So, when I mount my DSLR w/70-200 2.8, using the tripod ring w/RRS lensplate in RRS lever clamp on sturdy 3 way pan tilt head on Gitzo CF tripod,... by far the wiggliest part of the whole shebang is the Canon tripod ring! No matter how much I tighten the knob on the ring, there is a lot of play between the barrel of the lens and the (Teflon?) insert around the inside of the ring. Seems like the race is lost right out of the gate!
Maybe it's worn? My 70-200/2.8 ring tightens down nicely. I have noticed on a couple of rental lenses the rings seemed a bit worn & loose, but once clamped down they were fine.
Thanks for the input. If you will indulge me a little more, I'll describe more details. I mount the camera and 70-200 with the ring onto my tripod. I tighten every thing down. It's all snug. Then, I apply a little pressure downward on the tip of the lens. There is some flex. If I watch carefully, and use my hand and fingers to determine where the flex is, it turns out it's the lens swiveling downward a bit in the ring. The ring to clamp, and clamp to tripod connections don't budge. But the lens can flex down, and the play is between the lens and the ring. Can you guys replicate this?
If my ring is lightly snugged, enough to prevent the lens from rotating, but not fully tightened, I can feel some movement between the ring and lens in the area of the foot on my 70-200 f/2.8 L IS.
Once the ring is tightened finger tight with reasonable grip on the lock nut, there is no play between the ring and lens.
Ah, I've looked yet again. The ring itself flexes. There is no play between the ring and the lens, the ring is flexible and so it flexes. Hmmmm, not much I can do about that. It does set an upper limit on the rigidity of the system. Interesting.
Check that ring very very carefully. If it is flexing like you say it is, something is probably very close to breaking completely. No ring should flex the way yours is.
Thanks, just checked it carefully. It's springy metal. After all, it's a loop that springs open a little to put the lens in, then flexes closed when you tighten the knob. If you play with yours a bit, you'll see what i mean, it's fairly flexible.
I don't think mine is about to break... (I'm an architect, and pretty good with materials, so I believe me. I'm surprised I didn't notice this before i started the thread! :-)
