Page 3 of 7 FirstFirst 12345 ... LastLast
Results 21 to 30 of 67

Thread: Always go for the light stand with the heaviest weight rating?

  1. #21

    Join Date
    Jun 2016
    Posts
    53

    Re: Always go for the light stand with the heaviest weight rating?

    So... you plan to make large fornat still life photo's in a studio setting.
    You have one Elinchrom Style rx1200 studio flash unit.
    Sounds like you will not be making photo's in very stressful and/or dynamic situations, you will have time to take it easy. Basically, any light stand will do in such circumstances, even the cheapest. All the light stand needs to do is keep the flash unit in place.
    I use pretty large and heavy flash units with very simple and cheap light stands without any problem in a studio setting.
    Here's one that I found on a local (Dutch) website, for only €7,95 incl. VAT:
    https://www.tradeshopping.nl/fotostu...80-200-cm.html
    Of course, the build quality is crap, but for your intended use it may serve you well for years and when it breaks down, just buy a new one.

  2. #22
    (Shrek)
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Montreal
    Posts
    2,044

    Re: Always go for the light stand with the heaviest weight rating?

    Quote Originally Posted by Tin Can View Post

    I also have 4 theatre lighting hot cans, with safety cables also focusable, $20 for the lot, not stolen

    One of these days I will convert them to high power LED
    I think several of us are holding on to old theatre lights hoping to convert some day. I have 6 or 7 stashed in the attic. Last time I looked (this year) you could buy 5K 50W LED COBs that run on line voltage (120 or 240V). I'm waiting for prices to come down a little, so maybe next week

  3. #23

    Join Date
    May 2014
    Posts
    93

    Re: Always go for the light stand with the heaviest weight rating?

    Quote Originally Posted by Peter De Smidt View Post
    Yes, traditionally in the movie industry c-standards aren't use for lights. Why? Because the legs spread is smaller than with a traditional light stand. I worked in a big photo studio. (Housing sets were built inside the various studios.) C-stands were lined up along one wall in each of the bays. They nest very well standing up. To get to the light stands, you'd have to go to the equipment room. So, I expect that in that type of studio, c=stands were used more because they were quicker to grab, and they worked fine for most things. They were always sand bagged, the cables were wired appropriately and covered with mats or tapped to the floor.... There were two junior rolling boom stands in each of the big bays, and these were used whenever a light had to go up higher than about 10 feet. (One bay had a huge ceiling soft light system. This was used for photographing cars, motorcycles......

    So I have 15 years experience working as an assistant at various big studios. I do prefer Matthews, but Kupo, American Grip, Avenger (i.e Manfrotto) and others makes some good products. Kupo grip arms with the faceted (no spin) ends are very nice.

    Now for light stands....I really prefer ones that have regular, full-sized baby studs. Some of mine don't. You can buy brass adapters that go from 3/16 threads to a baby stud. I've mounted them on the stands with thread lock. I don't like air cushioning. I'd rather just have good fixtures.

    When I had my own small studio, I used a Manfrotto rolling junior stand with an adapter to go from a Junior receiver to 3/8th. I mounted a ball head, and used it as a replacement for a studio stand when I used a dslr. It worked great.

    My favorite 'kit' stands were old Lowel ones. They were steel. They had real baby studs. They packed compactly, and they were tough. We had Mathews c-stands but not kit stands. I'm sure they're fine.
    How can you tell if it has a full-size baby stud?

    Also, why do you not like air cushioned?

    A new stand that I am considering is the Manfrotto 126BSU (https://www.manfrotto.com/global/hea...-stand-126bsu/. It's not Avenger, but seems to have some good reviews, and I can get it for 190 francs, which is significantly cheaper than the Avenger. No wheels though, although I'm not sure how important wheels are in large format photography, as I'm guessing you don't move the light very much...
    Instagram username: @AlmosLataan

    My Website

  4. #24

    Join Date
    May 2014
    Posts
    93

    Re: Always go for the light stand with the heaviest weight rating?

    Quote Originally Posted by Ron789 View Post
    So... you plan to make large fornat still life photo's in a studio setting.
    You have one Elinchrom Style rx1200 studio flash unit.
    Sounds like you will not be making photo's in very stressful and/or dynamic situations, you will have time to take it easy. Basically, any light stand will do in such circumstances, even the cheapest. All the light stand needs to do is keep the flash unit in place.
    I use pretty large and heavy flash units with very simple and cheap light stands without any problem in a studio setting.
    Here's one that I found on a local (Dutch) website, for only €7,95 incl. VAT:
    https://www.tradeshopping.nl/fotostu...80-200-cm.html
    Of course, the build quality is crap, but for your intended use it may serve you well for years and when it breaks down, just buy a new one.
    I think I would just be too worried that the strobe would fall if it did break. I only have a limited amount of money to get set up, and I don't think I would be able to get the strobe as cheap as I did again. Plus, I am going to try some portraits too, if I have enough power, and so want to be sure things are safe for any potential model.
    Instagram username: @AlmosLataan

    My Website

  5. #25
    Peter De Smidt's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2001
    Location
    Fond du Lac, WI, USA
    Posts
    8,954

    Re: Always go for the light stand with the heaviest weight rating?

    Baby stud: https://static.bhphoto.com/images/im...57_1340615.jpg

    Air cushioned is slower. It's not a big deal, but if you're setting up a bunch of stands every day....

    That's a Junior stand with a built in Baby stud. It should be fine. Manfrotto/Avenger are really the same thing.
    “You often feel tired, not because you've done too much, but because you've done too little of what sparks a light in you.”
    ― Alexander Den Heijer, Nothing You Don't Already Know

  6. #26

    Join Date
    Jun 2016
    Posts
    53

    Re: Always go for the light stand with the heaviest weight rating?

    Quote Originally Posted by MilamBardo View Post
    I think I would just be too worried that the strobe would fall if it did break. I only have a limited amount of money to get set up, and I don't think I would be able to get the strobe as cheap as I did again. Plus, I am going to try some portraits too, if I have enough power, and so want to be sure things are safe for any potential model.
    Don't worry, it won't break and fall. If the stand gets damaged, it will happen during storage, transport or you setting it up.... but once it stands, it stands. I've been using such stands for years, mainly for portraiture, without any problem.

  7. #27

    Join Date
    May 2014
    Posts
    93

    Re: Always go for the light stand with the heaviest weight rating?

    Quote Originally Posted by Ron789 View Post
    Don't worry, it won't break and fall. If the stand gets damaged, it will happen during storage, transport or you setting it up.... but once it stands, it stands. I've been using such stands for years, mainly for portraiture, without any problem.
    Ah okay. That's good to know then.
    Instagram username: @AlmosLataan

    My Website

  8. #28
    Tin Can's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Posts
    22,386

    Re: Always go for the light stand with the heaviest weight rating?

    Here's my studio as used an hour ago

    3 C stands, 3 PCP Einsteins, no sandbags, as I am very careful. I would use sand bags if the stands were set taller or others on set. I usually store the big umbrellas at the ceiling, face up to it, in a corner

    One, bare bulb full power into the V-Card

    Two, 50% 20 degree grid on scupture

    Three, umbrella 100% for both subjects and bounce

    Flash incident nose reading f16, shot at F16. Windup shutter cable

    Ist shot ever with that camera, used one $8 FP10045C sheet, made 2 mistakes, but good enough for this. I am trying to not waste FP.

    Notice the color changes from various LED left on during exposure

    Hunting by TIN CAN COLLEGE, on Flickr

    Hunting 2 by TIN CAN COLLEGE, on Flickr

    aHunter FP10045C by TIN CAN COLLEGE, on Flickr
    Tin Can

  9. #29

    Join Date
    Feb 2015
    Location
    Dallas, Texas
    Posts
    330

    Re: Always go for the light stand with the heaviest weight rating?

    Black Avenger stands, not the C-stand, Just the 3-leg tripod style. Nice big knobs. Used them for years.

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	610D7903-3B79-4614-B76C-6A952A578F23.jpg 
Views:	17 
Size:	53.0 KB 
ID:	215697
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	A8AE9B1E-B18A-4F66-8F5E-F18225A773B1.jpg 
Views:	14 
Size:	78.3 KB 
ID:	215698
    Dallas Texas HABS / HAER / HALS Photography
    Photographer/Author Marfa Flights: Aerial Views of Big Bend Country (Texas A&M University Press)
    Petroleum Oil Pics

  10. #30
    Tin Can's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Posts
    22,386

    Re: Always go for the light stand with the heaviest weight rating?

    Don't forget Superclamps
    Tin Can

Similar Threads

  1. Replies: 7
    Last Post: 4-Nov-2020, 09:32
  2. tripod weight rating?
    By xtmevolution in forum Gear
    Replies: 33
    Last Post: 29-May-2017, 03:55
  3. Light weight 4X5
    By 12pmc in forum Cameras & Camera Accessories
    Replies: 8
    Last Post: 10-Aug-2015, 12:58
  4. light weight 5x7
    By Bruce Watson in forum Cameras & Camera Accessories
    Replies: 56
    Last Post: 6-Oct-2009, 17:43
  5. Camera weight vs. Tripod/Accessories weight...Light field Camera enthusiasts help?
    By audioexcels in forum Cameras & Camera Accessories
    Replies: 16
    Last Post: 20-Jun-2007, 19:01

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •