, I did not use any type oil or hammer.