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If you use a Digital SLR camera - you probably use filters. Polarizing, UV, Color. Filters are Great! Until....one of those filters gets jammed tight on the camera, or on another filter (if you stack them.)
This is especially frustrating if you are using a polarizing filter, as the front of it rotates freely, making it difficult to get much traction.
You have three choices -
1) Pay a camera store to separate them (if you can find one that does repair work).
2) Order a Camera Filter Wrench set for $20 (and wait a week for it to arrive),
OR
3) step into your garage, grab two 14" cable ties, and free them in under a minute.
How? Read on...
This is especially frustrating if you are using a polarizing filter, as the front of it rotates freely, making it difficult to get much traction.
You have three choices -
1) Pay a camera store to separate them (if you can find one that does repair work).
2) Order a Camera Filter Wrench set for $20 (and wait a week for it to arrive),
OR
3) step into your garage, grab two 14" cable ties, and free them in under a minute.
How? Read on...
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Signing UpStep 1Grasp the locked filters and wrap the first tie-band around them
Hold the jammed filters in one hand.
Wrap a cable tie around the bottom filter, until you have two ends about the same length.
Place your index finger between the two tails of the cable tie, then grasp the ends with your remaining fingers and thumb.
The cable tie should be straight around the filter, and you should be able to hold it tightly with one hand.
BE CAREFUL not to squeeze hard until you have the band straight! You could "pop" the filter out of the cable tie and send it flying to a shattering end on the floor! (I generally do this whole process in my lap for safety.)
Wrap a cable tie around the bottom filter, until you have two ends about the same length.
Place your index finger between the two tails of the cable tie, then grasp the ends with your remaining fingers and thumb.
The cable tie should be straight around the filter, and you should be able to hold it tightly with one hand.
BE CAREFUL not to squeeze hard until you have the band straight! You could "pop" the filter out of the cable tie and send it flying to a shattering end on the floor! (I generally do this whole process in my lap for safety.)
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I agree about your caution regarding autofocus: if one twisted against the lens you could damage the mechanism. But by using two ties, and twisting against oneself, I think one can avoid that risk.
I had a filter adapter (58 to 62mm so I can use the 62mm filter on a lens that uses 58mm filters) that mated itself to the filter. I tried leather, my bare hands (nothing really to grip onto). It was stuck. A few seconds with this little trick and voila!
The wire ties are in the camera bag now, WITH THE FILTERS!
Thanks!