Tripod Ring w/ Ef 70-200 f/4L Question

I assume this is the one...

http://cgi.ebay.com …temQQ_trksidZp1​638Q2em122

JohnJ80 wrote in post #5932326
I just bought a Roxsen one off of eBay - supposedly one of the best. However, on the 70-200 f/4L IS while it holds it firmly (there is no play) I can't tighten it down enough so that it won't turn in the mount. My other Canon lenses that have collars don't work this way. I'm thinking about the Canon collars presuming that they don't turn like this.

My advice on the ebay collars is, "Not so fast...."

J

My Canon (not a 3rd party) collar also turns in the mount just as you described on the 70-200 f/4L IS (just sold). All I did was put a wrap of scotch tape in the tripod ring groove on the lens and I had a perfect adjustment that allowed full tension. The Canon mount was originally sold for the 200mm 2.8L and was the black model. These were reported to fit the 70-200 f/4's, the 400mm 5.6, and maybe the 300mm f/4 or some other thing. It actually works perfectly with the scotch tape and I'd rather have that than a second tripod ring to carry around in my kit anyway. No reason that solution wouldn't work as well on the 3rd party models.

I see your point. For a $40 (Roxsen) or a $150 (Canon) purchase, either way it ought to work right and not require tape (really, that is ridiculous. This was specifically advertised as a 70-200 f/4L IS collar.

Lesson learned, buy the real thing, knockoffs are a risk. One would think they could get something as simple as this right. I did not give Roxsen a positive rating on this POS. Nor would I buy from them again.

J.

I bought a black one about a month ago. Very tight fit. I guess if I really wanted it to move, it would, but there's no way it would unless forced by someone with 2 big arms...
There's a red mark at the top, which I assume is to be used to line up with a black marker on the 70-200. If I use that, the lens-body is crooked and I have to shift over slightly
I don't use a tripod much, but I do use a monopod, and it's a lot easier to handle with the tripod ring. Easier/better pivoting

The way it is supposed to work is to hold the lens without moving. When you loosen it, you should be able to freely rotate the lens in the collar. WIth mine, when I crank down on it, it still moves freely. Thankfully, it doesn't wobble.

J.

Wilt wrote in post #5933516
Roxsen, not roxen. Sorry I misspelled. In any event, there aren't any things being offered by Roxsen, but there are a number of alternatives on eBay. Just be sure to NOT buy one with a knurled surfaced knob, but one with a ribbed knob. There are a few vendors offering these, including this one...

http://cgi.ebay.com …7&_trksid=p3286​.m14.l1318

I was only looking at ones with the ribbed knob. The knurled one just didn't look too hot.

I want one but have been screwed by the Hong Kong crowd on eBay. I alsodon't really want to pay the $150 for a new Canon one either... been hoping to find a collar used.

JohnJ80, sell me your knock off and use the money for a real one since you aren't happy with it...

JohnJ80 wrote in post #5935127
I see your point. For a $40 (Roxsen) or a $150 (Canon) purchase, either way it ought to work right and not require tape (really, that is ridiculous. This was specifically advertised as a 70-200 f/4L IS collar.

Lesson learned, buy the real thing, knockoffs are a risk. One would think they could get something as simple as this right. I did not give Roxsen a positive rating on this POS. Nor would I buy from them again.

J.

For all I know it's the 70-200 f/4 L that didn't meet the standard, who's to say the tripod ring was at fault? By your logic I would have to declare, "Don't buy Canon, I had to shim the tripod ring, it's a risk". The Canon model required tape as well, it's not a 3rd party or OEM issue. I have proof that it happens with both of them. The Canon tripod ring held and was tighter when locked down and would stay put if it wasn't touched, but with a little bumping it would twist in the ring. I bought it brand new from B&H by the way... For anyone who wanted a solution, the tape is a complete non-issue. It's essentially a shim of the tiniest size and it's 110% effective. It's even clear so it's something you'd have to look for to realize it was there more or less (when the tripod ring is off only). If there are no other issues with the third party models I would have no reservation whatsoever with buying them, even though I own the Canon model myself. The Canon tripod ring incidentally fits perfectly on the 200mm 2.8L, it's advertised to fit both of those lenses along with the 300mm f/4L and the 400mm 5.6L. If the evidence pointed anywhere it would be that the 70-200 f/4 was out of spec, not the tripod ring. All that's just ridiculous though. The 3rd party ones aren't worse just because the have the same flaws that the Canon tripod rings have. It's a simple solution to work out for the Canon unit or the 3rd party unit. I wouldn't let it bother you with either unit if you preferred a spot of tape to freedom of movement. You'll save $100+ bucks by keeping your head. I think keeping one's head about such things is a good thing, but YMMV.

tkoutdoor wrote in post #5936182
For all I know it's the 70-200 f/4 L that didn't meet the standard, who's to say the tripod ring was at fault? By your logic I would have to declare, "Don't buy Canon, I had to shim the tripod ring, it's a risk". The Canon model required tape as well, it's not a 3rd party or OEM issue. I have proof that it happens with both of them. The Canon tripod ring held and was tighter when locked down and would stay put if it wasn't touched, but with a little bumping it would twist in the ring. For anyone who wanted a solution, the tape is a complete non-issue. It's essentially a shim of the tiniest size and it's 110% effective. It's even clear so it's something you'd have to look for to realize it was there more or less (when the tripod ring is off only). If there are no other issues with the third party models I would have no reservation whatsoever with buying them, even though I own the Canon model myself. The Canon tripod ring incidentally fits perfectly on the 200mm 2.8L, it's advertised to fit both of those lenses along with the 300mm f/4L and the 400mm 5.6L. If the evidence pointed anywhere it would be that the 70-200 f/4 was out of spec, not the tripod ring. All that's just ridiculous though. The 3rd party ones aren't worse just because the have the same flaws that the Canon tripod rings have. It's a simple solution to work out for the Canon unit or the 3rd party unit. I wouldn't let it bother you with either unit if you preferred a spot of tape to freedom of movement. You'll save $100+ bucks by keeping your head. I think keeping one's head about such things is a good thing, but YMMV.

Keeping my head? Tripod collars are a click above don't care on my priority list.

Returning a unit to an HK company from the US for a $35 part is a waste of time and money. I had bought this with the idea that if it didn't work it wasn't a huge deal (it isn't - I've wasted a lot more in photography than $35). Had I bought a Canon unit and it was defective as yours apparently is, returning it would be a piece of cake, trivial - and done in a heartbeat.

Making a tripod collar is low tech. Getting it right is not hard, but apparently it is for Roxsen.

Incidentally, for what its worth, my F4 and my F4L IS both had the same problem with it. If is out of spec, then they both are. (The F4L has since been sold).

I have a lot of experience with manufacturing in Asia and I'm there all the time. The knockoff business is alive and well and risky.

My point is to warn off other prospective buyers that Roxsen is not the end all in tripod collars. Not a great company and apparently with lots of variance in mfg tolerance (i.e. sloppy at the most basic level).

The time I put into researching this, which was the best buy and best copy, buying the stupid thing etc... was a waste. I'd be money ahead for buying the real thing. Let the buyer beware for sure.

J.

JohnJ80 wrote in post #5936357
I have a lot of experience with manufacturing in Asia and I'm there all the time. The knockoff business is alive and well and risky.

I'll bet money that the OEM Canon ring is made in Asia as well.....

Well, gee, so are my Canon cameras.

But it is made to Canon's specs, Canon's QA, sold through Canon's huge sales channel, and more importantly Canon stands behind it. Canon does not, by definition, market knockoffs of their own gear.

J.

JohnJ80 wrote in post #5936459
Well, gee, so are my Canon cameras.

But it is made to Canon's specs, Canon's QA, sold through Canon's huge sales channel, and more importantly Canon stands behind it. Canon does not, by definition, market knockoffs of their own gear.

J.

Canon specs on my tripod ring include the same problem as your ring. It fit one in the noted series perfectly, another not so perfectly. The problem you decry is as evident in the Canon product as the 3rd party product. I'd buy one again with the same exact problem because the solution is less than nothing. It's not a big thing either way. If one should be warned of the 3rd party slack in the ring, then an equal warning should attend the Canon ring as the conditions are equal. If you're willing to return the Canon ring for warranty I'd expect you should be willing to return the 3rd party ring for warranty as well. Unless that is you just simply want to grind an axe against 3rd parties and hope no-one pays attention to the fact that Canon rings meet the same spec. That's what the appearances would seem to indicate, unless I'm missing something here.

I'll put it simply for you:

I can easily return a Canon one. I cannot easily return an eBay HK shipped one.

Let's see if we can beat something slightly more important into a pulp. What do you say?

J.

So I should still get a tripod ring?

dinanm3atl wrote in post #5937500
So I should still get a tripod ring?

A tripod ring does 2 things for you. It allows you to spin the lens and body into the portrait mode without adjusting the tripod head. This is a little better option than shifting the tripod head to portrait view, because you keep the weight centered over the tripod head rather than trying to tip over the tripod if it gets bumped. ... and 2nd it can balance your camera over your tripod head front to back (or get close to a balance if you don't have an adjustable camera plate/head for fine tuning). This makes it so your camera isn't cantilevering the pressure towards the front or back and fighting you every time you try to lock down your adjustment to keep your camera still. It's much less of a "real" factor with a lens as small and light as the 70-200 f/4L or smaller, but it's still convenient. I like it and prefer to use the tripod ring mount on any equipment that comes with it. I even wish some lenses had tripod ring mounts that don't at times as I don't own any camera L brackets. If I owned a camera L bracket I'd lose half the motivation to use the tripod ring. It's really a personal choice for you. If money is tight you could do without it, but I'd think the average camera buff would be happier in the long run with either a tripod ring or an L bracket than without.