Heavy Duty Stand w/ Air Cushion

While I'm sure you don't want to hear it....don't go cheap on your stands. Buy solid stands the first time around, and you'll never have to re-buy it. I owned (and still own) a few of the impact "heavy-duty" air-cushioned stands, but I mostly use them with reflector holders, as I no longer trust such lightweight/aluminum stands to support my costly lights/modifiers.

I'd recommend getting stands made by avenger or matthews. While the thin aluminum stands can technically support the weight of your einstein and modifier, once you have wind from location work, that can drastically affect how much force is being applied to your stand. Additionally, features like levelling legs are priceless on location, as it seems that every location necessitates placing a light on a slope/uneven surface.

One other option would be the Lowel Grandstand (about $150) as it's got a leveling leg and is a very well built aluminum stand.

I just picked up two 10' calume air cushioned stands from amazon fr a bit cheaper then Calumet sells them on their website (plus cheaper shipping to hawaii). Read good things about these stands during my research...

arghh, mixed reviews on the Calumet. I've decided to not skimp out for the light and modifier stand but still trying to figure out a really decent one. I mean I am gonna have sandbags sometime I guess..

okay I'm back at looking at these..

http://www.cheetahstan​d.com …ination-Boom-Stand/Detail

or the

http://www.cheetahstan​d.com …ry-Stand-with-Grip/Detail

CHRIS COME BACKKK. D;

Haha I can only vouch for the first (combi boom) but I personally love mine. I've used it on location a few times but nowhere I really needed to drag it far from my car. The second looks like it's solid too but don't know if it doubles as a regular light stand for those occasions where you use it as just that.

Brandon (BrandonSi) I think has the black one. Might want to pm him and get his impressions. I can still take a video/pics of the combi boom in action if you're still interested. I won't be able to do it until Saturday though.

so what is the best stand to buy ? which heavy duty air cushioned stand cost the most? had to ask seems you guys know by now I made the mistake of buying cheap stands and will follow recommendations now..

From what I understand Avengers / Matthews are top brands....Cheetah next? I know to stay away from Impact and Savage..

If I had the money for studio:

http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …Stand_Wheeled_R​unway.html

If i am not mistaken this is what Robert got:

http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …488+4291602499+​4291344043

This is what I was looking for:

http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …aby_Jr_Steel_Wh​eeled.html

This is what I finally got as I bought local from a friend:

http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …aby_Jr_Steel_Wh​eeled.html


Mine 2nd column is aluminium, should have got one made of steel if using boom, like:

http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …aby_Jr_Steel_Wh​eeled.html


Boom wise this is nicely recommended here on POTN:

http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …_Heavy_Duty_Boo​m_and.html

The one Jerry mentioned:

http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …CS_Junior_Boom_​Stand.html


Another one that I was thinking before:

http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …9CS_Combi_Boom_​Stand.html


Enjoy.

^ Sounds about right. I originally got 2 impact light stands 2 years ago to hold some speedlights and the knobs cross threaded themselves because they were made out of cheap plastic. I did buy an Impact backdrop setup for my home studio from others who've suggested it. It's better overall quality than the lightstands but still pretty cheap.

I have a couple of the Impact 9.6 foot 3 section stands.

They are pretty good.

One problem with them though is the minimum height is kind of high due to only having 3 sections.

-Mario