Have Camera Will Travel - Reviews & Tips HomepageHave Camera Will Travel - Reviews & Tips

David Coleman Photography

  • Reviews & Tips
  • GoPro
  • Lightroom
  • Places
  • Photos
  • Reviews
    • Nikon
    • Sony
    • Fujifilm
    • Cameras
    • Lenses
    • Sample Images
    • Travel Tripods
    • Adventure Cameras
    • 360°
  • Memory Cards
  • GoPro
  • Flash
  • Travel Tripods
  • Books
  • Social Media
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    • Twitter

How to Remove a Lens Filter That’s Stuck

How do you remove a filter that’s stuck on a lens? Here are some things to try.

How to Use a Lens Filter Wrench

Categories: Filters

Last updated about 9 months ago // Originally published about 10 months ago

Sometimes screw-in lens filters can become stuck on a lens. It might be screwed on too tightly, or salt spray or grit might be jammed in the filter thread. And because the filters are so thin, there’s often not much opportunity to get a good grip with your bare hands. Especially if your hands are cold or wet (or both), which is common in landscape photography.

You usually don’t what to use brute force methods like a vice, pliers, or multigrips. At best, they risk damaging the filter. Just as likely is to damage the lens rim or end up with broken glass. And you don’t want to add any lubricant, because that’s going to wreak havoc with the optics and the lens mechanism.

Two quick options are to use a clean cloth to try to get a better grip. I find that a rubber band wrapped around the filter works even better. There’s no particular magic to which rubber bands to use, although I’ve used these ones for years and find them a good combination of the right size for many lenses and offering good grip that lays flat on the surface without twisting.

How to Remove Lens Filter Rubber Band

Filter Wrenches

If you find yourself putting filters on and off a lot, you can also get inexpensive filter wrenches that make for a good solution.

How to Remove Lens Filter - Lens Filter Wrench

They’re pretty simple: they’re just slightly springy to make it easy to get a firm grip around the outside of the filter. You just slip the wrench around the filter, and you’ll then have both grip and leverage. You can get something similar in kitchen utensils for jars–the main difference with the filter ones is that they have a very narrow area that comes into contact with the filter, so you can get good purchase on just a single filter rather than a broader contact that makes it difficult because you’re trying to turn both the filter and part of the lens.

Filter wrenches also have the benefit of reducing the risk of getting fingerprints on the filter or lens’s front element. They’re especially useful when your hands are cold or wet. If you’re only carrying one or two for the most common filter sizes you’re using, then the wrenches are light and hardly take up any space in your camera bag. You can also get inexpensive sets to cover pretty much any lens diameter you’re likely to have in your kit.

How to Remove Lens Filter - Lens Filter Wrenches

Things Worth Knowing About Lens Filter Wrenches

They come in different sizes. Each one covers a small range of lens diameters. For example, one might cover filter sizes of 67mm to 72mm or 58mm to 62mm. But you don’t necessarily need a perfect fit for every size. So if you have one that’s close to the right size, it’s worth giving it a try. You’re after grip, and the wrenches are designed to wrap around.

In general, you don’t want to use them to attach a filter. That’s to reduce the risk of over-tightening. Filters should be finger tight. If you do them too tight, you risk damaging the brass, aluminum, or plastic threads on either the lens or the filter (or both).

On most lenses, as you’re looking down the barrel of the lens, you’ll turn the filter counter-clockwise to loosen and clockwise to tighten.

Where to Find Them

Any good photography gear retailer should carry them. You don’t need fancy or expensive. I quite like this multi-wrench pack that offers good value.

Neewer 4 Packs (8 Pieces) Camera Lens Filter Wrench Kit, Metal...
Neewer 4 Packs (8 Pieces) Camera Lens Filter Wrench Kit, Metal...
  • Kit includes: 4 Packs (8 Pieces) Filter Remover Wrench 48-55mm, 58-62mm, 67-72mm, 77-82mm
  • Loyal to their duty: they can remove your stuck filters from your lens or even help fix your filter when...
Check Price at Amazon

Images and product information from Amazon PA-API were last updated on 2020-12-27 at 05:29. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon Site at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.

By David Coleman
Instagram: @havecamerawilltraveldc

Last updated on March 23, 2020

Categories: Filters

I may earn a commission for purchases using links on this page. Learn more.

News & Deals

With the holidays fast approaching, there’s some great deals on photography gear and services available. I’ve put together a roundup of Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2020 Photography Deals. It’s a running list as new deals are announced, so be sure to check back.

Canon announces new EOS Rebel T8i DSLR. Canon has announced their new T8i DSLR. 24MP APS-C cropped CMOS sensor, 4K24 video, and updated image processing and detection systems. It’s available for preorder from B&H Photo.

New Firmware for the Ricoh GR III. Ricoh has release firmware v1.31 for the GR III. Release notes are: “Corrected — When shooting with the multiple exposure, in rare cases the live view may not display correctly. Improved stability for general performance.” You can download it here.

New Canon 1D X Mark III Pro DSLR Announced. Canon has announced their new flagship model of pro DSLR, the 1D X Mark III. They’re sticking with a 20.1MP CMOS sensor, but it’s a new and improved version and boasts an incredible native ISO range of ISO 100 to ISO 102400 and an extended range that goes up to a jaw-dropping ISO 819200. With revamped autofocus, a new image processor, and all sorts of other bells and whistles, it’s no wonder that Canon is billing it as “The Ultimate EOS.”

New Manfrotto Pro Rugged Memory Cards. Manfrotto, an Italian probably best known for their tripods and studio accessories, has launched a new Pro Rugged range of high-end SD, microSD, and CompactFlash cards. While they don’t have a huge selection of sizes and speeds, the cards are aiming for very fast cards that can put up with rugged demands. For instance, they claim that their V90 rated SD cards can withstand three times the force (20kg / 45 lbs) of a regular SD card. I’ve ordered some to run through my speed tests.

New Sony Alpha a7 firmware released. A firmware update for the Sony a7R IV now lets you control external Sony flashes from the camera’s own menu system. Up to 15 flashes in five groups can be controlled via the camera. It also applies to the a7R III and a7 III.

Comments

  1. Bill Gow says

    March 23, 2020 at 6:29 pm

    I use either a rubber lid gripper my wife keeps in the kitchen or a flat, soft piece of wood. The rubber lid gripper is just a sheet of rubber that lets you get a better grip and they work really well and can usually be found at your local market in the kitchen gadget section. The wood has to be soft. Most pine is OK but redwood is even better and walnut works in a pinch (don’t ask me how I know…). The filters with the raised notched rims can be shoved onto the wood and the lens turned to remove the filter. This takes a little practice and a fairly heavy hand but it works. As long as the wood surface is soft enough to allow you to embed the filter ridges into it, this should work.

    Reply
    • David says

      March 23, 2020 at 6:36 pm

      Great tips–thanks!

      Reply

Questions & Comments Cancel reply

You have to agree to the comment policy.

About Me

I take photos. I travel. I do it for a living. Seven continents. Dozens of countries. Up mountains. Under water. And a bunch of places in between.

Get in Touch

Newsletter

© 2009–2020 David Coleman · Have Camera Will Travel LLC · all rights reserved


Photos by David Coleman. Please contact me for licensing images.
All images are registered with the U.S. Copyright Office.


Privacy & Disclosure · Cookie Declaration · Disclaimer · Terms of Service · Copyright · Contact


XML Sitemap