Boom Arm Recommendations

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Archive 2009 · Boom Arm Recommendations

vindicatedx2x
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p.1 #1 · Boom Arm Recommendations

Hey all,

Any recommendations for boom arms? Preferably in the 80-100 dollar range. I know of the Alienbee one and a couple others, but wanted to get other people's thoughts.

Right now will be using it with a AB1600 and medium octa with grid.

Using a 9.5' Impact air cushioned stand, as seen here: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/253069-REG/Impact_LS_96HAB_Air_Cushioned_Heavy_Duty_Light.html

Any help would be awesome.

Thanks!
Chris

Jul 01, 2009 at 05:49 AM

rico
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p.1 #2 · Boom Arm Recommendations

First, determine the maximum payload (head plus mods). For your AB1600 and grid, it might be around 6lbs. I think a steel boom is prudent, so consider the Mini Matth:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/33150-REG/Matthews_427802_Mini_Matth_Boom.html

This gives 7' reach with an 8lb payload.If you counterbalance the boom symmetrically, you keep the total weight down while retaining some reach: so budget 6lbs for counterweight. With the Mini Matth weight of 7.5lbs, that puts a total load on the stand of almost 20lbs - just under the Impact limit of 22 lbs. Frankly, an all-steel stand with a 30 lb limit would be safer, and wheels are a real plus.

I recently did these calculations for a 25lb light, went all steel, and the rig holds together nicely. You really don't want a boom to fall over (or crumple) - especially with people below.

Jul 01, 2009 at 07:54 AM

Deezie
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p.1 #3 · Boom Arm Recommendations

+1 for Matthews mini-boom

Jul 01, 2009 at 01:40 PM

bacilonur
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p.1 #4 · Boom Arm Recommendations

I have a D600 and D650. Maybe the ratings on that Matthews are extremely conservative, but the D600 is cheaper and has a ridiculously good rating, which I tend to believe considering the magical Italian steel it's forged out of.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/3599-REG/Avenger_D600_D600_Mini_Boom_3_8.html#specifications

Jul 01, 2009 at 02:16 PM

Gregg Heckler
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p.1 #5 · Boom Arm Recommendations

Either the D600 or Mini Math. Plan on buying a or some sand bags also.

Jul 01, 2009 at 03:08 PM

kenyee
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p.1 #6 · Boom Arm Recommendations

I've been wondering about the D600/D650's rating as well. Looks similar to the Mathews minimatth so how in the world could it be that much stronger? And it's cheaper to boot?

Jul 01, 2009 at 11:27 PM

rico
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p.1 #7 · Boom Arm Recommendations

I have the Avenger D650 and two Matthews rolling stands with junior receivers. After some torture testing, I'm comfortable with the weight ratings from both companies. The Matthews gear is a notch better in build quality: that and USA manufacture means more money. The Mini Matth looks quite lovely but cannot lift like the D650 (a true beast).

Jul 02, 2009 at 02:41 AM

RDKirk
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p.1 #8 · Boom Arm Recommendations

Also, stay away from the inexpensive "double-knuckle" or "double pancake" boom joints. Those are accidents waiting to happen because both swivel and tilt are simultaneously unlocked. You want a boom joint that has the tilt and swivel mechanism completely separate mechanically.

Jul 02, 2009 at 08:22 PM

kenyee
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p.1 #9 · Boom Arm Recommendations

rico: did you ever torture test C stands vs avenger (the heavy duty lightstand style)? Curious what holds up better. I can't see how the C stands do so well because they don't have as much leg spread for balance...

Jul 03, 2009 at 01:22 AM

rico
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p.1 #10 · Boom Arm Recommendations

kenyee wrote:
rico: did you ever torture test C stands vs avenger (the heavy duty lightstand style)? Curious what holds up better. I can't see how the C stands do so well because they don't have as much leg spread for balance...

Two problems with a C stand in this application: stability, and load rating. Re stability, the C stands I researched had smaller footprints and the folding-leg design worried me a lot. The maximum load was around 20 lbs - as evidenced by the welded-leg construction - and that is way too low for a 32-lb boom and 25-lb light fixture. I don't think any C stand offers a Junior receiver (needed for the D650) for that reason. I selected the Matthews Medium Overhead Roller stand with a 1.5m footprint (slightly optimistic) and load rating of 88 lbs. Long before this stand tips from an imbalanced payload, the D650 center tensioner has slipped your light onto the floor.

Jul 03, 2009 at 03:37 AM

vindicatedx2x
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p.1 #11 · Boom Arm Recommendations

Thanks for all the input guys. I won't be doing anything bigger than an AB1600 with a Medium Octa or Beauty Dish for more than a year, I am sure. Just 1 key light and a few rim/kickers for what I do. Sounds like a heavier stand might be worth it, then. I'll take a look at another air cushioned stand with a better weight capacity - any brand recommendations? The thing I liked about the Impact was its 40 bucks and it's done amazingly.

Also, anyone care to give input on junior receiver and C stands? Not familiar...

Thanks guys!
Cheers

Jul 03, 2009 at 04:04 AM

bacilonur
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p.1 #12 · Boom Arm Recommendations

Avenger A635's are the shiznit. Otherwise I'd try to pick up a cine stand.

Jul 03, 2009 at 04:07 AM

James Markus
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p.1 #13 · Boom Arm Recommendations

When I shared a studio with well over a dozen photographers at the newspaper I learned one very valuable lesson. ALL booms break. It doesn't matter if it cost 10K and was made in the USA or not...it will break. Make sure you use safety cables on the head! If you are really paranoid about the weight - put a bungie cord on too (from the ceiling to the head & modifier). I saw a bunch of close shaves, but if those heads had hit someone...man, it would have made a mess. Protect your client/model, and your gear!

Jul 03, 2009 at 03:44 PM

kenyee
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p.1 #14 · Boom Arm Recommendations

vindicatedx2x wrote:
Also, anyone care to give input on junior receiver and C stands? Not familiar...

A C stand looks like this:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=workaround.jsp&A=details&Q=&sku=243719&is=REG

The legs rotate into an arc shape instead of fold up like a light stand.
See the top part of it where you normally attach an umbrella bracket or strobe? A "junior receiver" has a female so the boom arm has the male piece that plugs into it.

Thanks for the C stand assessment Rico.

Jul 03, 2009 at 03:45 PM

tayo
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p.1 #15 · Boom Arm Recommendations

James Markus wrote:
When I shared a studio with well over a dozen photographers at the newspaper I learned one very valuable lesson. ALL booms break. It doesn't matter if it cost 10K and was made in the USA or not...it will break. Make sure you use safety cables on the head! If you are really paranoid about the weight - put a bungie cord on too (from the ceiling to the head & modifier). I saw a bunch of close shaves, but if those heads had hit someone...man, it would have made a mess. Protect your client/model, and your gear!

In your experience, do they tend to break in a specific way, usually at the same point?

Jul 05, 2009 at 09:57 PM

James Markus
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p.1 #16 · Boom Arm Recommendations

No...It would be much more simple if the same part failed

In the greatest failures to the least - these are the components I have seen fail.

Strobe head articulating mechanisms - 100%

Boom clamp/yoke (where the boom arm attaches to the stand) 50%

Boom counterweight adjustment mechanism - sliding weights, bags 50%

Stands 15% (one time out of six kits) height clamp cracked.

There are lots of modifications that should be on lighting gear that are not standard. If you go to a good music store and looking at their lighting gear - they quite often make use of pins. At the end of a boom arm...a pin will prevent the counterweight from slipping off. Pins will prevent stands from vertical collapse if a tension clamp fails. Safety cables will keep the head attached to the end of the boom arm. I've never seen a boom arm fail, but I have seen them in precariously overloaded positions...too much weight on both ends, and bent into an arc. Sure, many of these were due to mis-use, but a good number were not due to mis-use. It's that whole "give me a lever long enough and I can move the world" thing. It seems that people quite often underestimate the stresses that are generated by a boom.

Jul 06, 2009 at 01:44 PM

vindicatedx2x
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p.1 #17 · Boom Arm Recommendations

Alright... after some consideration, I have decided to most likely go with the D600.

I looked up more on the Alienbees, and all the reviews of it were utter crap. Would have enjoyed the 10% student discount from PCB, but I think I'll take protecting my gear over a $9 discount.

One final thing. I've been looking at maybe getting a stronger stand. The Impact 9.5 does well.. but looking at the 8 and 10 foot Impacts, they have a load rating of only 8 lbs. How on earth does the 9.5 have a load rating of 22lbs then? It's only 40 bucks and I can't even find another stand that has that rating unless I spend 90 bucks!

So let's say I have the AB1600 and octa, that 7lbs, and boom arm, thats 8 lbs. Plus, how do I balance the weight on the D600? It doesn't come with a counter weight like the d650 or the Alienbee one - does that mean I have to buy sandbags? Plus, In the load rating for a boom, are sandbags/counterweights included or is it only for what is attached at the lighting end?

So lets say the load rating for the d600 is 15.4 lbs. Does that include a counter weight, or not? And if it does, does that mean I have to find my own 8.5 lb counter weight for a 6.5 lb light? Because I can only find 15 lb bags.

Geeze.. I just wanted to by a boom for my lights and I ended up with more questions after research than before!

Little more help? Haha, thanks all.

Jul 07, 2009 at 08:29 AM

vindicatedx2x
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p.1 #18 · Boom Arm Recommendations

RE: previous post, sorry for the double:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/184625-REG/Avenger_A470_A470_Baby_Combi_Boom_Steel.html#specifications

Eh?

Jul 07, 2009 at 09:14 AM

Cuervo79
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p.1 #19 · Boom Arm Recommendations

Vindicated this is what I bought
D600 boom arm
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/3599-REG/Avenger_D600_D600_Mini_Boom_3_8.html

A529 wheeled light stand
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/3554-REG/Avenger_A5029_A420_Wheeled_Light_Stand.html

as a counter weight I use one of the dumbells I have laying around I have an AB800 and large softbox and the boom/stand combination seem to work well.

Jul 08, 2009 at 09:31 AM

vindicatedx2x
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p.1 #20 · Boom Arm Recommendations

Thanks, Cuervo.

And thanks to everyone else for all of their input!

Jul 08, 2009 at 11:20 PM

RedWhiteandRed
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p.1 #21 · Boom Arm Recommendations

One suggestion - take a grinder and make a flat spot on the spigot of the D600. This is a common adjustment and useful for giving the strobe head more grip to prevent rotation.

Jul 08, 2009 at 11:44 PM

Cuervo79
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p.1 #22 · Boom Arm Recommendations

You could also buy this
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/153413-REG/Avenger_E700_E700_Baby_Drop_Down.html

Drop down pin, that's what I have and works good. At least right now hehe

Jul 09, 2009 at 03:20 AM

vindicatedx2x
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p.1 #23 · Boom Arm Recommendations

I've seen drop down pins before, but never used one (or a boom for that matter) - but how do they work? Does anyone have photos of one in use?

Jul 09, 2009 at 03:29 PM

RDKirk
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p.1 #24 · Boom Arm Recommendations

So lets say the load rating for the d600 is 15.4 lbs. Does that include a counter weight, or not? And if it does, does that mean I have to find my own 8.5 lb counter weight for a 6.5 lb light? Because I can only find 15 lb bags.

I'm not sure about the true meaning of the load rating, but as to the weight distribution, that's going to be a matter of simple lever physics. With the stand point being the fulcrum, in most cases you see the light on the long arm of the lever and the weight on the short arm. That means you need a much heavier counterweight than the load.

If the load (the light and modifier) is a total of 7 pounds and you've got it extended on a boom six feet from the stand with the weight on the other end extended three feet from the stand, then you need a 14 pound counterweight.

Jul 09, 2009 at 04:53 PM

vindicatedx2x
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p.1 #25 · Boom Arm Recommendations

Thanks for the heads up, RDKirk. Didn't even think about that one, but I certainly understand what your saying - a heavy bag will make sense to get then.

Probably will go with the D600, sounds very solid.

Jul 10, 2009 at 07:26 AM


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