Boom: Manfrotto 085BS vs. 3400/420CSUNS vs. 420B

[moiht]

Haha, i'm shopping for a boom also, so i'm curious how this turns out!

[ToddR]

Santa's elf in a brown truck just delivered an enormously heavy packaging cylinder from B & H. I knew the weight from the specs, but it's still different to actually lift it.

I haven't even opened it yet, but I can't imagine a silly little AlienBee is going to budge this rig.

Bob Hasty, if yours came in the same cylinder as mine, it must have taken a nasty blow to be damaged like you described because even the cylinder is awfully tough.

[m3rdpwr]

Originally Posted by ToddR

Bob Hasty, if yours came in the same cylinder as mine, it must have taken a nasty blow to be damaged like you described because even the cylinder is awfully tough.

Yeah, that cylinder is tough.

Mine is still in the basement because I can't break it down... lol

-Mario

[ToddR]

Originally Posted by m3rdpwr

Yeah, that cylinder is tough.

Mine is still in the basement because I can't break it down... lol

-Mario

Well, the next time we need to ship some golf clubs, a light stand, an air-to-air missile, or perhaps a utility pole, we'll be all set.

[HastyPhoto]

i used a screwdriver to pry off the lid by the staples, its tough to get them out but it worked.

[MDteX]

Do the casters come off teh Manfrotto 085BS? I would be using it outdoors and would rather not have wheels.

[ToddR]

Those staples were nasty! Needle nose was useful.

Now that I have it in three major pieces, I will actually be able to get it in my car.

I don't know if it's easy to take the casters on and off on a repetitive basis, but they come unattached originally.

[ToddR]

I had one tube section that had somehow flattened a little bit at the end. Had to take it to my neighbor, who happens to be a plumber, who had a nifty little spreading tool that got it fixed.

How do you attach the drop-down pin? Consider Skip's picture here and the pin here. That brass spigot isn't long enough to be engaged by the big screw thing on the female end of the Avenger. I can put it on there, tighten it down, and then simply slip it off of the spigot.

[SkipD]

Originally Posted by ToddR

How do you attach the drop-down pin? Consider Skip's picture here and the pin here. That brass spigot isn't long enough to be engaged by the big screw thing on the female end of the Avenger. I can put it on there, tighten it down, and then simply slip it off of the spigot.

I made a longer 5/8" spigot to use with the drop-down pin.

I did not make it because they are not available, but because I have the resources (a small lathe) to do so and I'm prone to make stuff instead of buy it when it's practical.

[ToddR]

Well, good grief. Why doesn't the stupid Avenger fit on a conventional spigot? So now what part do I need?

[ToddR]

Looks I need one of the items mentioned in this thread?

[SkipD]

Originally Posted by ToddR

Looks I need one of the items mentioned in this thread?

Either would work, but the one with the slots on both ends would be the best, as it couldn't slip past the retaining screws in the end of the boom or the dropdown pin.

[ToddR]

Thanks, Skip. I ordered the E250.

[SnlpeR]

yea that was my thread
the longer one with the slots works best.
its made of steel rather than the other one thats made of aluminum

[ben_r_]

Bumping this thread!

Anyone know or have anything else to say about the 3400? Im considering it to hold an Elinchrom 250BXRi with a 20 x 51 inch soft box on it with side diffuser for a hair/shoulder light.