Calling Telephoto Lens Users

I really want to be able to move fast from landscape to portrait shoot position when I use telephoto lens on my pods without changing the lens level.

Can I really just merely loosen the collar nut / tripod ring and rotate the lens within its collar to go from Landscape to Portrait?

Am I going to scratch or mess up the lens body (Canon 70-200mm f/2.8 IS II)?

I have ballheads on both monopod & tripod but I do not like to swing it over b/c it take away the center weight position.
I know about what Yuri use but it is too big and costs a bit too much. I also try to keep it simple.
Thanks in advance!

That's all I do. I have my camera and lens on a Wimberley gimbal head, and when I want portrait layout I just loosen the ring mount. There's even a detente so you are square. Pretty sure that's what it's made for!

Fixed it for you

Wallace River wrote in post #14901174
That's all I do. That's what it's made for!

Billginthekeys wrote in post #14902023
Fixed it for you

Bill, what did you fix? I read and re-read Wallace's post, and there was nothing in it that needed fixing. The part of his/her post that you removed - what was wrong with it? Why did you feel it needed to be "fixed"? What he/she wrote reads very well to me, and makes perfect sense.
Please explain.

I think he was just implying that is how the tripod collar was designed and that was the op had to do.

It made sense to me It's what I do too.

from the manual:

yes - that's what the mount is designed to do, yes - you might scratch the lens body but it won't affect the pictures any....

Is there such a thing as an L bracket for lens collars? That way, it would be quick and easy with an Arca-Swiss style release to go from one orientation to the other.

Rotate the lens within the collar. I do it all the time. No scratches so far.

Tom Reichner wrote in post #14902965
Bill, what did you fix? I read and re-read Wallace's post, and there was nothing in it that needed fixing. The part of his/her post that you removed - what was wrong with it? Why did you feel it needed to be "fixed"? What he/she wrote reads very well to me, and makes perfect sense.
Please explain.

skater911 wrote in post #14903728
I think he was just implying that is how the tripod collar was designed and that was the op had to do.

Yes that is correct skater, it was meant as a joke. I just simplified it and removed any doubt/ambiguity that it is improper to rotate the lens via the collar.

Rotate with the lens collar. And who cares about the odd scratch anyways? These things are meant to be used. You can't protect them all the time. Sometimes you have to let the kids grow up. I mean, rub your finder on the finish long enough and you'll wear it down. Go shoot, be happy. Let the paint chips lay where they fall.

If you loosen to the point that the screw is barely in, then you might prevent some scratches. I'm with everyone else though...it's going to get used either way. Just enjoy the lens.

bratkinson wrote in post #14904420
Is there such a thing as an L bracket for lens collars? That way, it would be quick and easy with an Arca-Swiss style release to go from one orientation to the other.

That is not necessary!

Most lens/tripod collars are for two main things. The first is to take some stress away when using long/heavy lenses (one stress on the at the camera/lens mount area and the other at the cameras tripod mount). The second is to easily and quickly rotate the lens/camera unit from landscape to portrait orientation. That is what they are designed for; so unless something is malfunctioning or somehow caught in the mechanism, it should not scratch the lens body.

Example - The Canon 100mm macro USM (non-L) is not that heavy of a lens. The camera/lens mount and tripod socket areas can easily handle the weight. Most people who get the optional collar do so for quick re-orientation from portrait to landscape while shooting macro on a tripod.