EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM Review WOW!

MedicineMan4040 wrote in post #17811854
Choder, screw that. I replaced the foot on my 100-400ii with an RRS foot. Way cheaper than your Canon bill,
incorporated Swiss plate, and easier to carry by. I've done all my big lenses with RRS with no regrets. Only
wish the Tam 150-600 was addressed by RRS.

From my understanding of Choder's problem, switching to the RRS foot wouldn't fix the problem. It's the 4 tiny screws attaching the female thread plate to the tripod ring that are the problem, not the removable tripod foot attachment.

A year or so ago I would have considered an overseas repairer. With current exchange rate my money is not worth much. If all goes well for around $100 I will have a much improved 100-400 ( with a removeable, reliable and strong tripod collar)

Choderboy wrote in post #17811845
I did not use thread locker for several reasons. After retightening screws multiple times the heads were showing wear. So I would only want to thread lock if I could use new screws and no 2mm screws I could find would fit (the heads on the Canon screws are very small)
Second, as the screws loosened after about 2 hours use it was clear it was not vibration, just force as a result of use. The fact they loosened so quickly I assume indicates threads are damaged and I think logically it would be the threads in the alloy ring, not the steeel screws. I think I have been lucky not to have lens and body drop during these repeated loosenings of the foot and I want a solution I can be confident won't fail. Thread locker would not have given me confidence and I think it would have just delayed the inevitable drop.

Thanks for the reply.

Choderboy wrote in post #17811927
A year or so ago I would have considered an overseas repairer. With current exchange rate my money is not worth much. If all goes well for around $100 I will have a much improved 100-400 ( with a removeable, reliable and strong tripod collar)

I will be very interested to see the end results!

Choderboy wrote in post #17811927
A year or so ago I would have considered an overseas repairer. With current exchange rate my money is not worth much. If all goes well for around $100 I will have a much improved 100-400 ( with a removeable, reliable and strong tripod collar)

I wil be interested in one specific thing; .does the new collar allow for rotation of the lens in a manner that is just as smooth as that which the original collar allowed?
The way I shoot, very smooth rotation of the lens within the collar, as compared to rotation that has slight sticking points, is often the difference between getting the shot and missing the shot.

I hope so Annie, I got an email saying they cant post it to the Western Isles unless I pay a full deposit for the price of the lens They also offered to deliver it to my place in Aberdeen for free so ill be phoning them tomorrow to make sure it arrives when I'm there as I'm only there for one day.

I also discussed this with my better half, she hates me buying and selling, I explained id have to sell my 70-200II if I wanted this so we will see what happens.

It's done. Just got a call to say my 100-400 has been converted to collarless. I'll pickup Saturday, measure the collar and start looking for a replacement collar. I found a third party source of Canon collars with inside diameters and width listed so will be easy to determine if a Canon collar will fit. I think I'd prefer another brand.

If anyone has a Sigma TS-21 collar sround I'd really appreciate it if you could measure inside diameter and width. It fits lots of Sigmas. 150 & 180 Macro EX DG HSM. 70-200 EX DG HSM. 135-400 & 170-500. 120-300 and 300 EX DG HSM.

choder - thanks for the updates on your continuing saga. what you (and others) have reported appears to be a significant engineering/design flaw that remains uncorrected by Canon - one that could conceivably impact all owners - gulp, of which I am one.

so, at this point, even though I have replaced my stock foot with the RRS version, I need to carry this lens with both hands when using - - never daring to trust it on a monopod or tripod?

not nice. an otherwise great lens is not worth much if it cannot be used with confidence.

ugh - and choder, good luck with your re-engineering. any idea why Canon has not accepted ownership of this pending disaster? this has the makings of a nasty mess - one that would effect a significant percentage of Canon's top tier users (pros) - and one that I cannot imagine that Canon wishes to invite.

choder, imho, Canon should be the one to solve this issue. they should take immediate responsibility, get in front of this issue publicly, and assure all of their valued customers that any consequential damages would be unquestionably covered under warranty.

if facts are as you describe, this issue is unlikely to evaporate. Canon cannot effectively duck and hide. to attempt to do so, is - imho - disappointing, foolhardy and ill-advised.

very strange...
Dale

dodgyexposure wrote in post #17811924
From my understanding of Choder's problem, switching to the RRS foot wouldn't fix the problem. It's the 4 tiny screws attaching the female thread plate to the tripod ring that are the problem, not the removable tripod foot attachment.

Exactly. (I have the Kirk foot. )

Tom Reichner wrote in post #17811993
I wil be interested in one specific thing; .does the new collar allow for rotation of the lens in a manner that is just as smooth as that which the original collar allowed?
The way I shoot, very smooth rotation of the lens within the collar, as compared to rotation that has slight sticking points, is often the difference between getting the shot and missing the shot.

Agree. I now have a Sigma 150-600 Sport. I really like the fact the collar has 4 indents which allows fast and accurate rotation.
Interesting that it shares the same bolt pattern as Canon 400 2.8. ( 4 big beefy bolts same size as the much heavier Canon) So aftermarket replacement feet for the Canon fit!

Time will tell. It is significant that I was not working for over 6 months and used this lens almost everyday. Often for much of the day. I'd say my first 6 months use would equate to years of use for many owners. Absolutely not defending Canon, it should be built to last indefinitely.

Tom Reichner posted (& I forgot to quote him):
I wil be interested in one specific thing; .does the new collar allow for rotation of the lens in a manner that is just as smooth as that which the original collar allowed? The way I shoot, very smooth rotation of the lens within the collar, as compared to rotation that has slight sticking points, is often the difference between getting the shot and missing the shot.

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my post:

last year, I evaluated a loaner copy of Canon's 28-300 beast (from CPS). this lens had the precise problem that you describe. the rubber-like material on on the inside surface of the lens collar binded at numerous points against the outer surface of the lens barrel. this caused the lens to be unable to smoothly turn within the lens collar. thus unable to switch from horizontal (landscape mode) to vertical (portrait) positions.

while this wasn't the only problem with this lens - it sure made using it continuously - on an 8 hour pro bono shoot a less than pleasant experience.

needless to say, we passed on acquiring that troubled lens. great IQ and IS - - but the ergonomics were nasty - - as bad as I've ever experienced with a Canon product.

Choderboy wrote in post #17812201
...

If anyone has a Sigma TS-21 collar sround I'd really appreciate it if you could measure inside diameter and width. ...

OK, above I thought you were getting a collar made to fit, now I saw the above and thought, "what are the chances anything will just happen to fit?"

But,. I happen to have both the 100-400mm and many "other" Collars.

I think you may be on to something with the fit of the SIGMA 120-300mm (I have the OS non "sport" )

The 150-600mm is too small, won't make it past the buttons, but the 120-300mm to the eye really looks like it may be your answer (of course on mine I can't get it past the "foot mount stub" or adjusting knob.)

But it LOOKS like it will fit IF the mod to your lens ends up with a body diameter that would match the Canon collar with the foot stub and knob removed.

EDIT: Grabbed my calipers, and it's close but not quite a fit!

SIGMA 120-300mm Opening:
3.400" Open all the way
3.350" Inch closed all the way (not much room for adjustment!)

I can't get a perfect reading on the Canon lens collar out side diameter, it is too deep for my Calipers to get to the fattest part. It looks to be at least 3.450"

So I think the SIGMA collar could be made to work with some fitting, but it depends on what in fact gets done to your lens.

// sorry about silly American inches

Thanks CDS. I think most likely I will need a sleeve but that should be fairly simple. So I want a collar either perfect diameter or slightly big.

18mm seems to be a common width for Canon collars.

where are you in Sydney? Places like Digidirect or Digital Camera Warehouse (used to be foto reisel) in the CBD quite likely have one of those Sigma macro's in stock, though the OS versions. I'm pretty sure my EF mount 150 EX DG tripod collar fitted on my F mount 150 OS when I had both. I remember having to make sure I packaged the right collar with the EF mount lens when I sold it last year. I can't give you any dimensions on the OS version though as it was just mailed off to Qld late last week