Canon 70-200 2.8 IS tripod collars?

Jackolow · 3rd March 2011, 10:42 PM

I'm getting a bit fed up with my tripod collar that came with my lens. Its one of those where you can't take it off without taking off the entire lens. I've used a 400mm with one that can come off and I'm wondering why Canon didn't decide to put that across the board.

Anyway, a quick search of ebay led me to a seeing that there are 3rd party collars which will fit the lens. Has anyone had any experience with them? Looking at cost only, it makes me a bit uneasy that something sold so cheap is holding something quite expensive. ($15 for a piece of metal with a hinge is pretty cheap for a specialty piece of equipment at the end of the day).

I'm happy to commit to one, however just thought I'd ask if anyone's got any stories about them

MadMonkOfFunk · 3rd March 2011, 10:58 PM

There's a short discussion about the 70-200mm F4L 3rd party collars here. I don't have one so can't comment any further, although there's lots of information if you just google.

Good luck and report back if you do purchase anything.

bubblegoose · 4th March 2011, 12:04 AM

What exactly is 'feeding you up' about it??

Jackolow · 4th March 2011, 1:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bubblegoose

What exactly is 'feeding you up' about it??

Its a potential one of those 'too good to be true' things that if it does go wrong, i don't want my lens to somehow die because I cut cost corners where I didn't need to. I love my lens. Simple as that.

macrocephalic · 4th March 2011, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jackolow

Looking at cost only, it makes me a bit uneasy that something sold so cheap is holding something quite expensive. ($15 for a piece of metal with a hinge is pretty cheap for a specialty piece of equipment at the end of the day).

I haven't looked at said mounts, but what exactly about a mount do you think should cost more than $15? As comparison, how much do you think a screw gate climbing carabiner costs - and yet I trust one with my life many times a week. How much does an aftermarket motorcycle brake lever cost - yet the one on my bike is what I trust to allow me to stop my 200kg bike (and 100kg self) from hurtling over a cliff. Getting screwed on proprietary gear doesn't mean that chinese manufactured, after market gear should cost a lot.

phreeky82 · 4th March 2011, 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by macrocephalic

I haven't looked at said mounts, but what exactly about a mount do you think should cost more than $15?

People get sucked into the brand-name overpriced thing and then start to expect it.

The same can be said for arca-swiss quick release plates and clamps too, btw. I have a heap of cheap ones of ebay and will be buying more shortly.

bubblegoose · 4th March 2011, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jackolow

Its a potential one of those 'too good to be true' things that if it does go wrong, i don't want my lens to somehow die because I cut cost corners where I didn't need to. I love my lens. Simple as that.

What I mean is. You said you were getting fed up by the one that came with the 70-200. I am just asking "Why". What is bothering you about it?

MatterHorn · 4th March 2011, 1:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bubblegoose

What I mean is. You said you were getting fed up by the one that came with the 70-200. I am just asking "Why". What is bothering you about it?

Quote:

you can't take it off without taking off the entire lens

It's pretty dumb to design a tripod collar that requires the lens to be removed to take it off. I just leave mine off permanently as I never use it.

bubblegoose · 4th March 2011, 1:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MatterHorn

It's pretty dumb to design a tripod collar that requires the lens to be removed to take it off. I just leave mine off permanently as I never use it.

Fair enough then... I actually prefer it like that, No chance of it comming loose and the lens falling off.

And I had no issues using it with it on. I used to like using the collar as a palm rest to hold the lens with. If I wanted it out of the way, Just spun it so it was at the top.

Also, later on when I got a rapid strap, the strap connected to the mount anyway. I felt much safer with the rapid strap connected to the collar, rather than the mount in the bottom of the camera.

3rd March 2011, 10:42 PM	#1
Jackolow Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Mount Isa, Qld Posts: 1,526	Canon 70-200 2.8 IS tripod collars? I'm getting a bit fed up with my tripod collar that came with my lens. Its one of those where you can't take it off without taking off the entire lens. I've used a 400mm with one that can come off and I'm wondering why Canon didn't decide to put that across the board. Anyway, a quick search of ebay led me to a seeing that there are 3rd party collars which will fit the lens. Has anyone had any experience with them? Looking at cost only, it makes me a bit uneasy that something sold so cheap is holding something quite expensive. ($15 for a piece of metal with a hinge is pretty cheap for a specialty piece of equipment at the end of the day). I'm happy to commit to one, however just thought I'd ask if anyone's got any stories about them

3rd March 2011, 10:58 PM	#2
MadMonkOfFunk Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Brisbane Posts: 232	There's a short discussion about the 70-200mm F4L 3rd party collars here. I don't have one so can't comment any further, although there's lots of information if you just google. Good luck and report back if you do purchase anything. __________________ PC: i7 920 \| P6T \| 6GB \| 4TB \| GTX285 \| HX-620 \| TJ07 \| HK 3.0 \| EK-285 \| MCP355 \| RX360 \| EK-Multi 250 \| Z-5500 CAMERA: Canon 550D \| 18-55mm IS \| 70-200mm F4L \| 430EX II \| 055XPROB + 322RC2 \| RS-7 \| flickr - only just started

4th March 2011, 12:04 AM	#3
bubblegoose Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Albury Posts: 4,286	What exactly is 'feeding you up' about it?? __________________ { BUBBLE photographics \| flickr \| Sigmalux FAN CLUB!!!! }