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C stands Kupo vs Mathews Qualitywise which is
I'm in need of some durable C stands, don't know a lot about them moving up from just adequate fold up light stands, Samy's is offering Kupo brand, and Mathews, similar price though, anybody care to offer an experience with these products, also is a turtle mount really useful? I'm mounting profoto D1's on them this will be , used in an auditorium Oct 06 12 07:19 am Link the lonely photographer wrote: Matthews is the Hollywood standard and you can find them on film, tv, and photo sets around the world. They are made in Burbank, CA. Kupo is a new company with a quick release idea. They are made in China. Oct 06 12 08:12 am Link Just to complicate things a bit further, American Grip is also very good stuff. They were the first with the "Hurst shifter" style handle on grip heads and the like. They're roughly equal in price and quality to Matthews. http://www.americangrip.com/ Oct 06 12 08:37 am Link MN camera wrote: The handle is kewl, but they are not equal. Mathews had better engineering in terms of both materials and parts design. Look carefully at the heads, there is a clear difference. I have owned them both! Oct 06 12 08:48 am Link Are you already invested in one? Be careful about mixing the two. I was on a shoot recently where the grip house dropped off a mix of both Matthews and Kupos. It seemed that their legs opened in the opposite directions. I didn't have time to analyze it deeply. The result was a tangle of legs and space conflicts when placing stands adjacent to one another. (Normally adjacent c-stands can fit neatly next to each other.) Back to your original question: both will support your D1's with no problem. Oct 06 12 12:30 pm Link Can't remember the details but on the video forums people were having troubles with the communist made knock offs. - Oct 06 12 08:29 pm Link I prefer Matthews, it's the industry standard and easy to get replacement parts when needed. The turtle base comes in handy if you're going on location or shipping. Make sure you get them with grip head and arm. Note: Sandbags highly recommended when using c-stands plus learn how to use the grip head so it tightens towards the head or load. Use sandbag to counter balance. Oct 06 12 09:05 pm Link Samy's in LA has the KUPOS and Mathews, Both have similar design features, and both have similar pricing. Theres no over whelming price difference, The choice is obvious, though pricey compared to renting... over a few days I would have paid for the cost of buying them. Thanks guys for your opinions Oct 07 12 08:28 am Link I've never put lights on my C-stands. I use them for flags, scrims, reflectors, etc. I've never been on a pro shoot where someone did have lights on them. Oct 07 12 09:14 am Link Robert Feliciano wrote: I would hope the C stands are stronger than standard light stands that come in the kits. No comment on your pro shoots. Oct 07 12 10:12 am Link the lonely photographer wrote: The lightstands that come with those kits are to hold the umbrellas, which also come with the kits. They aren't being use to hold up 4'x6' softboxes with grids and a sandbag. Oct 07 12 01:51 pm Link C stands are built heavier than the lightstands that come with the kits. You mean to tell me a monolight should not mounted on the post of a c-stand? w're not talking about those arms that hold the flags scrims and what not. There things called booms for the lighting. The showrooms have all kinds of setups featuring C stands and their accessories. Oct 07 12 02:06 pm Link I have some turtle bases and never use. Take that for what it's worth. I really like Avenger C stands. I've owned both Mathews and Avenger. Avengers seem smoother and I like the adjustment knobs and really like the adjustment knobs on the arms. If same price, I'd look into the avengers. C Stands are what I use for light stands. Oct 07 12 02:34 pm Link I'm saying horses for courses. If portability is important, C-stands fail the test; awkward base that doesn't fit in a case well, no wheels to move while on set. The beauty of a C-stand is the small footprint of the base. It's great for moving it in close or having many of them close together. Your OP never mentioned those 2 things, just portability and strength. There are better options if those criteria are important. I'm saying get strong folding light stands, not a C-stand and not a weak stand. You can get any good stackable Manfrotto stand, an AC stand, a steel instead of aluminum stand, or something like this if you want versatility: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/5 … Stand.html Oct 07 12 02:35 pm Link Robert Feliciano wrote: That certainly is a viable option and I would certainly consider it that foot print is much wider than the C-stand and portability is good, though I'm not using the boom arms to position lights namely to mount a light directly to the bolt. Oct 07 12 03:19 pm Link the lonely photographer wrote: You're neither right nor wrong, but you're both right and wrong. It all depends on which C-stand you are comparing to which light stands. I feel you're only comparing Matthews C-stands to lightweight stands meant to hold umbrellas, then yes, C-stands will hold more weight. But if you're comparing it to a stronger steel (not aluminum) folding stand, then you're wrong, by about 3 pounds. Oct 07 12 08:11 pm Link Robert Feliciano wrote: I have a kit with lightstands, so thats whats supplied, you're saying those stands should only be used for umbrellas leaves me to wonder how to attach the monolight to the stand since the monolight has a little hole the shaft of the umbrella goes through. And there is no other attachment in the kit for the umbrella other than the light itself... Oct 07 12 09:13 pm Link Robert Feliciano wrote: All the time...hot lights mostly but I use them from my Photogenics as well. In TV we used Matthews almost exclusively. Oct 07 12 09:23 pm Link I believe he's saying the kit stands may be a little "light" for the intended purpose. Most kit stands are awful. Matthews, Avenger, and others make folding light stands built to the same spec as the c-stands with similar weight. These are far preferable. I use c-stands to put mono lights on all the time. No problem doing this, and it's done in film and TV all the time as well. However, traditional folding stands offer a wider base and more stability than a c-stand. Some come with a "lazy leg" or "rocky mountain leg" which is where one leg can be directed downslope on an angled surface and extended so as to level the stand. Very handy for that kind of use or when used on stairs. the lonely photographer wrote: Oct 07 12 09:32 pm Link my impression from his first posts seem to say that he never was in a photoshoot that had lighting on C stands, you can go back and read it yourself. That was incorrect to mount lighting on the C stands and to be used for scrims flags and what not. So theres the confusion there. some posters says its acceptable to mount lights on the bolt. Then it takes a weird turn , the folding kind was recommended , though certainly beefier stronger than the supplied junk in the kit. I got the impression he did not favor C stands, I'm just upgrading to better hardware andI'm open to recommendations, this stuff is not cheap, though he did offer a choice I was not aware of and I am seriously considering his recommendation. thats the lightstand with the adjustable leg to comp for incline in the floor. Something theC-stands can't do, Oct 07 12 10:23 pm Link Robert Feliciano wrote: I really don't know what kind of pro shoots you've been on, but you have apparently been missing numerous pro shoots that use C-Stands to hold light heads in EVERY DAY use. I have personally seen that they are a staple in studios all over NYC where I work on my own professional shoots regularly, not only for flags and grip equipment. Oct 08 12 05:40 am Link I'm not saying the kit stands are just for the umbrellas. I'm saying they're for lights with the small umbrella included as the modifier. Of course the light goes on the stand and the umbrella in the light. By professional, you mean payment for services, then yes, of course, C-stands are used by professionals. But on most shoots I've been on, stands with WHEELS are the preferred method, thus no C-stands for the lights. Oct 08 12 05:56 am Link Robert Feliciano wrote: LOL I guess Robert forgot most MM here don't live in the exalted world of being amongst luxury of wheeled lightstands, use $150 dollar Cstands to hold a flag or scrim (I use a potato chip clip and on a dowel and ask someone to hold it). It sucks to be po' and broke most of the time. Hell my idea of visiting a foreign country is going down to Tijuana. Oct 08 12 07:00 am Link Robert Feliciano wrote: Then I would suggest you get out of the studio for a while. Because on location (beach, carpeted home, historical buildings, etc.) you'll get run on out on a rail for trying to wheel anything around or you gear won't work. Want to run a set of casters? Put them anywhere near beach sand. The ball-bearings will implode. Oct 08 12 07:48 am Link as mentioned previously, C-stands are your best solutions. If you're on uneven surfaces or stairs get the c-stand with sliding leg. http://www.amazon.com/Matthews-Century- … B000TI3370 Oct 08 12 01:10 pm Link Robert Feliciano wrote: For still photography and strobe lighting, wheels are NOT the preferred method. C-stands with sandbags are. Oct 08 12 01:14 pm Link MDWM wrote: There are many tools for many jobs and I'm sure C-stands work for you and many others. But most standard 40" C-stands don't go much higher than 10'. Sorry, but I'd be a lot less productive with a 7' Profoto umbrella on a C-stand. I'll take a 13'-14' roller any day over a 10' C-stand. My 1st studio had 15' ceilings, I was spoiled rotten. I'm down to 12' now. Oct 08 12 06:49 pm Link Buy one, a Mathews from Samy's for $139. You'll buy more after you see all the things they can be used for. It's great not having to worry about knocking a stand over. Oct 08 12 07:09 pm Link Robert Feliciano wrote: The OP's question is about c-stands. Hell Yeah, if you're light is big or you're going high, I would use a high roller as well. Oct 08 12 07:26 pm Link I like Avenger stands over both. Oct 08 12 08:52 pm Link Jim Lafferty wrote: I can give you several reasons why I think Avengers are inferior to Matthews. I have both. Oct 08 12 09:07 pm Link The Kupo, Avenger, and Matthews stands are all comparable. You'll likely be happy with whatever you choose. It's splitting hairs, but I like the Matthews. If you ever need to sell them, the Matthews will likely hold their value better than the other two...but who buys lights stands because of their resale value? I would stick to one brand though....and not mix 'em. Oct 08 12 10:21 pm Link Avenger is the Hollywood standard by far. They may cost ten bucks more each, but they'll last the life of your career. Oct 09 12 12:26 am Link Brian D wrote: Avenger grip was started in the 90's by Italian company Manfrotto. Matthews grip was started in 1968 by a guy formerly working for Paramount studios. I have grip gear from both companies. But I will say this and you can stake my name to it. Oct 09 12 01:18 am Link On almost all grip trucks and in grip dept's. 99.999999% will be either MSE or American grip. I beg anyone to go to a film studio grip & lighting Dept. And find anything else. Oct 09 12 05:02 am Link ei Total Productions wrote: OK. I'd like to see the reasons. I've heard the Canon/Nikon type back and forth about Matthews vs. Avenger, and I would like to know what really makes one brand better. Oct 09 12 12:06 pm Link ei Total Productions wrote: GeM Photographic wrote: With pleasure. Avenger is a very good piece of equipment. I have no problems with them. There are, however, several things about Matthews which are definitely better. Oct 09 12 03:38 pm Link ei Total Productions wrote: Castings make the Matthews a bit lighter. Oct 09 12 08:19 pm Link ei Total Productions wrote: SKITA Studios wrote: I don't like painted stands, period. They reduce glare but they are all bad, as far as I am concerned. Have you ever broken a Matthews casting? They use a different alloy than Avenger. I have never broken either. Oct 09 12 08:23 pm Link I don't think the lonely photographer is going to put a 2K 20+ feet in the air. I recommend Manfroto Maxi Stands. These are like the kit stands, just made to a pro level of strength and fit. You can get them with or without castors (which are removable) so no worries about going to the beach. They have a light weight and heavy weight boom arms. But for really booming get a Super boom or other thing. They have different sized clamp on weights to help stabilize them. I like all my lights on wheels in homes and studios. They are rubber and don't scratch the floors and are easy to move and adjust, even with weight on them. I have moved to even smaller foot print stands with counter weighted bases. Oct 09 12 09:29 pm Link |