Yippy, Mavic Air.
Yippy, Polar Pro Filters arrived!

Aw WTF how do you get the stock lens filter off the wimpy little bouncy bendy camera?

Mine (PP Cinema Series, Shutter Collection) are inbound & due to be delivered Saturday, so I'm keenly interested in any answers you get. If all else fails, I'll contribute my own experience later that night!

Hi Beau,
Sorry for the inconvenience caused to you.
For further help, could you please provide us with more details to check? Are you using the filters that belongs to the Mavic Air? And could you provide a photo or a video showing the issue?
Thank you for your support and understanding.

Hold the gimbal firmly in one hand and unscrew the lens ring with the other. Use latex gloves, tape, rubber band, anything to give you a better grip. Do NOT squeeze it very hard, it's  pretty thin and if you squeeze it too hard it will make it not perfectly round and more difficult to unscrew,

This should help..
https://forum.dji.com/forum.php? ... amp;fromuid=1509154

DJI Paladin Posted at 2018-2-8 18:14
Hi Beau,
Sorry for the inconvenience caused to you.
For further help, could you please provide us with more details to check? Are you using the filters that belongs to the Mavic Air? And could you provide a photo or a video showing the issue?

Sure... in order to get a good shutter speed for "pro" video, one must lower the shutter speed. Therefore, ND filters are needed. I have 3 Polar Pro ND filters standing by ready to go. The only thing in the way is the already screwed on stock lens filter on the Mavic Air. It must come off so the other filters may screw on.

When I try to unscrew the stock lens filter, nothing happens. Applying more force or pressure feels like the little camera is bending too far and may break.

It's not a lens filter in the Mavic Air. It's just a lens barrel. When you remove it counter clockwise, the glass stays on the Mavic Air's camera.

No Man's Drone Posted at 2018-2-8 19:01
It's not a lens filter in the Mavic Air. It's just a lens barrel. When you remove it counter clockwise, the glass stays on the Mavic Air's camera.

Oh ok. So that thing isn't moving.

Beau Posted at 2018-2-9 08:51
Oh ok. So that thing isn't moving.

I have the same issue......   seems like DJI have glued that damn thing on!!!

Any suggestions other than a rubber band?  That doesn't work in my case.....  it's like that component was glued on by DJI!!!

fans1791d4a8 Posted at 2018-4-14 11:53
I have the same issue......   seems like DJI have glued that damn thing on!!!

For me a rubber band did the job after many tries. Just read the other posts and threads on the same topic and keep on trying patiently. Sooner or later you will succeed, but I agree, it's a bit tricky...

Hi
After several attempts and much fear I got ... I took a small pliers and did not have to do much force ...

Use three fingers spread around the lens evenly and with even pressure try and screw it off.  I have seen so many posts about this lately it seems DJI is really tightening on the stock lens very tight.  

Hey Beau, did you ever get it off?  I'm struggling with mine, and worried that I'll break the gimbal....

DJI Paladin Posted at 2018-2-8 18:14
Hi Beau,
Sorry for the inconvenience caused to you.
For further help, could you please provide us with more details to check? Are you using the filters that belongs to the Mavic Air? And could you provide a photo or a video showing the issue?

Hey DHI Paladin,

What's up with the excessively tight lens ring????  I can't install my ND filters until I get this off, and it's on so tight I'm worried that I'm going to break the gimbal.  Is this some kind of test???

Bruce

CF-MEA Posted at 2018-4-14 14:15
Hey DHI Paladin,

What's up with the excessively tight lens ring????  I can't install my ND filters until I get this off, and it's on so tight I'm worried that I'm going to break the gimbal.  Is this some kind of test???

Surgical type latex gloves works well for a better grip, I ended up warming up the bezel with a hair dryer, only takes a little bit of warmth, the bezel will expand releasing it's grip, came off very easy once warmed up a little. Just make sure you hold and stabilize the gimbal while removing it.

I used the flat USB cable that comes with the Mavic. Just make a loop around the lens and turn. Came off really easily.

Fabic Posted at 2018-4-14 12:58
Hi
After several attempts and much fear I got ... I took a small pliers and did not have to do much force ...

After trying for several minutes, with bare fingers, three fingers, rubber band and rubber jar opener,  nothing. I finally tried a rubber band with pliers and, as stated, did not have to use much force to break it loose. I had considered pliers, but was hesitant to use them until I saw that someone else had done so, so thanks...

I managed to remove the lens ring with a rubber band and Park Tool MLP-1.2 Bicycle Master Link Pliers. They were just perfectly sized for the lens.
https://www.parktool.com/product/master-link-pliers-mlp-1-2

I struggled mightily for a couple of hours!  It came right off when I applied EVEN PRESSURE around the lens cover.  I did this by using 3 fingers, not 2.  Simple but important difference for me!!

AndyThilo Posted at 2018-4-19 07:38
I used the flat USB cable that comes with the Mavic. Just make a loop around the lens and turn. Came off really easily.

This worked amazingly well for me! I had tried using a rubber band and tape with no success.
I just used the wide, grippy USB cable that comes with the drone, wrapped it around the bezel and turned counterclockwise by holding the cable further down and not around the bezel. The trick is to not hold the part that wraps around the bezel, but rather pinch the cable around the bezel and hold the cable together further out. This creates a nice lever effect while also applying even pressure around the bezel without squeezing too hard.
Great idea, thanks again!

I have a small rubber tube I use for taking the shell off garlic: that worked for me. After the first time it's easy, I'll never screw it back on as tight as it came from the factory.

AndyThilo Posted at 2018-4-19 07:38
I used the flat USB cable that comes with the Mavic. Just make a loop around the lens and turn. Came off really easily.

Finally a solution that worked, spent ages trying to get the stupid thing of and this method was really easy and worked first time. Thanks!

Rubber band and plyers... mine was very tight also and just my fingers wasn't enough.  You don't have to squeeze hard, but you the extra grip of the plyers is very helpful.

brianoflondon Posted at 2018-5-3 08:05
I have a small rubber tube I use for taking the shell off garlic: that worked for me. After the first time it's easy, I'll never screw it back on as tight as it came from the factory.[view_image]

And even better: Now you Mavic Air is impervious to vampires

Thank you all for the great advice! Three fingers and even pressure finally work for me.

Same  problem.  The USB flat  cable  worked  great  !

DJI on-line chat support just offered me this video:   

I put on a latex glove for added grip,  and using the three finger method of holding,  I firmly twisted the cap anti-clockwise and off it came!  

CF-MEA Posted at 2018-4-14 12:01
Any suggestions other than a rubber band?  That doesn't work in my case.....  it's like that component was glued on by DJI!!!

I used a latex glove, like the ones for surgery. You have to apply quite a bit more force that it looks safe, but if you hold the gimbal with the other hand, you should be safe.

Once you open it properly, you'll never face the same problem again, but the first time is hard.

Bokepacha Posted at 2018-6-27 01:06
I used a latex glove, like the ones for surgery. You have to apply quite a bit more force that it looks safe, but if you hold the gimbal with the other hand, you should be safe.

Once you open it properly, you'll never face the same problem again, but the first time is hard.

Your last sentence made me giggle if you read it out of context.

saviour Posted at 2018-6-27 01:49
Your last sentence made me giggle if you read it out of context.

Hahahahahaha

a rubber glove worked for me ... be sure to turn counter clockwise for off

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InvisibleName 7 Posted at 7-10 09:43
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My 3D printer comes in handy to print a wrench. It sure was on there tight. Overkill, but the wrench worked.

AndyThilo Posted at 4-19 07:38
I used the flat USB cable that comes with the Mavic. Just make a loop around the lens and turn. Came off really easily.

This also worked perfectly for me too, by far the easiest and safest option. Also its worth noting the PP ND filters dont tighten all the way on either (which is probably for the best)

Hold the camera and be very gentle. If you have sausage fingers, ask your Wife or Girlfriend. Same with the Phantom, gentleness is the key.

I had the same problem. Thought I would break it trying to remove. I eventually got it off. Make sure you are turning it counter clockwise. With no power to the drone, use one hand to grip the camera (and drone) and turn with the other.

AndyThilo Posted at 2018-4-19 07:38
I used the flat USB cable that comes with the Mavic. Just make a loop around the lens and turn. Came off really easily.

Thanks for this tip. I tried gripping with three fingers to remove the ring - no chance. It came off without any problem using the usb cable. Awesome!