I'm starting the process to buy the needed item for a studio setup. I think my lighting is set (Alien Bee 800's) But very confused on the backdrop system. I see so many on the market. I will need a unti that I can take down and store when needed. I value the forum members any your suggestions will be appreciated. Thanks
I like the Calumet system. Two decently strong stands with four-segment crossbar. Easy to set up and take down. It will hold 12' muslins or standard 107" seamless. I use it all the time.
I opted to "build my own" rather than buying a premade system. I did this primarily because I didn't trust the sturdiness of many of the backdrop systems you can buy. I'm not saying they are bad, I just didn't have experience with them, nor could I inspect them before buying. Plus the stand I ended up with can go higher than many of the premade systems.
I ended up getting two Savage 13' 4 section heavy duty air cushion light stands.. Adorama sells them for a regular price of $59.95. The stands are very nice and sturdy and have a pretty large footprint which is nice to prevent the stand from tipping over. The ability to raise it up to 13' is nice when the facility has the ceiling height to allow it. Getting the backdrop up higher will allow you more freedom when shooting because you have more backdrop to work with. Plus, if you don't need the additional height, then you can use the stronger sections and not have to extend the 4th and smallest section. This results in an even more stable setup. The 4th section is bigger than most normal light stands, but I still like to use the strongest sections of the stand first.
Right now, I'm just using a 10' metal aluminum pole that I bought from a hardware store as my support pole. I was less than $10. I thought about getting a more portable support bar (something that breaks down into a smaller length), but since my seamless paper is almost that long it seemed silly to spend a lot more money on a portable bar when the seamless roll cannot get any smaller.
I just drilled a hole (about 5/8" wide) in each end of the aluminum pole. The hole is just large enough to allow the pole to slip over the spigot on the light stand. That is plenty to properly support the pole and the weight of the seamless paper.
I ordered a Cowboy Studio setup for cheap as we are getting ready for an upcoming studio shoot and I had no previous equipment. Set it up today and for $75 I think it will do fine. It has a metal four piece crossbar and seems plenty sturdy.
Based on amazon customers review, I bought Ravelli ABSL Photo Video Backdrop Stand Kit Dual Air Cushion Stands and Bag, it is 13X15 size. I am happy with this setup for what I need. I have not yet tried with seamless paper but used with muslin up to 10 X 20. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003TLSXMO/ref=oh_details_o06_s00_i00
