Author Topic: cheap mount rings How risky is it??? (Read 5045 times)

stokfoto · « **on:** October 28, 2009, 11:22 »

I am thinking of getting a tripod mount ring for my canon 70 200 f4 IS lens. but the price range for the products in the market are so huge. canon brand rings are sold at $149 at BHphoto also there are cheap third party options on ebay of which prices about $30-50. but I found this cheap third party which is roughly only about $10. http://cgi.ebay.com/Tripod-Mount-Ring-A-W-for-Canon-EF-70-200-300mm-Lens_W0QQitemZ110440813731QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item19b6c914a3

I am not considering getting the canon one as I find it too expensive. but how risky do you think it would be to get the cheapest one. at the end of the day it just looks like a piece of simple metal to me but I might be wrong though. so I'd like to hear your opinions.

Thanks in advance

gostwyck · « **Reply #1 on:** October 28, 2009, 13:08 »

I think I'd be suspicious of the $10 item but the $30-50 options should be fine __ just give it a few thorough 'shake tests' before you start to trust it. B&H wouldn't sell them if they were rubbish.

le_cyclope · « **Reply #2 on:** October 28, 2009, 17:32 »

This is exactly the ring I bought 4 or 5 months ago. Can't remember the price paid but it was around 20$ so I guess it's the same quality...

I did a comparaison of this collar (for my 70-200F4L) and the one of a friend of mine (a canon OEM made for his 70-200 F2.8L) and quality is really good.

The screw is a little less smooth but the main diff is in the lining inside the ring. Mine is made of some kind of velvet and his is a kind of teflon, which is much more «soft» on the lens.

So if you use it to flip the camera from horizontal to vertical position, you have to take a little more care to avoid scratching your lens' frame.

Overall, highly recommended at that price! I don't regret it. In fact, I also bought from the same seller few days after the ring for the 100mm macro.

Claude

stokfoto · « **Reply #3 on:** October 29, 2009, 12:00 »

Thank you Claude ,that's just what I wanted to know. and thank you gostwyck for you input as well. Appreciated!

RacePhoto · « **Reply #4 on:** November 01, 2009, 15:12 »

I suppose it depends on who makes the knock off ring, but I have real Canon on all my lenses except one that I got used. The aftermarket looks pretty well made and I haven't had any problems. I'd have to check to see what brand it is.

The copy ring fits my 100mm macro and the 70-200 f/4. hardly use it, but it's there if I need it. I think it's the same as the real Canon 400mm f/5.6. (never take it off the lens) If you want I can get the out and look closer.

What's funny is paying more for white than a black, when it's the same materials and the color is the only difference.

PeterChigmaroff · « **Reply #5 on:** November 01, 2009, 16:34 »

I bought a 70-200 f4 recently and found it's weight makes it fairly easy to use without the ring.

Randy McKown · « **Reply #6 on:** November 02, 2009, 02:32 »

I always say .. if you want pro grade then pay for pro grade .. but I also think BH sucks

RacePhoto · « **Reply #7 on:** November 02, 2009, 07:42 »

Quote from: Zeus on November 01, 2009, 16:34

I bought a 70-200 f4 recently and found it's weight makes it fairly easy to use without the ring.

Me too. The ring was relegated to the pocket in the camera bag. I bought a used f/4 with a tripod ring after having a f/2.8 IS, and discovered that the f/4 version, non-IS, is a nice little lens hand held. Also found out that rings I already had would fit the 100mm Macro if I want to mount that.