light stands
- Thread starter caveman
- Start date
rocketman122
Senior Member
you can go with manfrotto and there are other chinese brand. IMO, the brand is not the issue. you have to find the right size. of course they be junk if youre using 7 foot one and the thing is wobbling. you need to find ones with mass. and that comes in proportion to the height of the stands. they get heavier and more solid the higher they can extend. like tripods. if it can extend pretty high, they are built thicker and they have more heft to the bars.
I have cheap chinese ones that are as solid as the manfrotto I own (4m/13ft) I use the manfrottos at weddings and they do wobble when theyre extended. so dont think theyre rock solid and the flash wont dance at the top even when touching it just a bit. I use 2-3 for the dance floor and I try to raise them as high as I can. but will only use them in their highest position when I can place them in an area where no one will trip and knock them over. I had a lot of close calls..
see this
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irH21EyczMk
notice the thickness of the bar when they extend higher. expecially the 3 feet at the bottom. with light stands you get what you pay for. dont expect that a 7' can do what a 13' can..
dont forget the higher you extend the stand the more wobble, so if youre using it at the lowest height its going to be more solid. personally I have 7 stands. 3 chines kind that go to 13', 2 manfrotto that go to 13' and 2 7'. the 13' would be the ones I get.
rocketman122
Senior Member
Impact Heavy Duty Light Stand Black 13' 4M | eBay
if youre looking for cheap..
consider getting air cushioned so if you dont pay attention and release a knob, your speedlight wont come crashing down on you.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u00Hxe4gK9s
take 2 things into consideration.
-if youre planning to use them outside, youll need heft so they wont get blown over but it also depends what height you need. a 13' stand at 7' will be more stable than a 7' at max height. they build them heavier/sturdier they heigher max height they have. I keep repeating myself, no? haha
-Id get 13' ones but I wont use that height outdoors. heighest id use outdoor on a calm day is around 6/7' or it will get blown over. indoors I use 13' ONLY when I can and no one will trip over it. it will happen. basically get stands that go higher than you need just because they weigh more and have heft. I wouldnt buy 7 or 9' and use them at their max height. Id get 13' to use at 7-9' because it will be more solid, have wider spreading feet, have thicker bars at the feet and wobble much less than a 9' being used at max height, get it? so get the max height youd use (only in emergency) and dont expect to use that max height outdoors, unless it has a lot of mass. indoors, you could use half the height and feel safe. usually light stands dont weight as much as tripods.
if youre looking for cheap..
consider getting air cushioned so if you dont pay attention and release a knob, your speedlight wont come crashing down on you.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u00Hxe4gK9s
take 2 things into consideration.
-if youre planning to use them outside, youll need heft so they wont get blown over but it also depends what height you need. a 13' stand at 7' will be more stable than a 7' at max height. they build them heavier/sturdier they heigher max height they have. I keep repeating myself, no? haha
-Id get 13' ones but I wont use that height outdoors. heighest id use outdoor on a calm day is around 6/7' or it will get blown over. indoors I use 13' ONLY when I can and no one will trip over it. it will happen. basically get stands that go higher than you need just because they weigh more and have heft. I wouldnt buy 7 or 9' and use them at their max height. Id get 13' to use at 7-9' because it will be more solid, have wider spreading feet, have thicker bars at the feet and wobble much less than a 9' being used at max height, get it? so get the max height youd use (only in emergency) and dont expect to use that max height outdoors, unless it has a lot of mass. indoors, you could use half the height and feel safe. usually light stands dont weight as much as tripods.
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This is what I personally used with my Large softboxes and I've used them inside a church. They can go really high, built very well, sturdy and stable.
Paul C. Buff - 13-foot Air-Cushioned Heavy Duty Light Stand
rocketman122
Senior Member
they look good. If a ls can handle a monolight then its good for a speedlight. I wouldnt go cheap and get thin ones even if its a speedlight. In fact a speedlight is more problematic because it has no weight pushing down
On it unlike a monolight.
rocketman122
Senior Member
Air cushioned is good. For beginners i recommend it because it will happen they will release the knob and hold the wrong section an it will come down.
For me though it isnt so good because at times i need fast adjustment so I drop the flash fast, increase or lower exposure and then raise again. The air cushion has a slow release. And as much as id like to have it, its not efficient. I know the difference is minute but at times every second counts.
For me though it isnt so good because at times i need fast adjustment so I drop the flash fast, increase or lower exposure and then raise again. The air cushion has a slow release. And as much as id like to have it, its not efficient. I know the difference is minute but at times every second counts.
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Get C-stands either Mathews or Avenger makes good heavy duty stands. Of course there are others but haven't tried them. C-stands are heavy and built rugged. They also have an array of endless add on's like boom arm's, side arms, wheel kits, etc...The clamp knobs on C-stands are big so can really reef down on them and they stay. I tried using a cheap stand with a boom arm to set up a hair light using a Profoto head and couldn't. They do cost allot more but once you use a C-stand you won't go back to the other.
rocketman122
Senior Member
Yea its my point exactly. People will think to skimp and say thats enough because its only a speedlight. Bit on the contrary it has no weight to press down and make it stable. I say invest once.
Browncoat
Senior Member
+1 for Paul C Buff 13' Air Cushioned Light Stands. I also use the LumoPro 10' Air Cushioned Light Stands.
Don Kondra
Senior Member
I'll throw another into the mix 
My third upgrade from lesser stands to the ProMaster LS-4, purchased locally for ~ $100.
Very nice stands but not quite in the same league as my Kupo C stands
Cheers, Don
My third upgrade from lesser stands to the ProMaster LS-4, purchased locally for ~ $100.
Very nice stands but not quite in the same league as my Kupo C stands
Cheers, Don
This store is just a few hours away will call and see what they have instock,road trip may be on the way.I would really like to look before i buy.
Check these Ravelli stands out. Very sturdy!!!!!!
Amazon.com : Ravelli ALS Full 10' Air Cushioned Light Stand With Included Adaptor To Also Support 1/4" and 3/8" Photo Equipment and Heavy Duty Carry Bag : Photographic Light Stands : Camera & Photo
Amazon.com : Ravelli ALS Full 10' Air Cushioned Light Stand With Included Adaptor To Also Support 1/4" and 3/8" Photo Equipment and Heavy Duty Carry Bag : Photographic Light Stands : Camera & Photo
PedroStirton
Banned
Go for ARRI LED lighting stand. I am having great experience with My arri led lights, but never purchased without stand.Check it out the following link may help youhttp://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/buy/Lightstands/ci/5799/N/4062040357
Ok today i just recived my new light stands just unboxed them.I went with[h=1]Manfrotto Alu Master 3 Riser 12' AC Stand [/h]I have always had good luck from B@H and Manfrotto so i had to try them they seem to look like they will work for my needs,Thanks for all the input.