Nikon 70 /200 F2.8

bikeit

Senior Member
I have started to use the Nikon 70 / 200 F2.8 lens a lot more for different shoots mounted on a tripod, the tripod has an Arca Swiss fitting head and I use an L bracket which I attach to the tripod foot but its fiddly to get right, so is there and other type of fitting I could attach to the tripod foot that would be stable and safe?
 

hark

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Attach the lens to the tripod.

I agree. Don't use the L bracket...just attach the tripod foot directly to the tripod head. Then loosen the tripod collar just a smidge so you can rotate the entire lens/body combo back and forth inside the collar from horizontal to vertical position. I just used mine this way during today's Worship service. Works great. :)
 

bikeit

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The lens doesn't have a collar, I take it the collar is an added accessory?

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hark

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The lens doesn't have a collar, I take it the collar is an added accessory?

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Which version of the lens do you own? :confused: My 70-200mm f/2.8 VRii came with a tripod collar.
 

hark

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By the way, I hope you aren't using a quick release plate on the bottom of the camera with this lens. When using lenses that heavy, they tend to pull on the mount (where the lens attaches to the body). That's why they usually come with collars.
 

bikeit

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Ok i have the collar which has the foot attached, so do i just attach the foot to the tripod head? just like i would the L bracket?
 

hark

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Ok i have the collar which has the foot attached, so do i just attach the foot to the tripod head? just like i would the L bracket?

Yep! You got it. :encouragement: Just attach the foot to a quick release plate for the tripod head. Very slightly loosen the nut that holds the collar tight (not the thing that attaches to the quick release plate), and rotate the body/lens combo vertically/horizontally. This is what my local camera store showed me when I was asking about an L bracket. They said that's how it's done instead of using an L bracket.

If it is an aftermarket collar, I'd try it out first. Not all aftermarket collars fit as securely as the original collars. When I'm done, I always tighten the collar before I put the lens away...just as a precaution.
 

hark

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Sorry...this is Canon (couldn't find a Nikon video quickly), but close to the end of the video, it shows exactly how the collar works.

My tripod collar has 2 screws. One is to keep the foot tight. In this video, it looks like that's the one he is loosening. On my Nikon ring, there is a separate tension screw that controls how much play is there for rotation. Just make sure you use the correct screw!

 
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