Questions for fellow 70-200 2.8ii owners

I'm curious about a few things regarding this lens. I have owned the lens for about 8 months now and have noticed some things.

When shooting by hand, do you guys still use the tripod collar? I have a black rapids RS-2 strap, and I feel like the weight of the lens puts a lot of strain on the connection to the camera, so I usually leave the tripod collar on and mount the strap to the tripod collar. As a result, I now actually prefer the feel of the lens and holding it with my palm underneath the tripod collar. The lens feels weird when I shoot without it. I don't like the added weight though.

Also, do you use a UV filter with this lens for protection? This is one I go filterless partly since the lens hood is so deep, and partly because I don't want anything degrading the ridiculously nice pictures this lens creates.

Finally, is it inevitable that when you shoot in public with this lens people ask you about it? I don't mind, but I've noticed people constantly stop to ask about it. Have others experienced the same?

you should look into the carryspeed straps, has a connection point at the collar and camera tripod mounts. You have your hood, which is good, no need for UV.

I use a BR strap as well so I leave on the tripod collar. I shoot sports so I use a UV filter for extra protection. While many think this is a waste, my buddy got a hockey puck up the hood and the UV filter took the punishment.

Interesting on that carryspeed strap! I will have to check that out. My Black Rapids is a "Like it but don't love it" type of thing.

I took off the tripod collar when I first took the lens out of the box. I mostly keep the lens pointed up or down, except when shooting so the is little stress on the camera mount.

I have never used a UV filter.

Yes, people will talk to you about this lens in public. Canon needs to add this as a bullet point in this lens' feature list.

frugivore wrote in post #15772098
I took off the tripod collar when I first took the lens out of the box. I mostly keep the lens pointed up or down, except when shooting so the is little stress on the camera mount.

I have never used a UV filter.

Yes, people will talk to you about this lens in public. Canon needs to add this as a bullet point in this lens' feature list.

I assume then you use a regular camera strap around your neck then? Unfortunately with the Black Rapids that is one downfall is the camera hangs sideways instead of up/down as you describe.

I use a black rapid r-strap and I mount it to the tripod collar, just feels more secure IMO. When I'm shooting without the strap, I tend to grip the collar for support so it stays on my lens all the time.

I don't use UV filters, but I do use a CPL

It's definitely a conversation starter, number one question I get is "how far can you zoom with that thing"

I don't have Black rapid - but a spider dual holster where, again camera combo (7d + 70-200 or 7d + 100-400) is suspended by the camera.

Having had an expensive repair of both the 7D and 100-400 (contacts on both), I am also wondering if I should be suspending from the tripod collar rather than camera.

I have wondered about this before, as when I am hiking, the combo does swing and bang against my leg - which must put stress on the contacts.

GuitarDTO wrote in post #15772164
I assume then you use a regular camera strap around your neck then? Unfortunately with the Black Rapids that is one downfall is the camera hangs sideways instead of up/down as you describe.

I use the Cotton Carrier holster, mounted either on my chest when I use the harness or on my belt when I don't. And a hand strap is attached. There is little movement when I walk with it.

I carry my camera/lens combo (except occasionally the 60D/EF50), as I don't like to put stress on my head mount or camera lens mount...

I attach whatever strap I'm using (was the BR strap, now the Capture Leash) to the tripod collar. If I'm doing a bunch of shooting, hand-held, I just rotate the tripod foot up so it's over the lens barrel; I find it's more comfortable to hold the barrel than have the foot poking into my palm.

I use the hood, skip UV filters.

Sure, it gets people to stop sometimes; but, it's almost always genuine curiosity so I don't mind having a quick chat with them about it.

I also use a carry speed but I actually mount it to the body. I leave the collar on as I'm actually more comfortable shooting with it on than off. At the bottom is a picture of me and how I grip it with the collar on. I grip the collar with my pinky and ring finger, use my thumb to zoom, and middle/index to adjust focus.

I use a BR strap and just mount it to the camera body. I have a second backup op tech strap that clips to the one side of the camera body. I am not overly concerned about the weight of the 70-200 damaging anything. I do use a UV filter for general shooting like events and other stuff but take it off for landscapes. I have found I like to use the flat part of the tripod collar as a stand on my palm when I shoot.

I support mine on the zoom ring not the tripod collar. Seems to make more sense to me doing it this way.

People think I'm a pro all the time. For example, I've had people order me around at weddings thinking I'm paid help. Other times they think I'm a member of the press.

I always leave the collars on big white lenses (whether or not hand holding). It keeps them from rolling off of countertops, tables, tailgates, etc.