Some really stupid questions about heavier zoom lenses

I'm considering the 70-200 f/2.8L (non-IS). It would be, by a decent margin, the biggest/heaviest lens I've owned. As such, I have some pretty dumb questions I'd like to ask...

(1) I've noticed these lenses come with a tripod collar. I've never actually used a tripod and I don't see a need to use one in my photography, so can this collar be removed?

(2) Does the existence of this collar mean that Canon suggests you should use a tripod whenever possible? What I mean by this is if I'm just using this lens for handheld shooting for several hours on a consistent basis, is the weight "bad" for the lens mount?

Collar can be removed easily. It's only used when mounting to a tripod as the name implies.

When you DO use a tripod, you will always want to use a tripod collar with a lens of this size. The lens outweighs the body, and the balance will be WAY off if you try to mount to the body instead.

this does not in any way imply that you need to use a tripod. These lenses are used hand held FAR more often than tripod mounted. When you hold the combo, you will have one hand holding the lens. No additional wear or tear on the mount.

CyberDyneSystems wrote in post #17044414
Collar can be removed easily. It's only used when mounting to a tripod as the name implies.

When you DO use a tripod, you will always want to use a tripod collar with a lens of this size. The lens outweighs the body, and the balance will be WAY off if you try to mount to the body instead.

this does not in any way imply that you need to use a tripod. These lenses are used hand held FAR more often than tripod mounted. When you hold the combo, you will have one hand holding the lens. No additional wear or tear on the mount.

Thank you, you concisely addressed all my questions!

As CDS says, you only need the collar if you are going to mount on a tripod, as it reduces the strain on the lens mount. There is less weight on the mount when the lens is attached to the tripod compared to when the camera is attached to the tripod, simply because the lens weighs more than the camera.

sometimes you can use the tripod mount to carry the lens as well...so it kinda helps to take the strain off if you are handholding...at least for me.

Sorarse wrote in post #17044465
As CDS says, you only need the collar if you are going to mount on a tripod, as it reduces the strain on the lens mount. There is less weight on the mount when the lens is attached to the tripod compared to when the camera is attached to the tripod, simply because the lens weighs more than the camera.

For a rather small and light lens as this actually is - compared to the really big whites - that collar isn't there because you need to reduce any strain on the lens mount. The mount is strong enough to handle this weight without need for any collar. Else you wouldn't be able to walk around with the camera just hanging in a strap.

The collar is there because if you fit the camera directly to the tripod head, then you have no weight behind the camera but you have the full lens weight infront of the camera. And that will make cheaper tripod heads sag. And any tripod head that hasn't a good setting for "reasonable friction" will be hard to use because whenever you try to adjust the direction of the camera you need to take up the full weight of the lens to properly aim the camera while tightening the tripod head again.

By instead using the tripod collar on the lens, you get a situation where most of the lens is infront of the tripod head. While a small part of the lens and the camera body is behind the tripod head. So there is balance. So when you try to adjust the aim of the camera, you don't have to fight any camera or lens weight.

Next thing - the tripod collar gives the advantage that you can rotate the collar around the lens. Which means you can rotate the camera between landscape and portrait while the collar is fitted to the tripod.

While the collar can be completely removed, my preferred method of use is to simply rotate the foot up above the lens barrel when hand-holding; then, should I want/need to throw it on a tripod, I can just rotate it down and do so.

DreDaze wrote in post #17044472
sometimes you can use the tripod mount to carry the lens as well...so it kinda helps to take the strain off if you are handholding...at least for me.

Yes, it is a quite nice grip to lift the camera/lens combo in.

My lens collars are all on a shelf somewhere... prefitted with cheap ebay Arca lens plates,. but rarely used.

I like them too much to ever remove them.

And I like to hold the hand under the collar when hand-shooting.

The 70-200 F/2.8 non-IS weighs 50.6 ounces with hood and tripod collar per the digital picture's lens specifications page. The collar alone is 4.2 ounces so removing the collar is a tad more than an 8% weight savings. Here's a link to the lens specification page for even more information.

http://www.the-digital-picture.com …nsComp=0&Lens=2​42&Units=E

pwm2 wrote in post #17044515
I like them too much to ever remove them.

And I like to hold the hand under the collar when hand-shooting.

This, due to my hand size/length, I find it MUCH more comfortable to shoot with the collar on facing down. I actually use it as a place to rest my palm leaving my fingers free to move the zoom and focus rings.

Again, might just be because of my hand size. The extra added weight of the collar long term is just not that big an issue to me, but I do recognize that it does add enough weight that when it is removed it is noticeable.

I keep the one on my 70-200 2.8 IS II because it is heavy and I take my tripod with me most of the time I'm using it. Just make sure you keep track of all the stuff you don't use often. Otherwise, you'll end up like me, moving and not knowing where anything is.

SuzyView wrote in post #17044778
I keep the one on my 70-200 2.8 IS II because it is heavy and I take my tripod with me most of the time I'm using it. Just make sure you keep track of all the stuff you don't use often. Otherwise, you'll end up like me, moving and not knowing where anything is.

Don't worry...whatever you misplace will show up just as soon as you buy a replacement! I have no plans to remove my tripod ring either; when you factor in a camera, battery pack and the 70-200 it's oversix pounds. Loosing four ounces won't make much difference.

When I had the Sigma 70-200mm f2.8 I would attach the Black Rapid strap to the collar and not the camera body. If I wasn't using the strap, I would remove the collar.