Just a quick question...to use the Lastolite Skylite panels, do I have to use the expensive Lastolite grip head, or will a normal grip like the Avenger D200 work just as well?
I don't know what the Avenger D200 looks like or if it will work, but I have two of the Lastolite grip heads for my 7' x 7' Skylite panel and they work perfectly. The panel, with the aluminum frame is actually surprisingly heavy and I feel confident that these grip heads will hold well.
The Skylite grip looks like the D200, but I can't tell if they're exactly the same just by looking. I don't want to get the Avenger if the Skylite one is specially designed to fit the panel frame better. On the other hand, I don't want to spend three times more money for the Skylite grip if the D200 works just as well!
The basic grip head is the same as the D200, but when you look closely (note picture with SJ bracket below) you will see that the pancake knuckle is very different having larger holes to accommodate the larger aluminum tubing of the Skylite.
I don't use this bracket as pictured though. Mostly I use it with a 5/8 snap-in or drop-down pin, similar to the Scrim Jim post adaptor pictured below.
This (works with SJ only) and the 2nd Lastolite bracket are handy brackets for swiveling reflectors or scrims into positions the D200 version doesn't work as easily. But if I was to pick only one bracket, it would have to be Lastolite's D200 version for sure.
Hi all. I'm newbie at this forum. Intersting post. I have a question for the people whom are using these panels. I was wondering if the panel (Scrim Jim or Lastolite) could be holded by only one grip head attached to a single stand. Sorry for my english. Thanks
Depending on size one grip head will suffice. E.g. Lastolite, Westcott, small and medium. For the large 2m by 2m and Xtra large you better engage two supports. If you use only one support don't forget to counterweight it properly...
