Four ways to easily remove every stuck filter from your lens

Have you ever gotten a lens filter impossibly stuck on your camera? You fumble, you grip, you twist, but it won’t budge! Signature Edits come to the rescue. In their latest video, they share three (plus last resort) quick and easy methods to set your lens free from the filter’s grip of steel.

Rubber mouse pad

Most of us have at least one mouse pad lying around. If yours happens to be a rubber one (not foam like mine), simply press your filter face-down onto the rubber surface. Now, with a firm grip on your camera, twist it in the opposite direction of the filter threads (usually counterclockwise). The rubber should grip the filter, allowing it to loosen and come free.

This gave me an idea; a bonus tip if you will: rubber gloves. You can also try to twist your filter off while wearing a rubber glove (most of us use a pair for cleaning). Generally speaking, any rubber surface will make your grip firmer and help you loosen that stubborn filter.

Elastic band

Speaking of rubber, most households have a hidden hero – the rubber band. Stretch a thick rubber band around the filter’s edge. The added grip will give you the leverage to twist and remove the filter with minimal effort.

A hose clamp

If that darn filter is really stubborn, it’s time to bring out the big guns – a hose clamp. Here’s where things get a little more involved:

• Protect your lens: Wrap some electrical tape around the outer edge of your lens. This serves as a protective barrier between the lens and the clamp.
• Clamp down: Place the hose clamp over the electrical tape. Tighten it with a screwdriver until it feels secure on the filter, but not compressing the lens itself.
• Twist and triumph: Now you have a sturdy handle! Grip the clamp on both sides and twist the filter counterclockwise. This method should break even the most tenacious filter’s grip.

Last resort: A knife of a file

Chances are that one of the previous methods will do the trick. However, if all else fails, a very light touch with a file or a knife can be your last resort. Scratch the filter lightly to create a notch, which will give leverage for a tool like a ruler to pry it loose. But be warned: This is a last resort, as it will damage the filter.

So, next time your filter acts stubborn, it’s good to have these tricks in mind. Grab one of these items and get back to taking photos in no time.

Do you use any of these methods? What’s your preferred one?