I don't have a tpod collar on my 80-200 AFS. I rarely see a need. A couple weeks ago I wanted to mount it on a tripod. I am considering buying one for that rare instance.
Called Nikon Canada parts and she said they have a few in stock at what would end up $150.00 shipped. The whole thing including foot. The other option is the Kirk unit which I am partial too however will end up costing around $200.00 to get it here. Keeping in mind I hardly ever see a need to mount what are your thoughts on the additional cost for the Kirk?
I guess I could help answer my own question by saying if I ever want to mount it on the pod why not have it mounted well and sturdy. For those few times, make them the best possible.
Heck of a time trying to figure out if they are even remotely close. Lens diameter is close but the recess for the collar could be different. The best I could come up with is it could/should fit?
Anyone out there have both? Cliff lets chat about your spare for the 300mm
Rene, I have a spare Nikon collar from my 80-400, which looks identical to the one I pulled off the 300f4 (I got them confused and couldn't tell the difference ) You're welcome to give it a try...
I tried my old collar for the 300mm f4, it seems to be a bit small. I couldn't get it to fit and gave up, only so far I'm willing to go for science.
Placed the 2 collars on top of each other. I'd say the 80-200 AFS is a good 8-12 mm larger and not a good fit for the smaller collar. The 300 mm collar screw is already a dog without this.
My advice, if you need steady, get the Kirk. The price diff just isn't that much. If you have friends in the states, have them get it and send it USPS as a gift. That might make it affordable.
From sitnspin's report the 300mm f4 is too small, I am surprised it's that much of a difference. Jack I appreciate the offer very much but if I were to take it and it was too small I would end up hacking it and having a machine shop fab it too fit (one of my good friends is a whiz with metals). That however seems sacrilegious to take a perfectly good peice of equipment and messing it up just to save a buck. I am up to the task to give it a try but would feel extremely bad if it was botched and rendered useless. It could be 8-12mm is a bit much to overcome.
Qranc wrote:
You guys are incredible, I love this place!
Thanks for the offers!
From sitnspin's report the 300mm f4 is too small, I am surprised it's that much of a difference. Jack I appreciate the offer very much but if I were to take it and it was too small I would end up hacking it and having a machine shop fab it too fit (one of my good friends is a whiz with metals). That however seems sacrilegious to take a perfectly good peice of equipment and messing it up just to save a buck. I am up to the task to give it a try but would feel extremely bad if it was botched and rendered useless. It could be 8-12mm is a bit much to overcome.
8-12 mm is an imprecise eyeballing, suffice to say I cracked the inner plastic collar (on the 300 mount) trying to get it to go. I doubt the screw would mate after installation due to the extra "stretch" at the joint.
I have a machine shop if re-threading or alterrations might help but I was in the same boat and I listened to JOHN McFadden and got the Kirk, I had a bad habit of holding the 70-200 by the collar foot and almost dropped the whole shebang which would of resulted in concrete bang and ended with credit card bang which would get me back to she-banging me with my own .45 when the wife saw the credit card bill.... so it paid to order the Kirk...Dang that was a tough one...
I stand corrected
Edited by ajacobs2 on Sep 29, 2005 at 07:20 PM GMT
ajacobs2 wrote:
I have a machine shop if re-threading or alterrations might help but I was in the same boat and I listened to Jim McFadden and got the Kirk, I had a bad habit of holding the 70-200 by the collar foot and almost dropped the whole shebang which would of resulted in concrete bang and ended with credit card bang which would get me back to she-banging me with my own .45 when the wife saw the credit card bill.... so it paid to order the Kirk...Dang that was a tough one...
after all this time Al , and you still call me JIM
sitnspin wrote:
8-12 mm is an imprecise eyeballing, suffice to say I cracked the inner plastic collar (on the 300 mount) trying to get it to go. I doubt the screw would mate after installation due to the extra "stretch" at the joint.
It's bad enough that Nikon came up with this poor design in the first place - then they had to go and make a slightly different version for each lens!
I have the Kirk replacement collar on my 300mm f4 AF-S, and it is a big improvement.
molson wrote:
It's bad enough that Nikon came up with this poor design in the first place - then they had to go and make a slightly different version for each lens!
I have the Kirk replacement collar on my 300mm f4 AF-S, and it is a big improvement.
I was hoping for a clean, cheap solution but hacking a collar that is mediocre to begin with coupled with not the right fit sounds like too much bother than it is worth.
The Kirk it is.
Once again thanks to the guys that came up with the offers, I'm still shaking my head at the amazing good will, simply fantastic.
) You're welcome to give it a try...