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Light stand recommendation
I've been using cheap light stands I've gathered over the years. I'm looking for quality at a reasonable price. I do not think I want to go the route of C-stands. While great in the studio, I've always found them less desirable for locations and transportation. I have Profoto gear, and would be adding an extension arm to at least one. I want something sturdy to support the lamp and modifier. I end up with something top heavy, and really need a wider foot area, even when using sandbags. I've been looking at Manfrotto stackables https://www.adorama.com/bg1005bac3.html Not that I would need the stackable feature, as I would likely carry them in a case/bag. Do you use one brand/model for all lights? Or do you have specific stands for your various lights: fill, key, hair, back? Jan 18 19 09:22 pm Link I've heard good things about Kupo. They make stands and grip gear for other manufacturers. Here is Kupo's light stand page The Baby Kit Stand with square legs ($136.95) and the Medium Baby Kit Stand ($109.95) seem worth a look. For even lighter weight, the "Midi" stands might work. Jan 18 19 10:29 pm Link For several years (actually since the 1980s) I used the 13-foot pneumatic Photogenic stands. About six years ago, I decided to switch to C-stands, and I bought a Manfrotto stand to see whether I wanted to buy others of the same model. Before I bought more C-stands, though, I was in Schiller's (I'm' sure you know the place, Eric, on Manchester Road in Rock Hill) and saw a Kupo stand for just under $200 that they had on display. I ended up buying five of them, as they got more of them in stock. https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/ … d_8_8.html These stands are built like a tank. They adjust smoothly, they’re easy to move, they aren’t going to go anywhere (especially if you lock the wheels), and they’re stable, even with a 4.5x6-foot softbox, without sandbags. They extend to 8.8 feet, which means that when fully extended, the center of the light source is going to be more than 9 feet (and sometimes closer to 11-12 feet, depending on the modifier) above the floor. You’ll have to tighten the nuts that attach the wheels to the stands once or maybe twice a year. You can do that for several of them in a fraction of the time it takes a model to get makeup and hair. For those times when I need a taller stand, or when I want to use the Manfrotto Mega-Boom to put my Mola Euro dish above the model, I also got an Avenger stand: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/ … oller.html You’ll also need a pin (about $5) that locks into the top of the stand to mount your lights on. I believe this is the one that’s 3/8” at one end and 5/8” at the other end. https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/ … _Stud.html You will want to use a counterweight for the boom (and sandbags on the legs of the stand) with a Mola Euro or other heavy modifier. I doubt I’ll ever have to buy another stand, unless I need to do a setup with seven lights (in which case I’d probably just pull out one of the Photogenic stands that I kept for location work). However, I wish the wheeled stands were available in black. Jan 18 19 10:57 pm Link Fortunate enough to own a pair of Manfrotto 3372's which I primarily use outdoors with Speedlites, they're discontinued and practically impossible to find now. I did a lot of research before buying some years ago, which was well worth it, they're perfect for My needs. Sorry, the part # is worn off My heavier stand, which is also Bogen / Manfrotto. bg stands are Manfrotto. I can't ever see having to replace any of them and would highly recommend the brand. fwiw Jan 19 19 03:23 am Link I've used Manfrotto / Bogen 13' stands for years. The ones you picked are the replacement style for the ones I use. I use them with a monolight in a 50x60inch Westcott Halo and I have never had any problem with them tipping over. https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/ … tml?sts=pi You should think about getting the accessory wheels for the stands. It make adjusting them so much easier. Jan 19 19 07:08 am Link Reality is that if you buy a stand from any of the top 3-4 manufacturers it will likely outlive you, unless you beat the crap out of it. It becomes a question of how much do you want to spend and what you need. There are some new incredibly flexible stands out there. They are pricey, but if you need them, they are well worth it. And no I don't remember who makes them. Wheels not necessary, but so nice to have. Jan 19 19 09:35 am Link https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/ … k_Kit.html Matthews Light Heavy Far from the cheapest, I have two of them that travel to any shoot outside my own studio except low production location work. Probably about 15 yrs of hard use. same locking knobs as C-Stands (much better than the plastic knobs on the linked Stackable stands, cheaper too). Similar load capacity. Lighter and easier to pack than C-Stand. One of the best investments in grip that I have made. I prefer the Matthews to Manfrotto by a long shot. Manfrottos Avenger line is much closer in quality to the Matthews line. For lighter duty applications, I have 3 of these: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/ … Stand.html Jan 19 19 11:34 am Link I've always like Matthews brand stands but recently bought some Avenger brand stands and I like them as much or maybe better than the Matthews. I bought these. https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/ … eeled.html They may not be good on outdoor locations. And they are fairly heavy to pack around. But if I'm shooting on a floor of any kind I will certainly be packing them with me. The wheels are just so convenient for what I do. Jan 19 19 12:23 pm Link I bought 3 Manfrotto Art. 004’s in 1981 and they still function as designed, added another 6 in black a couple years later. They are taller up to 12 feet which does come in handy for location work. So given that they are coming up on 30+ years, I’d say they don’t owe me a cent. I am not familiar with the stackable models but they do make a taller version; https://www.adorama.com/bg1004bac3.html Jan 19 19 11:37 pm Link Now hard to find, but I also really like the Pic Air Cushion stands with solid folding legs (rather than tube). Also sold as Lowel. Used to be a common as the Bogen/Manfrotto, but now disappeared as Pic. https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/ … &smp=Y Jan 20 19 07:45 am Link I've bought different brands and types each time I get some but the 2 best ones are Avenger (a sub-brand of Manfrotto) and the store brand from B&H. The Avenger just fits in my light stand bag. The B&H store brand s just a wee bit longer, heavier and more sophisticated, while also being slightly less expensive. These are conventional stand, not C stands. I unpacked and set up about 6 or 8 of the Manfrotto nesting stands for a stdio I go to. Its a nice design because of the nesting feature. BUT... on the ones I set up several of them had small plastic knobs breaking off or falling off when they were brand-new and being unpacked. On the boom arm, get the black Manfrotto telescoping model plus an orange cast-iron counterweight. Manfrotto has a model with 2 or 3 pieces of extension arm that you can add in, they are a mess. Jan 20 19 06:44 pm Link thanks for all the replies. Jan 20 19 08:47 pm Link Matthews..I think they are called kit stands.. medium or heavy weight..I forget the worst thing one can do is cheap out of light stands and tripods Jan 21 19 07:28 am Link I realize that you said no c-stands but --- I use Profoto B1 and B1X heads myself. Even though c-stands are a bit heavy I do prefer to use them on location as well. If I toss up a B1X with a 45-inch parabolic reflector with focusing arm and counter weight, it can get heavy. Plus, having $3500 worth of light and modifier on one stand really makes me want to ensure that it's not going to tumble. Toss in a clam shell set up and now have 36 lbs and nearly 6 grand of lighting on a single stand. I damn sure want to go with something stable. A c-stand with 50 or 60 lbs of sandbags and I'm good to go despite the extra size and weight of the stand. Jan 21 19 08:16 am Link Barry Kidd Photography wrote: Peter Hurley has developed a few photography products, marketed by F J Westcott, that he uses and recommends. One is a "sandbag" that can be filled with water, for use when sand isn't handy. You might want to check it out. Jan 21 19 02:49 pm Link Camerosity wrote: I haven't looked at the link yet but I will in a sec. The only issue that I see off hand is that there may not always be a place to fill them. I fill 35 lbs sandbags with anywhere from 20 to 30 lbs of sand. For the most part, these are relatively small. Well, small considering. A gallon of water weights in at about 8 lbs or so. I'd need 6 one gallon bags to make 50 lbs. Not just two small bags. Jan 21 19 03:41 pm Link Matthews is a fave and a good reason to go with them is that their major market thrust is here in Los Angeles where they take aim at the TV and Movie Industry. Rugged and portability is needed. Go here to see the glory: https://www.msegrip.com/ To pick up the cheapest matthews--I bought them at all places at Samy's for $60: https://www.adorama.com/mtb387486.html Jan 21 19 04:21 pm Link The smaller Matthews Hollywood c-stands are the perfect compromise for studio and location. You lose out on maximum height (i think they only go to 50") but they are light and can fit completely in the trunk of a small car. But same durability as the larger ones. I bought one on accident. I needed something that could rise taller so traded for the bigger version. But i want to go back and pick up the mini c-stand so bad! it's just too easy. Mar 12 19 02:39 pm Link Eric212Grapher wrote: I have these stackables and love them. I stack them IN the bag, makes them easier to handle and they don’t bang around. Each stand will stand fairly easily on its own before being opened, and the whole stack will stand together. Makes it easier to deal with them. Very sturdy. Highly recommended. Mar 16 19 06:47 am Link Eric212Grapher wrote: Stackers are great. I use them in the studio and on location. The don’t replace C-stands, but are a huge step up from nanos and kit light stands. Mar 17 19 06:28 am Link |
