Removing an Impacted, Shattered Filter?

snegron7

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Today the unthinkable happened. While transporting my Canon 70-200mmf2.8L inside my nicely padded Tamrac backpack, the backpack slipped from my fingers and hit the ground. From what I can tell, the lenscap pushed into the filter and shattered the filter. I don't kniw if the front element is damaged as I can't remove the filter. Looks like the impact jammed it really tight into the threaded area.

How do I remove this filter without slashing my hand with shards of broken glass? I have seen some filter removing tools on Amazon, but they look like flimsy plastic contraptions that won't work.
 

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A wide rubber band (like the kind that they us to bunch together broccoli) will allow you to get a firm grip on the filter ring and, ideally, unscrew it. I always keep one in my bag for recalcitrant filters and lens hoods.
Let's hope your lens isn't damaged!
 
I use an adjustable wrench with circular heads. It's ancient. I would check the hardware shop in the tool section.
Might also try a strap type wrench for auto oil filters.
This allows a safe working distance between you and broken glass. Wear Gloves, thick ones.

I do not see spanner slots on the filter.
 
A wide rubber band (like the kind that they us to bunch together broccoli) will allow you to get a firm grip on the filter ring and, ideally, unscrew it. I always keep one in my bag for recalcitrant filters and lens hoods.
Let's hope your lens isn't damaged!
I wonder if I should break away the remaining glass before I try this?
 
I use an adjustable wrench with circular heads. It's ancient. I would check the hardware shop in the tool section.
Might also try a strap type wrench for auto oil filters.
This allows a safe working distance between you and broken glass. Wear Gloves, thick ones.

I do not see spanner slots on the filter.
The outer surface of that filter is very smooth; no grip area whatsoever. I'm thinking of taking a Dremel and slicing a tiny notch onto the ring. Then maybe I can tap it gently until it loosens up a bit.
 
One slip of the Dremel and the Lens is a goner.
I've made that mistake.
 
That looks like an older B+W filter. It's probably brass and it just needs something to grip it to break the threads loose. I'd try the rubber band trick first. Or order a filter wrench from some place like B&H.

Right now I have a broken filter stuck on a Nikkor 50mm lens. Unfortunately it's a Nikon filter and it's aluminum so the filter ring itself is bent and deformed and jammed solid on the aluminum lens threads. I'm afraid I'll have to Dremel it off carefully. Fortunately I have other 50mm lenses if the project goes South. That 70-200 is considerably more expensive than my lens. Be careful with it.
 
Have you got one of those rubber pads for opening jars? If so lay it down flat on a hard surface, place the lens on it front down, on the filter ring, and see if you can twist the lens off while pressing it into the pad.
 
Dear snegron,

Do you have any rubber backed shelf paper like you use to line kitchen cabinets? Or a rubber pad used to open jars? I've used both in the past.

Regards,

Tim Murphy

Harrisburg PA 🙂
 
Right now I have a broken filter stuck on a Nikkor 50mm lens. Unfortunately it's a Nikon filter and it's aluminum so the filter ring itself is bent and deformed and jammed solid on the aluminum lens threads. I'm afraid I'll have to Dremel it off carefully. Fortunately I have other 50mm lenses if the project goes South. That 70-200 is considerably more expensive than my lens. Be careful with it.
Dogman,

There's a good chance that you wouldn't have to dremel off the old filter ring to make your lens good again. Many of the older Nikkors are made using a separate ring for the filter mount. If you have a donor lens for the part the repair isn't so hard. Look up your lens on Richard Haw's Classic Nikon Maintenance Site to see how it's put together.
 
I got it out!! I purchased a $3.00 hose clamp at the local Home Depot and tapped it gently counterclockwise with a small hammer until it came loose!

p.s. Luckily the front element suffered almost no damage (a tiny, almost imperceptible scratch). It seems to be focusing well and nothing got out of alignment!

I forgot to mention, I tried loosening it with an oil filter wrench, but it didn't grip the filter.
 

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I'm surprised to see that kind of damage to the filter glass considering you had a lens cap on and also it was all in a padded case.
 
The EF L 2.8/70-200 is a beast of a lens and I suppose that this is why Canon delivered it with a dedicated heavily padded pouch. Maybe you'd like to get one? Cheers, OtL

. by Out to Lunch, on Flickr
I normally store it in its original case. I was transporting it in a padded camera backpack.
 

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I'm surprised to see that kind of damage to the filter glass considering you had a lens cap on and also it was all in a padded case.
I'm not very good at math, but I'm willing to bet that the odds are better at winning a lottery three times in a row than the freak accident that cracked my filter! I examined the filter and it's actually dented at the point of impact. The lens cap is broken as well.
 

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This is the lens cap. Notice the impact damage. It occurred when it pushed into the filter upon impact.

At least one positive thing came of this; if anyone else is having trouble removing a stuck filter, a simple hose clamp might do the trick. On the other hand, I haven't checked to see if the filter threading on the lens is ok. The filter ring itself has a dent though.
 

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Now I know why the OLD lens caps were curved, away from the front element, and made from heavier metal. The Wollensak lens caps are amazing.
 
The one time I did this, I was walking on some slippery rocks on a beach, slipped and fell on my backside with the camera bag alongside. The filter for my Canon 17-55/2.8 was toast, but like you, the lens itself was fine. I managed to unscrew it with rubber dishwashing gloves and a lot of counter-force in the opposite direction. Glad your lens is still okay, those 70-200s are on the far end of walkaround.
 
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