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Microstock Photography Forum - General => Cameras / Lenses => Photography Equipment => Canon => Topic started by: stokfoto on October 28, 2009, 11:22

Title: cheap mount rings How risky is it???
Post by: 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 (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
Title: Re: cheap mount rings How risky is it???
Post by: gostwyck on October 28, 2009, 13:08
I think I'd be suspicious of the $10 item but the $30-50 options should be fine __ just give it a few thorough 'shake tests' before you start to trust it. B&H wouldn't sell them if they were rubbish.
Title: Re: cheap mount rings How risky is it???
Post by: le_cyclope on October 28, 2009, 17:32
This is exactly the ring I bought 4 or 5 months ago.  Can't remember the price paid but it was around 20$ 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



Title: Re: cheap mount rings How risky is it???
Post by: stokfoto 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!
Title: Re: cheap mount rings How risky is it???
Post by: RacePhoto 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.
Title: Re: cheap mount rings How risky is it???
Post by: PeterChigmaroff 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.
Title: Re: cheap mount rings How risky is it???
Post by: Randy McKown 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
Title: Re: cheap mount rings How risky is it???
Post by: RacePhoto on November 02, 2009, 07:42
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.