A few days ago, I posted an article explaining how to improve the Nikon 70-200mm f/4G ED VR sharpness when used on a tripod by adding a lens collar (see the article HERE). I have been inspired to embark in such a quest by the lack of critical sharpness I noticed in some of the shots I took in Death Valley, and that I determined was caused by micro-motion blur; adding a collar to the lens solved the problem completely. While researching the topic, I also found out that the Nikon 70-200mm f/4G ED VR's bigger brother, the legendary Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II, could benefit from some improvement in the foot area as well: what is the problem, and what could be a good solution to it?
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| Really Right Stuff's LCF-10 foot & LCF-10P plate on the Nikkor 70-200 f/2.8 |
Well, there are two possible improvement in the Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 foot area: the first involves the foot's plate, that small piece of aluminium attached to the lens where you connect the lens' foot; the second involves lowering the lens / foot gravity centre and eliminating one possible weak point, i.e. the connection between your lens foot and your tripod head's lens plate - however, this second improvement applies only to people using Arca-Swiss compatible tripod heads. To solve both these problem at once, I found a perfect solution from Really Right Stuff, one of the best manufacturer of support accessories such as tripods, heads, brackets and plates: the LCF-10 foot & LCF-10P plate.
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| The Really Right Stuff LCF-10 foot & LCF-10P plate |
So, what's wrong with Nikon's original foot's connecting plate? Well, the problem is that the plate is very thin, and will eventually get bent with time and use. The solution? Replacing it with the thicker, stronger RRS LCF-10P one, which will be much harder to bend even under heavy use. More, the RSS plate uses Hex screws (the appropriate key is included), versus regular Phillips screws for the Nikon; the advantage here is that an Hex key is much less likely to ruin the screws' head than a Phillips screwdriver when you tighten them, an operation that you need to do from time to time to make sure your plate is surely attached to the lens.
The "surgery" to switch plates is very easy: just un-screw the four screws holding the plate in place, take the plate off, place the new one into position and tighten the new screws in: 5 minutes work, if that. I suggest you keep the original plate and screws for reselling purpose, since your eventual buyer might like to have the original plate as well. As you can see from the image below, the RSS plate is much thicker and stronger than the original Nikon:
The "surgery" to switch plates is very easy: just un-screw the four screws holding the plate in place, take the plate off, place the new one into position and tighten the new screws in: 5 minutes work, if that. I suggest you keep the original plate and screws for reselling purpose, since your eventual buyer might like to have the original plate as well. As you can see from the image below, the RSS plate is much thicker and stronger than the original Nikon:
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| The Really Right Stuff plate LCF-10P (left) and Nikon's original plate (right) |
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| The Nikkor 70-200 f/2.8 with its original plate |
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| The Nikkor 70-200 f/2.8 with the replacement RRS LCF-10P plate |
The second improvement is even easier and faster than the first: just get a RSS LCF-10 foot to go with your LCF-10P replacement plate, and you are done. The RRS LCF-10 foot comes with an Arca-Swiss compatible plate built-in for your convenience, and - as you can see - it's lower than just the Nikon foot by itself, let alone adding a tripod plate to it!
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| Nikon's original foot vs. RRS foot for the Nikkor 70-200 f/2.8 |
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| The Nikkor 70-200 f/2.8 with its original foot |
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| The Nikkor 70-200 f/2.8 with the RRS LCF-10 foot & LCF-10P plate |
Ergonomically, the RRS tightening screw on the foot is a bit easier to operate and tighten than Nikon's original: it protrudes slightly more off the foot itself and it's a bit deeper, offering a surer grip especially when wearing gloves.
So, if you use your Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 on a tripod a lot, and want to prevent your plate to get bent, lower the centre of gravity of your lens / camera combination and dispense with having to attach a tripod plate to your lens foot, I recommend to give the RRS LCF-10 & LCF-10P combination a try; they are perfectly made, solid, easy to mount and use, and will likely save you some headaches!
So, if you use your Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 on a tripod a lot, and want to prevent your plate to get bent, lower the centre of gravity of your lens / camera combination and dispense with having to attach a tripod plate to your lens foot, I recommend to give the RRS LCF-10 & LCF-10P combination a try; they are perfectly made, solid, easy to mount and use, and will likely save you some headaches!
Now for the technical stuff: all the quick and dirty product shots in this review have been taken with the Sigma DP3 Merrill; light has been provided by one Metz Mecablitz 20 C-2 on camera, sided by 2 Nikon SB-700 Speedlight and 2 Nikon SB-910 Speedlight used as remote slaves on manual.
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