So, along with the £200 worth of camera gear I bought for £5 on Monday, I'm currently trying to remove a very jammed-on filter from one of the lenses.

Any hints on this? The filter itself is only a skylight, trashing it in the process is not something I wouldn't regret, provided the lens itself is unharmed.

As yet, it's resisted filter wrenches, rubber gloves and pliers.

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Try puttin' a bit of vaseline or WD40 around the base of the filter with a cotton bud.
Thats how I got my UV off my 17-35mm after it got over tightened.
Lube + pliers should do it.
You just need to clean the filter thread thoroughly after.

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mattharrisuk:

Try puttin' a bit of vaseline or WD40 around the base of the filter with a cotton bud.
Thats how I got my UV off my 17-35mm after it got over tightened.
Lube + pliers should do it.
You just need to clean the filter thread thoroughly after.

I'll give that a try, thanks.

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mattharrisuk:

Try puttin' a bit of vaseline or WD40 around the base of the filter with a cotton bud.
Thats how I got my UV off my 17-35mm after it got over tightened.
Lube + pliers should do it.
You just need to clean the filter thread thoroughly after.

Hmm... after applying WD40 with a cotton bud, then trying to remove the filter with pliers, the lens barrel itself began to turn... the filter stayed where it was.

Now, the aperture clickstops don't work, the aperture clickstop marker is nearly half-way around the lens, and the aperture ring itself is incredibly stiff. In other words, the filter is very attached, almost glued on, and no amount of persuasion... friendly or otherwise... is going to remove it.

The problem was, the lens is a 50mm, and there's nearly nothing to grip hold of on the other edge of the lens barrel to the filter ring. Rubber bands slipped, as did those "useful" filter wrenches.

Ah well, I now own a 50mm f/1.4 paperweight.

Thanks for the help anyway Matt, it was appreciated. A note to all... never *never* screw a filter on too tightly, not even if you think you'll never want to remove it!

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Not wishing to rub salt into the wound, or indeed sound to be gloating (which I'm not) but this is one reason why I choose to use B+W filters. The rings are brass and don't suffer from the usual 'I can't remove the filter' syndrome. Another reason for believing in the expression you only get what you pay for although I do realise that in this instance you bought the lens already fitted with the filter. Just one thought as you mentioned it being 'almost glued on' - perhaps it is. Maybe the previous user had problems with the threads and darn well glued the thing on.

Not sure how easy it would be to do, but have you considered breaking the filter and removing the glass?

 

I know it would remove the ability to use filters, but its better then nothing.

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TBPITW 13-14th Sept 08

Alan Ingham:

Not wishing to rub salt into the wound, or indeed sound to be gloating (which I'm not) but this is one reason why I choose to use B+W filters. The rings are brass and don't suffer from the usual 'I can't remove the filter' syndrome.

It's also a reason why I rarely use any filters, other than a skylight... and that's purely for protection of the front element.

Alan Ingham:

Another reason for believing in the expression you only get what you pay for although I do realise that in this instance you bought the lens already fitted with the filter.

Aye, and it's odd as well. The last user seems to have fitted the filter *after* the front element got dusty. There's no other explanation as to the amount of dust that's behind the filter.

... which is the only reason for me attempting to remove the filter in the first place.

Alan Ingham:

Just one thought as you mentioned it being 'almost glued on' - perhaps it is. Maybe the previous user had problems with the threads and darn well glued the thing on.

The filter on my Canon 70-300 does slip when tightened, it cannot be overtightened. But that didn't cause me to apply any form of fixing, other than tighten and re-tighten... and re-tighten... and ... etc.

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adesw:

Not sure how easy it would be to do, but have you considered breaking the filter and removing the glass?

I know it would remove the ability to use filters, but its better then nothing.

I had considered that, as well as attempting to remove the filter holder afterwards, but the fear of damaging the front element stopped me from doing this. Besides, I do tend to dislike using 50mm lenses, even though this has a nice wide aperture. Maybe I'll get lucky in one of these "sold as seen"/"parts only" OM-1 camera sales on eBay.

However, landing a working OM-1 and one useable lens for £5... I'm certainly not complaining. The body alone is worth more than that.

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Hi dave
Most filters have a screw thread inside them to allow the fitting of a lenshood and the same thread is used to hold the filter glass retaining ring. This can usually be screwed out of the mount allowing the glass to be removed even if the filter mount cannot be taken off. The lens can still be used with a screw in lens hood but fitting another filter would probably cause vignetting.

May be worth a try...

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CannOffice:

Hi dave
Most filters have a screw thread inside them to allow the fitting of a lenshood and the same thread is used to hold the filter glass retaining ring. This can usually be screwed out of the mount allowing the glass to be removed even if the filter mount cannot be taken off. The lens can still be used with a screw in lens hood but fitting another filter would probably cause vignetting.

May be worth a try...

True. The filter is an Olympus-branded filter, and looks like a sealed unit. I can't find any retainer rings on the inside of the filter itself.

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Nip down to your local Fire Station and ask them can you use their window breaker. Failing that, pop down to your local DIY store and either buy one or sneakily use it if not packed in a carton. Your last option would be to locate your local car vandal/thief whose sure to have one. These things are no bigger than a nail punch and have a very sharp spring loaded tip. They function by pressing the tip up against the glass and exerting a little bit of downward pressure. When a certain point is reached the tip retracts and flies out again (we're talking 1- 2MM here) with such force that it shatters the glass. Most fire appliances carry them now as they are far more effective than the 5LB lump hammer that were used in the old days.

I've still got one in my desk draw.........well you never know when your going to need it do you?

Wish I had suggested this before you broke the lens - Dremmel.

Seriously, remove the glass of the filter by whatever means (score it across and give it a tap) then slowley grind away at the filter ring.  Aim for 2 places, perhaps 5 mm apart, and don't go deep enough to reach the lens thread.  Then with a pair of pliers bend/pull this bit inwards.  With a bit of care you should be able to remove the section then try and close the ring up (2 pairs of pliers) and removeit that way.

Hope you get what I mean!  I could do it (but won't offer just in case!).

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Thanks for the hints. It's all being noted. But with the aperture ring now being very stiff, and the clickstops now not there anymore, I'm more than happy to carry on with the 28mm that I still have for it.

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Boltondave:

Besides, I do tend to dislike using 50mm lenses, even though this has a nice wide aperture. Maybe I'll get lucky in one of these "sold as seen"/"parts only" OM-1 camera sales on eBay. However, landing a working OM-1 and one useable lens for £5... I'm certainly not complaining. The body alone is worth more than that.

Funny that - I don't particularly like 50mm lenses either - weird.

Sorry can't offer any help that's not been mentioned.

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Mark

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