Tiffen 72mm UV filter takes one for the team! at DVinfo.net

Charlie Durand · April 9th, 2007, 09:46 AM

Hey gang,

So this last weekend I was at the family Easter gathering. I was recording whatever was going on with my XH-A1 throughout the day.

As I was walking through my Aunt's living room my camera hit a handle on her wood burning stove, LENS first.

I nailed it head on. A solid steel handle against the Tiffen 72mm UV filter.

I heard the glass shatter and froze. I looked at the lens and all I could see was broken glass. I was going to puke right there but thought it would ruin Easter so I calmly walked into the kitchen to inspect the damage.

And to my amazement there was not a scratch on the Canon lens.. thank goodness. The UV filter was toast but that's part of why I had it there in the first place.

I've always put a filter on my lenses to protect the camera but that was mainly for scratching and cleaning purposes. While I wouldn't have expected a UV filter to take a bullet for me like this I am happy it did. I've got a replacement on order and put my camera away until it shows up.

Just thought I'd share. I know I'd be crying if I'd have ruined my A1.

Chris Hurd · April 9th, 2007, 09:53 AM

Wow. Photos, Charlie?

Charlie Durand · April 9th, 2007, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Hurd

Wow. Photos, Charlie?

At the time I was just happy nothing major happened to the camera and put it away. I realized later, 45 miles from my Aunt's house, that a picture would have been really good to use when I was posting this story this morning.

Rafael Lopes · April 9th, 2007, 10:38 AM

Man, that was an Eastern miracle. Is something like that would happen to my A1's lens I think I would cry and go into deep depression.

Mike Teutsch · April 9th, 2007, 10:42 AM

It would have been really great if the camera had been rolling at the time! :)

Dave Mody · April 9th, 2007, 05:51 PM

I have a floater policy on my camera equipment that should cover something like that. It's not very expensive and it sure came in handy a few years ago when my wife was standing a little too close to a blow hole in Barbados and guess what happened to my Kodak DC 260 (picture the look on her face as she stood there with a $1200 camera in her hands and had a bathtub worth of salt water dumped on her head)?

Cheers D:)
PS I think I would still cry a bit if my Hoya Super HMC UV filter shattered. I like those filters.

David Warren · April 14th, 2007, 06:16 PM

sweet i have this same filter ;)

Peter Jefferson · April 14th, 2007, 08:57 PM

doesnt the A1 have a lens hood? then again if its a handle, then ... anyways..

Henry Posner · April 17th, 2007, 08:30 AM

You should sell the rights to this story to Tiffen. :-)

Jeff Rhode · April 19th, 2007, 04:25 AM

We have 25 still photographers in our department all with company gear. I can't tell you how many times this happens--not because they are all careless, but stuff happens when working. Someone slips or is preoccupied and bumps into someting lens first, or the camera on the passenger seat tumbles between the seat and door and when the door is opened from the outside to get it---smash. I think I do about 6 of these each year.

Here is the best way I have found to remove a smashed filter that is stuck on (shown to me by one of the guys at Essex Camera Repair) : DO NOT smash the rest of the glass to get it out !!! you could damage your front element. I hold the camera with the lens verticle (usually between my knees) and with a jewelers saw (or hacksaw if you are brave) cut across the filter ring down to the glass. You will hear a difference when the saw stops cutting metal. Then make a second cut about .5 inches away from the first on the ring down to the glass. Next take needleenose pliers and remove the thin metal "snap" ring that retains the glass (sometimes a little prodding with a screwdriver is necessary) and the glass will fall out. Try to remove the filter--if it will not move because it is dented then grab the ring with the pliers in between the grooves you cut and twist to bend it away from the lens threads and it will fall out. Be careful not to hit the front element ! Doing it this way decreases the chance that you will damage your lens threads.

This process is much easier when the lens being cut is not your own !

April 9th, 2007, 09:46 AM	#1
Charlie Durand Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Mountain View, CA Posts: 92	Tiffen 72mm UV filter takes one for the team! Hey gang, So this last weekend I was at the family Easter gathering. I was recording whatever was going on with my XH-A1 throughout the day. As I was walking through my Aunt's living room my camera hit a handle on her wood burning stove, LENS first. I nailed it head on. A solid steel handle against the Tiffen 72mm UV filter. I heard the glass shatter and froze. I looked at the lens and all I could see was broken glass. I was going to puke right there but thought it would ruin Easter so I calmly walked into the kitchen to inspect the damage. And to my amazement there was not a scratch on the Canon lens.. thank goodness. The UV filter was toast but that's part of why I had it there in the first place. I've always put a filter on my lenses to protect the camera but that was mainly for scratching and cleaning purposes. While I wouldn't have expected a UV filter to take a bullet for me like this I am happy it did. I've got a replacement on order and put my camera away until it shows up. Just thought I'd share. I know I'd be crying if I'd have ruined my A1.

April 9th, 2007, 09:53 AM	#2
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,368 Images: 513	Wow. Photos, Charlie? __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

April 9th, 2007, 10:42 AM	#5
Mike Teutsch Inner Circle Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Port St. Lucie, Florida Posts: 2,614	It would have been really great if the camera had been rolling at the time! :) __________________ Chapter one, line one. The BH.

April 9th, 2007, 05:51 PM	#6
Dave Mody New Boot Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Kingston Posts: 23	A word of advice I have a floater policy on my camera equipment that should cover something like that. It's not very expensive and it sure came in handy a few years ago when my wife was standing a little too close to a blow hole in Barbados and guess what happened to my Kodak DC 260 (picture the look on her face as she stood there with a $1200 camera in her hands and had a bathtub worth of salt water dumped on her head)? Cheers D:) PS I think I would still cry a bit if my Hoya Super HMC UV filter shattered. I like those filters.

April 17th, 2007, 08:30 AM	#9
Henry Posner sponsor: B&H Photo-Video Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: New York, NY Posts: 137	You should sell the rights to this story to Tiffen. :-) __________________ Henry Posner B&H Photo-Video

April 9th, 2007, 10:38 AM	#4
Rafael Lopes Trustee Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Rio de Janeiro Posts: 1,240	Man, that was an Eastern miracle. Is something like that would happen to my A1's lens I think I would cry and go into deep depression.

April 14th, 2007, 06:16 PM	#7
David Warren Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada Posts: 61	sweet i have this same filter ;)

April 14th, 2007, 08:57 PM	#8
Peter Jefferson Inner Circle Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Aus Posts: 3,884	doesnt the A1 have a lens hood? then again if its a handle, then ... anyways..

April 19th, 2007, 04:25 AM	#10
Jeff Rhode Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: NJ, USA Posts: 169	We have 25 still photographers in our department all with company gear. I can't tell you how many times this happens--not because they are all careless, but stuff happens when working. Someone slips or is preoccupied and bumps into someting lens first, or the camera on the passenger seat tumbles between the seat and door and when the door is opened from the outside to get it---smash. I think I do about 6 of these each year. Here is the best way I have found to remove a smashed filter that is stuck on (shown to me by one of the guys at Essex Camera Repair) : DO NOT smash the rest of the glass to get it out !!! you could damage your front element. I hold the camera with the lens verticle (usually between my knees) and with a jewelers saw (or hacksaw if you are brave) cut across the filter ring down to the glass. You will hear a difference when the saw stops cutting metal. Then make a second cut about .5 inches away from the first on the ring down to the glass. Next take needleenose pliers and remove the thin metal "snap" ring that retains the glass (sometimes a little prodding with a screwdriver is necessary) and the glass will fall out. Try to remove the filter--if it will not move because it is dented then grab the ring with the pliers in between the grooves you cut and twist to bend it away from the lens threads and it will fall out. Be careful not to hit the front element ! Doing it this way decreases the chance that you will damage your lens threads. This process is much easier when the lens being cut is not your own !