I've always used "tripod" style light stands but am currently considering giving c-stand(s) a try.
Does anybody have any information and/or experience with Impact brand turtle based c-stands?
Good? Bad? Perhaps other brand suggestions?
Adorama C Stands are only $129 and I love them. They are very heavy though, so if you shoot outside a lot, they may not be fore you. I use C Stands with a boom arm and they hold the weight of large soft boxes much better than a standard light stand.
Stacking C-stands close together is their main claim to fame. Matthews roller light stands are not quite as stackable but are just as easy to step over in a crowded set and, of course, enjoy much higher mobility. Steel construction, natch.
I primarily use CStands for lights and modifiers unless I need something heavier. The stand from the Super Boom with set weights works well without the boom. A standard light stand works well for lighter loads but I would go with heavier rather than lighter.
ShotByTom wrote:
Adorama C Stands are only $129 and I love them. They are very heavy though, so if you shoot outside a lot, they may not be fore you. I use C Stands with a boom arm and they hold the weight of large soft boxes much better than a standard light stand.
Tom, thanks for the reply and suggestion. I was not aware of the Adorama offering until I read yours and others' responses.
rico wrote:
Stacking C-stands close together is their main claim to fame. Matthews roller light stands are not quite as stackable but are just as easy to step over in a crowded set and, of course, enjoy much higher mobility. Steel construction, natch.
rico, thanks for taking the time and effort to respond and also post a photo of your setup.
I really miss my studio. I frequently find myself daydreaming of where and what I might be doing had I been able to stay in "the industry". Now that I am trying to figure out a way to crawl back into it, it's proving to be quite stimulating.
tcphoto wrote:
I primarily use CStands for lights and modifiers unless I need something heavier. The stand from the Super Boom with set weights works well without the boom. A standard light stand works well for lighter loads but I would go with heavier rather than lighter.
rek101 wrote:
This guy compared the two from B&H (impact) vs. Adorama (flashpoint).
rek101...thanks for the video link!! That's just what I was looking for, especially since there were other links included to investigate additional options.
Since you're new to using C-stands, there are things you have to do correctly for safety. Otherwise you can injure people or damage equipment. Here's a short video on C-stand safety.
LarryBeemer wrote:
I've always used "tripod" style light stands but am currently considering giving c-stand(s) a try.
Does anybody have any information and/or experience with Impact brand turtle based c-stands?
Good? Bad? Perhaps other brand suggestions?
I love C-stands but keep in mind they were never meant for holding lights when designed. They were designed for holding grip arms for flags, cookies etc. with sand bags keeping hem from falling. Comparable lightstands with folding legs have a much wider support base diameter to keep from falling over.
That said for indoor use, I use C-stands for convenience up to a certain point, but outdoors I always use heavy duty light stands. Monolights can get heavy and if you extend a C-stand to maximum height it can get very unstable so be careful.
Once you start using quality steel stands it really spoils you compared with cheap aluminum stands.
rico wrote:
Stacking C-stands close together is their main claim to fame. Matthews roller light stands are not quite as stackable but are just as easy to step over in a crowded set and, of course, enjoy much higher mobility. Steel construction, natch.
Those are great stands. I have quite a few but without wheels as I'm always traveling with them to a location. So nice to see how they look when new! Mine look ten years old after a few months on the road . I even have had a few bent risers from the airlines mishandling of them. But once you start using these stands, it's hard to go back to flimsy ones.
@stevesanacore These rollers are ten years old but enjoy the studio life: no grip trucks for my babies. Steel is heavy for location shooting so I have MSE Reverse stands which sport a remarkably wide footprint. The Avenger equivalent is Nano.
Is it for indoors use , outdoors use, or both ?
How much weight are you putting on the stand ?
How high do you need the stand to go ?
How far will you need to carry it ?
Will you be using multiple stands at once ?
I have a bunch of stands but for the most part I only use a few of them.
If you are doing lots of location work you'll appreciate the reduced weight of your typical light stand. However, the caveat is buy once cry once. I have 3 Manfrotto Master Art. 004 stands that are now 40 years old and work just like the day I bought them. My remaining 7 Manfrotto Master Art. 004B's are @ 34 years old and again no issues what so ever.
For travel I bought a Tenba stand bag (@35 years ago) which they no longer make. It is hexagonal in shape once zipped up but will unzip to either lay flat or has strap loops to hang up. each side panel, top and bottom cap have padding and hard lexan inners to prevent crushing. I have done many airline trips with this bag and no damage to the internal gear.
JBPhotog wrote:
If you are doing lots of location work you'll appreciate the reduced weight of your typical light stand. However, the caveat is buy once cry once. I have 3 Manfrotto Master Art. 004 stands that are now 40 years old and work just like the day I bought them. My remaining 7 Manfrotto Master Art. 004B's are @ 34 years old and again no issues what so ever.
For travel I bought a Tenba stand bag (@35 years ago) which they no longer make. It is hexagonal in shape once zipped up but will unzip to either lay flat or has strap loops to hang up. each side panel, top and bottom cap have padding and hard lexan inners to prevent crushing. I have done many airline trips with this bag and no damage to the internal gear....Show more →
I agree with your choice on stands however I had two of those Tenba stand cases and although they worked great, they both fell apart after a few years of heavy travel. Zippers wore out and the fabric slowly disintegrated. Same with my LIghtware strobe cases, which I think are the greatest in use, but just don't hold up for long enough for the prices they ask.
rico wrote:
@stevesanacore@ These rollers are ten years old but enjoy the studio life: no grip trucks for my babies. Steel is heavy for location shooting so I have MSE Reverse stands which sport a remarkably wide footprint. The Avenger equivalent is Nano.
I bring my steel stands on the bigger shoots where the cargo budget is unlimited. For my smaller jobs that I fly to, I use smaller aluminum stands. I've searched for years and have a decent collection of good stands that are light and sturdy. Mathews make a few that are excellent for light weight lights. Profoto keeps making lights smaller and lighter so the smaller stands work fine on those jobs which are almost always indoors.
stevesanacore wrote:
I love C-stands but keep in mind they were never meant for holding lights when designed. They were designed for holding grip arms for flags, cookies etc. with sand bags keeping hem from falling. Comparable lightstands with folding legs have a much wider support base diameter to keep from falling over.
That said for indoor use, I use C-stands for convenience up to a certain point, but outdoors I always use heavy duty light stands. Monolights can get heavy and if you extend a C-stand to maximum height it can get very unstable so be careful.
Once you start using quality steel stands it really spoils you compared with cheap aluminum stands.
neoshazam wrote:
Is it for indoors use , outdoors use, or both ?
How much weight are you putting on the stand ?
How high do you need the stand to go ?
How far will you need to carry it ?
Will you be using multiple stands at once ?
I have a bunch of stands but for the most part I only use a few of them.
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JBPhotog wrote:
If you are doing lots of location work you'll appreciate the reduced weight of your typical light stand. However, the caveat is buy once cry once. I have 3 Manfrotto Master Art. 004 stands that are now 40 years old and work just like the day I bought them. My remaining 7 Manfrotto Master Art. 004B's are @ 34 years old and again no issues what so ever.
For travel I bought a Tenba stand bag (@35 years ago) which they no longer make. It is hexagonal in shape once zipped up but will unzip to either lay flat or has strap loops to hang up. each side panel, top and bottom cap have padding and hard lexan inners to prevent crushing. I have done many airline trips with this bag and no damage to the internal gear....Show more →
I will try to address all these questions/comments here.
Basically, I am wanting to replace a couple of 25+ year old Manfrotto 3352 air cushioned 13' stands that were ruined while in storage for the last 15 years. Sad and yes totally my fault. Unfortunately the similarly aged tripod suffered the same neglect and needs to be replaced, but that's a whole 'nother sad and expensive story.
Since i no longer have a studio, everything I will be doing will be "on location", but only local. Sometimes indoors, sometimes outdoors. I do not anticipate any long distance airline flight type travel. The stands will potentially support a variety of lampheads or monolights in a variety of shapes, sizes and weights....sometimes with up to 50" softbox attached.
I do have other stands that can be used for various things so for now i am just wanting to replace the ones that were ruined.
At the moment I am leaning towards the c-stands. I do like the build of the Flashpoint, but the Impact has a version with one adjustable leg...and I like that idea.
stevesanacore wrote:
I agree with your choice on stands however I had two of those Tenba stand cases and although they worked great, they both fell apart after a few years of heavy travel. Zippers wore out and the fabric slowly disintegrated. Same with my LIghtware strobe cases, which I think are the greatest in use, but just don't hold up for long enough for the prices they ask.
Not to say Tenba is bullet proof, I have had it repaired by an awning maker a few times. There just doesn’t seem to be well made soft style cases that take stands over 41” - 43”. But it packs 6 full size stands, and my break down boom with a couple of floor stands and grip gear.
Turtle base Avenger c stands are my jam. Best general stand around. Kupo makes a runway base for $100 that converts them to rollers.
Saying c stands aren’t designed to hold lights is like telling people they’re only allowed to cross the street at crosswalks. You may be “technically right”, but no reasonable person walks like that. Just boom it out over the big leg, keep the weight bearing knuckle turning clockwise as weight is applied, and don’t overextend it. Use some sense and you’ll be fine. If the arm looks strained, choke it up by pulling it back through the knuckle a bit or use a lighter modifier.
. I even have had a few bent risers from the airlines mishandling of them. But once you start using these stands, it's hard to go back to flimsy ones.
Steel is heavy for location shooting so I have MSE Reverse stands which sport a remarkably wide footprint. The Avenger equivalent is Nano.