Right, here’s a quick tip for anyone who has found themselves with a filter that just won’t budge from the front of their lens.
There are many ways to go about removing it – I’ve heard tale of everything from the WD40 treatment to this rather excessive method.
Frankly, the mere thought of the latter makes me feel the need to change my pants. So I would always advocate, at least in the first instance, a more gentle approach.
So…
Have you ever had trouble getting the lid off a glass jar? Whenever this happen to me, I give the lid a gentle tap on the work surface and if that doesn’t help budge it…
Reach for the rubber bands!
The same approach works in this lens-filter scenario, too.
One or two rubber bands of a decent thickness should do the trick, so long as they allow for a good purchase around the full depth and diameter of the filter.
Simply grip the lens firmly in one hand and the rubber band/filter in the other. Twist in opposite directions (rubber band/filter going anti-clockwise) and after a little encouragement, the offending article should work its way free!
This method has bailed me out on a number of occasions over the years – especially on cold days. Most dramatic was the time when an attached filter got smashed en route in a pannier bag strapped to the back of a mountain bike.
Such a humble, useful tool, the rubber band. Be sure to keep a supply of them in your camera bag at all times!
