I was sure those cheap plastic lens spanner wrenches were junk until I fixed a stuck Canon FD 50mm

A buddy gave me a generic one he got online for like $12, and I figured it would just slip or break. But the tips were actually hardened steel and it gripped the notches perfectly without a scratch. Anyone have a go-to brand for these now?

3 comments

3 Comments

hannah2402mo ago

Honestly, I grabbed a no-name one from a camera show years ago and it's still my main tool. The key is checking if the pins are actually metal, some cheap ones use plastic that strips instantly. I keep it in my bag with a basic lens cloth and a small screwdriver set. That little kit has saved me so many times on shoots when a filter gets stuck or a mount feels tight.

miab162d ago

Ha, I love that "mystery metal" line. It's like you're gambling every time you order a lens wrench off Amazon. Mine came with a plastic pin that folded like a cheap lawn chair on the first stuck filter ring. But then I found a metal pin version at a garage sale for $2 and it's been a total boss. It's got little grooves that grip the notches on the Canon 50mm like they were made for each other. Now I'm just waiting for the day I accidentally tighten a filter too much again and see if it can handle the heat.

the_alex2mo ago

Yeah, "hardened steel" is a lot more convincing than "mystery metal." Hannah240 has the right idea, my cheap one came with a plastic pin that snapped off looking at a stiff filter ring.