Finally caved and bought a proper lens spanner

I've been using a cheap jeweler's screwdriver and some patience for years on stuck retaining rings, always figured a real spanner was overpriced. Picked up a vintage one from a retired tech in Portland for $20 and it freed a stuck front element on a Minolta Rokkor in under 2 minutes. Anyone else put off buying a specific tool and then regret not doing it sooner?

2 comments

2 Comments

ruby49413d ago

Man I was the same way for years. Had this old Canon FD 50mm that had a front retaining ring so stuck I nearly gave up on it. Tried the screwdriver trick, tried rubber bands, even tried supergluing a bottle cap to it once. Nothing worked. Finally borrowed a proper spanner from a buddy and that ring came off in maybe 30 seconds without any damage. Felt like such an idiot for not buying one sooner. Now I keep one in my kit and it's saved me on a few old lenses that looked like they were never coming apart. Worth every penny even if it's just sitting in a drawer most of the time.

stella_roberts13d ago

Oh man, @ruby494 hit it right on the head. Only thing I'd add is be careful with those super cheap spanner wrenches on Amazon. Got one for like eight bucks and the pins bent on the first tough ring. Had to finish the job with a tiny flathead anyway. The real deal ones cost a bit more but they don't fold. Worth borrowing a good one first if you can. Saves the headache and the damaged glass.