Doug Kerr
Well-known member
I recently sold my Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM lens and bought a (used) 70-200mm f/4L IS USM. Its size and weight makes it so much easier for an old geezer like me to handle.
The f/2.8 lens comes new as standard with a tripod ring, but the f/4 does not, and mine did not include one. I didn't feel a great need for one. The length and weight of the f/4 lens gives it a much smaller first moment (the property that makes the rig want to tip about the pitch axis) than for the f/2.8, and most of my tripod work is done with a three-axis geared head.
Canon's list price for the Tripod Ring A II (W) ("white") is $210.00. The price new at B&H is $139.95, and used ones at KEH run about $90-$95. I don't want one that badly.
So I poked around the Internet looking for a "third party" equivalent. I was amazed to find a credible-looking one at GadgetTown for $8.99 with free shipping.
After a couple of inquiries to their customer service desk (very prompt responses, incidentally), I was convinced that this was a good risk (I believe they offer a no-questions-asked refund) so I ordered it. It came yesterday.
It is very nice, solid metal construction with a neoprene or such liner where it clamps onto the lens. The color was a credible match to the lens (note that there is considerable variation in the color of the "L" lens finish over the years and models).
The clamping and "opening" mechanism is more straightforward than that of the current Canon model, but seems to do everything needed very well.
Here we see the unit fully closed:
Here it is well unclamped:
Here it is opened (this is required to mount or demount it, since it fits over a "neck"of the lens, unlike the case for the f/2.8):
Here we see it on the lens:
I think the unit is very nice, and how can you beat the price!
Here it is on the GadgetTown site:
http://www.gadgettown.com/Tripod-Mount-Ring-Canon-EF-70-200mm-f-4L-D00464.html
Do not be confused by the line, "made by plastic with high quality". Customer service assured me by e-mail that it was "made by metal with high quality"! How they teach these New Jersey girls to write Japlish is beyond me.
I'll have some more pix in the following post.
Best regards,
Dougo
The f/2.8 lens comes new as standard with a tripod ring, but the f/4 does not, and mine did not include one. I didn't feel a great need for one. The length and weight of the f/4 lens gives it a much smaller first moment (the property that makes the rig want to tip about the pitch axis) than for the f/2.8, and most of my tripod work is done with a three-axis geared head.
Canon's list price for the Tripod Ring A II (W) ("white") is $210.00. The price new at B&H is $139.95, and used ones at KEH run about $90-$95. I don't want one that badly.
So I poked around the Internet looking for a "third party" equivalent. I was amazed to find a credible-looking one at GadgetTown for $8.99 with free shipping.
After a couple of inquiries to their customer service desk (very prompt responses, incidentally), I was convinced that this was a good risk (I believe they offer a no-questions-asked refund) so I ordered it. It came yesterday.
It is very nice, solid metal construction with a neoprene or such liner where it clamps onto the lens. The color was a credible match to the lens (note that there is considerable variation in the color of the "L" lens finish over the years and models).
The clamping and "opening" mechanism is more straightforward than that of the current Canon model, but seems to do everything needed very well.
Here we see the unit fully closed:
Here it is well unclamped:
Here it is opened (this is required to mount or demount it, since it fits over a "neck"of the lens, unlike the case for the f/2.8):
Here we see it on the lens:
I think the unit is very nice, and how can you beat the price!
Here it is on the GadgetTown site:
http://www.gadgettown.com/Tripod-Mount-Ring-Canon-EF-70-200mm-f-4L-D00464.html
Do not be confused by the line, "made by plastic with high quality". Customer service assured me by e-mail that it was "made by metal with high quality"! How they teach these New Jersey girls to write Japlish is beyond me.
I'll have some more pix in the following post.
Best regards,
Dougo