How to Use a Lens Collar #75

Photo Tips Podcast: How to Use a Lens Collar #75

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I know I said I was done talking about tripods but this isn’t actually about tripods. A tripod lens collar is a device which comes with most large lenses. It’s there to help create more stability when you are using a tripod. When you have a really big zoom lens or a telephoto lens on your camera it can often weight more than the camera itself. So if you mount the camera to a tripod it tends to make the whole system front heavy; so a little bit tippy. The collar allows you to mount the lens to the tripod which will help center the entire system over the tripod, making it a lot more stable. This is really good. To take total advantage of this you’ll want to level your head preferably before you mount your system. Once you mount your system, if you want to shoot a vertical you do not, I repeat do not tilt your head. Instead, untighten the collar and twist your camera and lens until you have the angle you want. That’s it. Pretty simple right?

Before I go here’s a pro tip. If you are not going to use a tripod with your lens, remove the ring and leave it out of your bag. It’s a rather heavy piece of equipment and there’s simply no reason to be lugging that around. If you can not remove it, I find that it’s easier for me to handle the lens if I rotate the base so that it’s on top of the lens so that it’s out of the way. I have small hands so it really helps me grip my camera better if that base is not in my way.