Boom and lightstand for AB800

[darktiger]

So what are reasonably priced (cheap but not cheaply made) booms and lightstands are you all using with a AB800 and beauty dish or large softbox? I heard the ones from AB are not that great.

[pepperoni]

No issues with the AB boom yet from me. Just gotta be careful not to over tighten.

[Dave.H]

The biggest thing is making sure you have a lightstand/boom to handle the weight. In addition to the weight of the AB800 you have the leverage from the boom and the weight of the boom then the weight of the counter balance. i use this setup and it works very well:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/331474-REG/Avenger_D600CB_D600CB_Mini_Boom_.html

http://www.promaster.com/products/products.asp?CatID=240&CatSM=&SubCatID=1&CatName=Studio%20Lighting&SubCatName=Light%20Stands&sm=sm2_2401&dir=&page=PROD&product=6799

I wouldn't go any smaller than that.

[tetrode]

So what are reasonably priced (cheap but not cheaply made) booms and lightstands are you all using with a AB800 and beauty dish or large softbox? I heard the ones from AB are not that great.

I'm a big fan of the Bogen/Manfrotto and Avenger "combi" stands (lightstand convertible to boom stand).

Medium duty:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/513014-REG/Bogen_Manfrotto_420NSB_420NSB_Convertible_Boom_Sta nd.html

Heavier duty:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/200109-REG/Avenger_A475B_A475B_Baby_Combi_Boom.html

Dave F.

[darktiger]

Do you think that Medium duty one could hold a AB800 with a large softbox?

[tetrode]

Do you think that Medium duty one could hold a AB800 with a large softbox?

Define "large"? Here's a quick and dirty photo of my medium combi stand with a Genesis 200 light and 37" octabox mounted:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3102/2715004057_14239c33b0_o.jpg

Try to ignore the mess. The basement is being rearranged.

In any case, this setup is quite stable. The reason it's so low is that the ceiling is a bit under 7' and the stand couldn't be raised any further. The orange blob on the end of the boom is a counterweight which you'll always need.

Dave F.

[Rudi]

Do you think that Medium duty one could hold a AB800 with a large softbox?

It has no problems with my Elinchrom D-Lite 4 with 53" Octa Midi on it. Just balance it with some counterweights. The Manfrotto is very sturdy, more than enough for most modifiers. I just don't have a photo, like Dave, to prove it! :)

P.S. Dave, your studio looks like mine on a good day! :D

[tetrode]

P.S. Dave, your studio looks like mine on a good day! :D

Actually, Rudi, once the debris field has been cleared, that space will once again become my home theater (hence the movie posters on the walls). Nothin' quite like watching Monsters, Inc. on a 92" diagonal screen.

Dave F.