p.1 #1 · Recommendations on quality stand/umbrella?
I've been shooting regularly for nearly a decade but I'm a landscape/nature guy. My 2012 resolution is to learn to shoot with flash, an area I've almost completely ignored.
I shoot with a D300 and have an SB-800. I'm looking to start with a light stand and umbrella with my existing equipment but I'm not looking for a "starter" set. I want a quality stand and umbrella that will grow with me as I add more equipment, not flimsy crap that I'll just want to replace if I start actively shooting portraits.
p.1 #2 · Recommendations on quality stand/umbrella?
You can never go wrong with Manfrotto stands and other gear. I'd rather have an old well used Manfrotto stand than many other stands new.
I had always used Photoflex umbrellas, white bounce and shoot-thru. Recently I picked up a Bowens umbrella, the kind you can take the black backing off. For just a few extra dollars, it is quite a bit better than Photoflex.
p.1 #3 · Recommendations on quality stand/umbrella?
thanks, that's the kind of advice I'm looking for. I have two Manfrotto tripods and love them. Figured they made good stands. I know nothing about umbrellas. I'll look up the Bowens.
p.1 #5 · Recommendations on quality stand/umbrella?
The common sizes are 32"ish, and 45"ish. The Bowens small size is 36", it is the one I have, and I like it. A good compromise between big enough but usable on location and outside.
p.1 #6 · Recommendations on quality stand/umbrella?
I have a manfrotto 1052BAC stand and it's not great, sags and the locks are not enough to stop modifiers rotating in a lot of wind and is generally poor, I'd buy the Avenger A625B. My bigger 1005 is amazing though, I'm not sure why the quality is so much better on the bigger stands.
The best umbrella I have used is the paul buff white plm. Fibreglass ribs mean it survives when other umbrellas bend and become useless.
p.1 #7 · Recommendations on quality stand/umbrella?
<y personal preference for umbrellas are the Photogenic Eclipse models/ I've been using them for a decade+ with no complaints.
To mount a speedlight + umbrella on a stand you want something like the Manfrotto 026 Swivel Umbrella Adapter plus a cold shoe with a female thread on the bottom or a similar gadget from Photoflex or Photek which come with the shoe.
p.1 #9 · Recommendations on quality stand/umbrella?
henryp wrote:
<y personal preference for umbrellas are the Photogenic Eclipse models/ I've been using them for a decade+ with no complaints.
To mount a speedlight + umbrella on a stand you want something like the Manfrotto 026 Swivel Umbrella Adapter plus a cold shoe with a female thread on the bottom or a similar gadget from Photoflex or Photek which come with the shoe.
p.1 #10 · Recommendations on quality stand/umbrella?
+1 for Avenger light stands, great stuff. I personally would recommend going up to the Avenger A630B. It's slightly more heavy duty than the A625B, will handle a speedlight easily but is also sturdy enough to work with studio strobes should you upgrade down the road. It's my go-to stand for both indoors and light duty location shooting.
p.1 #11 · Recommendations on quality stand/umbrella?
Sheldon N wrote:
+1 for Avenger light stands, great stuff. I personally would recommend going up to the Avenger A630B. It's slightly more heavy duty than the A625B, will handle a speedlight easily but is also sturdy enough to work with studio strobes should you upgrade down the road. It's my go-to stand for both indoors and light duty location shooting.
No doubt the 630 is a good stand but it depends how far you are planning to haul this stuff. For me, a lugging 3kg stand to stick a speedlight on doesn't make sense, even my profoto acuteb gear I use with the manfrotto 1005 which is 2kg.
p.1 #12 · Recommendations on quality stand/umbrella?
Mark_L wrote:
No doubt the 630 is a good stand but it depends how far you are planning to haul this stuff. For me, a lugging 3kg stand to stick a speedlight on doesn't make sense, even my profoto acuteb gear I use with the manfrotto 1005 which is 2kg.
Weight of the stand is 4.85 lbs, 2.2 kg, basically the same as your 1005. It's also built like a tank - very, very sturdy. I've got both Manfrotto and Avenger stuff (Manfrotto owns Avenger) and the Avenger gear has always struck me as being better built and more rugged.
I use the slightly larger/taller Avenger A635B and it's strong enough to hold the 74" EL Octa with the Elinchrom Ranger pack hanging off the side. I'm also going to pick up a Avenger A4039CS boom stand eventually as my heavier duty location stand, but that one is certainly not lightweight at 18lbs.
p.1 #13 · Recommendations on quality stand/umbrella?
Sheldon N wrote:
Weight of the stand is 4.85 lbs, 2.2 kg, basically the same as your 1005. It's also built like a tank - very, very sturdy. I've got both Manfrotto and Avenger stuff (Manfrotto owns Avenger) and the Avenger gear has always struck me as being better built and more rugged.
I use the slightly larger/taller Avenger A635B and it's strong enough to hold the 74" EL Octa with the Elinchrom Ranger pack hanging off the side. I'm also going to pick up a Avenger A4039CS boom stand eventually as my heavier duty location stand, but that one is certainly not lightweight at 18lbs. ...Show more →
Ah I thought it was the 3kg one with the levelling leg. I'm after an A625B to replace my 1052 manfrotto, avenger stuff does appear to be better made but oddly highly limited in availability here in the uk.
p.1 #14 · Recommendations on quality stand/umbrella?
Manfrotto or Bogen are the king of stands, with Matthews and avengers close second/ third. If it is for th studio I would get a c-stand since they are built to last and are heavy so they do not move. They come with an assortment of bases some allow the third leg to be set higher than the other two for steps and such. They also can have a wheeled base. I use mine outdoors also but I don't have the third leg option. A second tripod with might be a good use for outdoor use since all three legs can be set to different heights and on some angles. I bought a cheap tripod just for this purpose except to hold my laptop n a platform.
p.1 #15 · Recommendations on quality stand/umbrella?
I have a spare tripod from when I upgraded from my Manfrotto 3221 to a carbon fiber. That's what I plan on using as a second stand for now. I'm mainly building a set-up to take photos of my kids for now.
I've lugged my gear including the heavy 3221 up and down mountain trails so weight doesn't bother me although bulk can be a pain.
p.1 #16 · Recommendations on quality stand/umbrella?
I can see the 'I want quality' thing, but I think it has to be balanced with the application intended.
An SB-800 with a swivel umbrella mount has to weigh a total of 2 pounds, maybe.
If your idea is to just use a speedlight and a single modifier, ANY stand offered up on eBay will more than do. If your looking at mounting a $300.-- + monoblock or head to a stand, I can see the issue coming into play. Why spend more money than need be?
p.1 #18 · Recommendations on quality stand/umbrella?
The best stand would be a C-Stand from either Bogen, Matthews or Avenger. As to the umbrella except for the zumbrella made for speedlites I would grab a umbrella from PhotoflexLightingSchool or lastolite.
p.1 #19 · Recommendations on quality stand/umbrella?
John Skinner wrote:
I can see the 'I want quality' thing, but I think it has to be balanced with the application intended.
An SB-800 with a swivel umbrella mount has to weigh a total of 2 pounds, maybe.
If your idea is to just use a speedlight and a single modifier, ANY stand offered up on eBay will more than do. If your looking at mounting a $300.-- + monoblock or head to a stand, I can see the issue coming into play. Why spend more money than need be?
very good point but while I'm starting with SB800 I do want to do more in the future and saw no reason to buy twice. I've bought many things photography and other wise that the quality frustrated me when it broke or was plain flimsy and I just prefer to buy once.
Update on status is the Bowens umbrella should arrive today from B&H. Already have the Manfrotto adapter and also picked up a used SB-600 as a second light source. For now I'm using my tripods since they work to get by while I'm learning and deciding my needs. Plan to play around a lot this weekend with my new "home studio" and I'll go from there on a light stand (or two).
