drummstikk said:
privatebydesign said:
Though with anything like a good tripod, head, and clamp arrangement, is totally unnecessary. The only good thing about it is the ability to very easily shift from portrait to landscape without altering anything else.
Well, there's also that the tripod collar mounts the lens much closer to its center of gravity, which will improve stability no matter how good your tripod/head/clamp rig is, in addition to relieving excessive stress on the camera tripod mount. Oh, and it also allows the lens to pivot much closer to the nodal point if you happen to be doing any kind of pano work.
privatebydesign said:
Now the 300 f2.8 tripod mount is completely different, I do take that with me and use it about 50% of the time.
Only 50%? That will go up to 100% if you upgrade to the IS Mk II, from which Canon wisely omitted the removable tripod collar.
You can do whatever you want with yours, and I know all the reasoning for other techniques. I am just pointing out, from a heavy user, that I don't use it.
I have never seen a difference in an image from using the tripod collar to using the body plate, I can tell the difference between my three tripods when viewed at the pixel level (not something I actually care much about) but there is no stability difference in actual images when I don't use the tripod ring. There is no doubt the theory supports your points, but the difference, from my actual observations, is not visible so I question its value.
As for Canon "wisely" omitting the option, well you can still take it off, but only the foot. I often use the 300 with a monopod so am ambivalent regards it being removable or not. I never use the 70-200 on a monopod, just occasionally a tripod.
But I was just providing a counterpoint, like I said, do whatever you want with yours, but don't spout theoretical irrelevancies as justification to others, it is your personal choice. I don't care if you always leave yours on because it makes you "look like a pro" or " I can tuck it in my jeans pocket" or because "it gives me a rest to balance on the palm of my hand" or any other reason, real or imagined. If I shot landscapes with it on a tripod, ever, and many people do, keeping the tripod ring on would make a lot of sense, stand in a powerboat for 6 hours shooting racing sailboats and leaving it on makes zero sense.