70-200 f/4 tripod Collar, Is OEM / Canon rock solid?

I recently purchased a 3rd party tripod collar from Amazon for my newly acquired 70-200 f/4. The collar supports the lens as it's supposed to do, but overall I am not happy with it. From time to time I bracket shots using the 2 second delay. This results in images that are not aligned. Today was the final straw when this plastic POS captured a blurry single shot due to movement. Also, the screw knob and motion of turning it feels really cheap and the rotation from horizontal to vertical is never smooth. Minor gripes I know, but using the 2.8 for years it's very noticeable.

How is the OEM f/4 collar? Is it rock solid like the 2.8? I own the 2.8 and never had any of the issues mentioned above. I don't mind spending the $100+ on the OEM f/4 collar IF it's rock solid like the 2.8.

At this point, the f/4 back is back in the Pelican and I will just deal with the extra weight of the 2.8 until I get feedback.

Thanks for any information

i have never had that f/4 but i own the 70-200 2.8 version one and the collar is real solid as i think the OEM is built much stronger then any or should i say most 3rd party collars out there !

I know you asked about the OEM collar, which I don't have, but I can speak favorably about the Vello $50 @ BH Photo http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …A_Black.html/pr​m/alsVwDtl. It does everything I would expect it to do. I have taken many sharp shots from it, even has the sightmark for landscape vs portrait orientation. The only small gripe I have is the screw to tighten it is Knurled, but not lobed like the OEM. I've never felt like it wouldn't get tight enough, and it seems really well built. It even has the lining to protect the lens from being scratched. It probably requires stronger finger tips to tighten properly than OEM though.

Just my experience so far,

Steve

I agree with Steve. I have a Canon and a Vello and would never spend the extra for the Canon.

I have the Canon one on my 70-200 f4 L IS and yes it is solid, I have never had any problems with it other than I thought it should have come with the lens.

Canonuser123 wrote in post #17438409
I have the Canon one on my 70-200 f4 L IS and yes it is solid, I have never had any problems with it other than I thought it should have come with the lens.

Same here.

JJD.Photography wrote in post #17415536
I recently purchased a 3rd party tripod collar from Amazon for my newly acquired 70-200 f/4. The collar supports the lens as it's supposed to do, but overall I am not happy with it. From time to time I bracket shots using the 2 second delay. This results in images that are not aligned. Today was the final straw when this plastic POS captured a blurry single shot due to movement. Also, the screw knob and motion of turning it feels really cheap and the rotation from horizontal to vertical is never smooth. Minor gripes I know, but using the 2.8 for years it's very noticeable.

might not be entirely a problem with the collar. if your tripod sucks sometimes even footsteps of others on the same cement sidewalk can cause shake on telephotos, or even the tiniest of breezes. buying my huge rrs 3-series tripod was one of the best investments in image quality i have ever made despite costing more than many lenses. that thing is rock solid, and if i see blur i know it's cause i screwed up.

EDIT: nm, i just reread and saw that you said everything is fine with your 2.8, so i guess it must be the collar.

I found a good deal on an OEM Canon collar from ebay. Night and day difference between the plastic collar and the Canon one. Feels just as solid as my 2.8 now! Thanks for all the feedback.

As for the tripod, I'm also using a RRS 3 series

For my 70-200 f/4 I use the collar off my 400 f5.6, fits and works perfect.

Scotter wrote in post #17458437
For my 70-200 f/4 I use the collar off my 400 f5.6, fits and works perfect.

Yes the Tripod Mount A(W), A(B), A II (W), and A II (B) are all interchangeable and all of them fit the 70-200mm 4.0L, 70-200mm 4.0L IS, 200mm 2.8L, 300mm 4.0L, 400mm 5.6L, 80-200mm 2.8L

300 f/4 L IS takes the B ring, same as (among others) the 70-200 2.8 IS L I and 100-400 L I. Or were you speaking of the older 300 f/4 non-IS?

Yes, the older EF 300 f/4 (non-IS) uses the "A" tripod ring.