I've looked at Matthews' website but their pictures are very low resolution. From the looks of it it looks like a short boom arm. Can someone clarify this for me? Thanks.

http://www.lmgtfy.com/?q=What+is+a+rise … ws+C+stand


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KM

When you say that it looks like a "boom," it is also called a "Grip Arm."  Technically it is not a boom.

It is an arm with a rotating joint, at one end, called a "Grip Head."  There are a total of two grip heads on the assembly.  One grip head is permanently mounted to a 40", shaft which is 5/8" in diameter.  That is the size of a normal mount on the base of a studio light.

The second grip head slides on the shaft and has an 5/8" attaching point.  Typically with a "C" stand, the sliding grip head is mounted to the top of the grip head and the second grip head is on the free floating end of the grip arm (shaft).

I am not going to write a novel about them, but these things are incredibly flexible and useful.  I use C Stands in my LA studio.  In San Francisco, I have five of the grip arms mounted to nailing plates (a short stationary boom), on my walls and have all manner of lights hung off of them.  I use them just the opposite of how I described to you, which is why I say they are so versatile.

The grip arms you are referring to, however, are not the risers.

And a grip arm is not made for hanging lights although it can work. 

Make sure you sandbag a c-stand

American Grips stands are much better.

The riser is the center section that telescopes up and is held in place by the tightening screws.  Some stands have only one section, other have two.  They are called a double riser stand.