Question to the owners of 70-200L F/4 IS

Hi,
I was going to buy this lens in the shop, and already did some tests. Shots look perfect.
It might sound silly, but I found some strange marks on the lens body like the remains of the welding 1 from left side of "Image stabilizer" label and 1 from right side + one at the bottom. Looks like the body was made from 3 different parts of metal. I never seen marks like this on my other lens, nor on the pictures on the internet. Problem is I can't find another shop with IS lens to check everyone just selling non IS version.

I was wondering if someone having this lens could check if it's normal , so I can go and buy it
Thanks a lot
Sem

Hi Sem and welcome to POTN.

I'm not sure if it's the marks you're talking about but my 70-200L IS has a faint moulding line which runs to whole length of the lens and is also just noticeable to the left of the Image Stabilizer switch.

Buy it. Could be the best zoom Canon ever made.

sem wrote in post #6971471
I found some strange marks on the lens body like the remains of the welding 1 from left side of "Image stabilizer" label and 1 from right side + one at the bottom. Looks like the body was made from 3 different parts of metal.

Yeah, I have those. I had not noticed them before, but they are definitely there.

sem wrote in post #6971471
I never seen marks like this on my other lens, nor on the pictures on the internet.

They are too faint to show up in anything but a really close-up view.

Hi,
thanks for reply
I'm going to buy it now
I was a bit cautious
I thought they made the metal body from the tube or something. Never seen something like this on my 17-40L
Looking forward to have best present for NY
Thanks again !

I'm sure the body of the 70-200L f4 IS is plastic not metal

gofer wrote in post #6971642
I'm sure the body of the 70-200L f4 IS is plastic not metal

Its not plastic. Its just painted.

nureality wrote in post #6971728
Its not plastic. Its just painted.

No, it is some high grade temperature resistant nylon or other high grade plastic. This is where this lens is different from its other 70-200 siblings.

Kind regards, Wim

Looks like metal. But it doesn't really matters. Feels very strong.
Very good piece of equipment

Wimg: I understood you also have tripod collar for it. Do you use original one ? or replacement? Are they any different?

sem wrote in post #6983272
Looks like metal. But it doesn't really matters. Feels very strong.
Very good piece of equipment

Wimg: I understood you also have tripod collar for it. Do you use original one ? or replacement? Are they any different?

I could only get the original at the time; I got it well before I got the 70-200 F/4L IS, at the same time as the 70-200 F/4L non-IS, about 3 1/2 years ago. I only use it in combination with a tripod if I mount the extender to it, or tubes. I don't bother otherwise, there is no need.

I don't know whether the original and 3rd party ones are different, or in which way. I do understand that people do get good results with a non-original tripod collar.

Kind regards, Wim

I can't see any marks on mine. The body is plastic not metal.

It's probably Canon's best zoom.

J.

sem wrote in post #6983272
Looks like metal. But it doesn't really matters. Feels very strong.
Very good piece of equipment

Wimg: I understood you also have tripod collar for it. Do you use original one ? or replacement? Are they any different?

I have a third party collar because I thought $143 was an unnecessary amount for a tripod attachment accessory. I got one for about $25 on ebay and it works perfectly.

Having said this, I don't use the collar as much as I thought I would, because the 70-200 IS works so well hand-held...

Thanks for reply,
I just wondering if it would be ok to mount 40D with this lens on tripod without lens collar?
Wouldn't it damage the camera?

sem wrote in post #7003113
Thanks for reply,
I just wondering if it would be ok to mount 40D with this lens on tripod without lens collar?
Wouldn't it damage the camera?

Yes, it is ok, and no, it wouldn't damage the camera. Canon typically includes a tripod mount if there is only the slightest change this could happen in normal use, like they do with the longer and/or heavier lenses.

Kind regards, Wim

You *can* mount it that way and you won't hurt anything. However, if you can mount it with a tripod ring, that is a much better and more stable way of mounting it as opposed to cantilevering all that mass out out from the camera body. Do some searches on the knockoff tripod rings, they are $20-35 or so and work acceptably but will make your camera and lens much more stable.

J.