Tripod mount ring D

[twertman]

<p>Does anyone one know the story of this ring that fits the EF 100mm Macro f/2.8L IS lens. Seems to be on back order everywhere I look.</p>

[charedan]

<p>The store I bought mine from didn't have it in stock as I bought the lens early after its release and wanted the ring right away. They special ordered it from Canon Canada and I got it about two to three weeks later. These are quite expensive, about 300 CDA$ which comes to about 1/4 of the price of the lens alone.</p>

[robin_sibson1]

<p>Items of this kind are often hard to find as, more surprisingly, are many mainstream items like lenses. I bought mine from a Canon specialist dealer in London in January, at which time I believe they were also available elsewhere. There's probably no more story to it than this.</p>

[ed_okie]

<p>Only other insight I can add is that Canon's tripod mount ring for the 100mm macro is functionally mediocre, but one of those "grin and bear it" situations where nothing else is available. Fitment and in-use functionality leaves much to be desired. Whereas the other Canon tripod mount ring that applies to the 70-200mm f/4 and 400mm f/5.6 lenses is excellent. Ironically and unfortunately, both are overpriced.</p>

[paddler4]

<p>knock-offs are available on eBay from Hong-Kong vendors, some with hinges like the real one. I have one coming, which I bought for a grand total of $13.99 including shipping. Shipping from HK is slow, but since someone else already posted asking about this, I will post a description once I receive it.</p>

[robin_sibson1]

<p>Ed, you're off the pace. The Tripod Ring D(B) to which this post refers is a larger version of the handcuff-type Tripod Ring A (for, among other things, the 70~200/4 non-IS and IS) that you commend. You are thinking of the Tripod Ring B(B) for the non-L non-IS 100/2.8USM, and there's nothing wrong with that (puzzle-type) ring either, although it is less convenient to have to remove the lens from the camera to fit or remove the tripod ring. The problem is that the Tripod Ring B is not a native fit to the lens, and requires a fragile and clumsy plastic spacer. "Mediocre" is generous! And I agree compeltely about pricing. Perhaps the availability of workmanlike knockoffs will penetrate to the Canon collective consciousness at aome point.</p>

[twertman]

<p>The price of a knock off is tempting for sure but I have first hand engineering knowledge regarding quality of HK made aluminum castings. The chances of the threads stripping out over a short period of use are high. The porosity of castings can be critical and is process driven usually. So are fit and finish due to the lack of quality control. While this over priced item is the only thing seperating my lens and camera from a 6 foot fall I feel compelled to pay the asking price from Canon. They after all have us right where they want us. Now if the Canon quality of the D ring is not up to what I have on my 70-200 f/2.8L and 300 f/4L than that is a diferent issue. In any event I hope the back order problem gets solved soon. Thanks for the responses.</p>

[twertman]

<p>My Canon ring arrived last week and quality wise it is every bit as good as what comes with the other L lenses.<br>

What are the thoughts of those who went by the way of Hung Kong?</p>