Small Boom for Speedlights

While watching Joe McNally's Language of Light DVD, I noticed he uses a portable boom for his speedlights.
Does anyone else use these?
If so, which boom do you use?

I use a Manfrotto 420B with a speedlite, sometimes in a qbox24 but mostly snooted or flagged as a hair light.

I use a paint pole from Home Depot and a Kasey paint pole adapter....works like a charm....

I use my little Lumopro copies of the Manfrotto Nano Stand - 6 foot tall, and of course I need a VAL to hold it

Dear CHADANDREO,

Obviously everyone has their own solution/preference and depending on applications – for speedlight on location(drive or occasional fly) my criteria is compactness & light weight so I find this effective:
MANFROTTO Boom Assembly Mfr# 024B:
http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …_Boom_Assembly_​Black.html
-has a folded length of a nifty compact 28” (yet 3-sections for a LOA of 28", 56" or 6.5ft) which fits diagonally in 26" luggage and I can use on several different Manfrotto lightstands (e.g. primarily with Nano 6’2”, 6.75ft & 7.75ft light stands) depending on the application and the compactness required.

Or if I have an assistant and run & gun situations then have this:
Interfit Strobie Boom Arm [Mfr# INT333] (with a Manfrotto Mfr#026 adapter):
http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …333_Strobie_Boo​m_Arm.html
very feather-light-weight, durable, inexpensive and adaptible for supporting some of my other lighting stuff like this-
Westcott’s 43” Collapsible White Umbrella:
http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …Umbrella_Collap​sible.html
or
LightPanels Micropro LED light:
http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …_LED_On_Camera_​Light.html

Also can use the Interfit Strobie Boom Arm [Mfr# INT333] if I am just wanting the Manfrotto Nano 6’2” light stands & a snooted or gridded 580EXII hair light and if setup time is of the essence, I just use two interconnected very very compact & light weight Manfrotto Nano C-clamps [Mfr # 386BC]:
http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …86BC_386B_Nano_​Clamp.html
to hold the Interfit Strobie Boom Arm to the Manfrotto Nano light stand.


The Manfrotto Boom/Stand Mfr #420B is a nice value for money solution (but for my applications unfortunately it has a quite long folded length of 44.5” & weighs 6 lbs, which I find too long and too heavy; when for me every inch or bit of weight counts). So if folded length nor weight isn’t an issue, it is a nice set up.

Good luck…

Mary

For a little boom for a light stand and speed light you might want to look at a grip head and 40" grip arm like these. http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …CP_200_Grip_Hea​d_2_5.html http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …0_Extension_Gri​p_Arm.html . If you want to save a few bucks you can pick up a 5/8 36" plated steal rod from the hardware store for $9 to go with the grip head. This setup is also great for clipping reflectors, scrims or flags to as well.

I'd go with the grip head and a piece of tubing or be sure to get a grip arm that has a head with the light stand socket. It works better than the one that clamps around the light stand. The clamp version can deform the stand tubing if you're not careful.

My Blog has a post that shows how I used one with a Westcott Apollo Octa.

DMWARD agree with you; no question a grip arm is sturdy (use those like you too and with California Sunbounce stuff) but depends on the criteria, application/OP’s intended purpose(s)…
(eg. say on location for single or couple's portraits and get an additional impromptu request for a group portrait with say 4-6 people) the grip arm with say 40" often doesn’t enable say a hair or rim light in as precise a positioning as a conventional compact or telescopic boom arm. Fair comment about things such as a C-clamp but the cute little Manfrotto Nano C-clamps as long as are clamped at the top of the light stand and are careful is a quick/pocket option(albeit compactness in anything has its tradeoffs).
Many different options and routes along the journey...

[DMWARD - on a side note, thank you for your write-up on the new 600EX-RT’s, enjoyed that!]

Mary

I use the Cheetah Boom:

happy2010 wrote in post #14368722
DMWARD agree with you; no question a grip arm is sturdy (use those like you too and with California Sunbounce stuff) but depends on the criteria, application/OP’s intended purpose(s)…
(eg. say on location for single or couple's portraits and get an additional impromptu request for a group portrait with say 4-6 people) the grip arm with say 40" often doesn’t enable say a hair or rim light in as precise a positioning as a conventional compact or telescopic boom arm. Fair comment about things such as a C-clamp but the cute little Manfrotto Nano C-clamps as long as are clamped at the top of the light stand and are careful is a quick/pocket option(albeit compactness in anything has its tradeoffs).
Many different options and routes along the journey...

[DMWARD - on a side note, thank you for your write-up on the new 600EX-RT’s, enjoyed that!]

Mary

Thanks Mary.

As for booms, they require sturdy stands. If someone it taking the bigger stands then A boom with counter weights etc. is acceptable.

I'm disinclined to carry that kind of gear around with speedlites. Small, compact, transportable is part of my definition for that kit.

That said, I do have a convertible stand its bigger but goes way up when needed and also can use the top section as a boom. Its the counter weights that's the biggest pain.

Please excuse me as I don’t want to hijack CHADANDREO’s good OP, but just a quick comment…

DMWARD/David - Yep, I hear you… I hate those counterweights too!
I found the 5lb & 10 lbs counterweights a bit overkill for speedlights and use this little guy which is reasonably compact for the times I find it necessary to be packing a counter weight for only certain boomed speedlight modifier configurations.
On-Stage Mfr# CW3:
http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …3_Counterweight​_3lbs.html
and this Manfrotto one is ok too but still a bit bulky Manfrotto 3LB Mfr# 172:
http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …unter_Balance_W​eight.html


Mary

Mary I like the first one.
I have some angle and wrist weights that I got a Target.
Work great for counter weights once I figured out how to attach them.
Also good for light stand weights or tripod weights.

DMWARD/David,
Thanks David for the great idea; as you indicate even work if perhaps using them at the base of small Nano lightstands, as I would think they are about 1/3 the size of bulky traditional-style sandbags.
Somewhat like John Harrington's (I think Washington/ maybe ex-white house photographer) old staff training videos show the compact BOA/shot bags, which sometimes when on the light stand base, depending on the load or circumstance, seems to help almost alleviate the need for a boom counter-weight. http://www.assignmentc​onstruct.com …truct/whatweuse​/sandbags/

Mary

happy2010 wrote in post #14369847
DMWARD/David,
Thanks David for the great idea; as you indicate even work if perhaps using them at the base of small Nano lightstands, as I would think they are about 1/3 the size of bulky traditional-style sandbags.
Somewhat like David Harrington's (I think Washington/ maybe ex-white house photographer) old staff training videos show the compact BOA/shot bags, which sometimes when on the light stand base, depending on the load or circumstance, seems to help almost alleviate the need for a boom counter-weight. http://www.assignmentc​onstruct.com …truct/whatweuse​/sandbags/

Mary

Interesting video.
One of the things I really like about my Calumet Nano stands is the wide base when the legs are set to be on the ground. Putting one of the angle weights on it places the weight well away from the center post.