Lightweight run and gun rig

The other day I was looking at a broken Impact light stand I had sitting in the corner and decided it could still serve a purpose. I dismantled it until I had the top two sections separated from the rest. I attached a cheapo speedlight umbrella mount topped with a RF603 and my 550EX. I put a 603 on my camera and headed out into the yard. It took a few minutes to figure out what zoom and power level worked but then it kinda came together.

The problem was, my arms started getting pretty tired after a while holding the light at the end of a pole overhead in one hand and the gripped 5DII w/17-40L in the other. So, I'm brainstorming the ultimate one man (or woman), handheld run & gun system. I wish I hadn't given away my XT. That was a lightweight camera especially with the 50/1.8 mounted. For light, I'm thinking about the Elinchrom Ranger A head mounted on a carbon fiber micrphone boom. Haven't seen any CF boom poles for strobes.

Anyone doing this or similar? Would like to hear about it. Here's a couple shots from the other days test. I think I ended up at 1/2 power zoomed to 35mm on the 550EX. Camera settings were 17mm, 1/200sec, f/5.6, ISO100 for both shots.

Bob

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/hotbobs/7873441​468/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/hotbobs/7873434​852/

Great shots. Look very similar to the shots you linked to in your other thread from the UK photographer.

A ranger head may relatively heavy, specially with the cable coming down to the pack. Quadra is much smaller/lighter head but the pack only gives you 400Ws.

Total weight of an Einstein and VML battery system is a bit less than the Quadra but the Einstein itself is heavy to put on the end of a pole although some of my associates have done it with a 36" foldable Octabox for street shooing in New Orleans. There was an assistant to hold the light.

Doing it all yourself will make is more difficult.

There was a post somewhere, if I find it I'll link it here, where a guy rigged a backpack of some kind to hold a light stand with a light on top. Similar to what you're doing. It allowed him to walk around and shoot two handed.

Rebuild an RC car into a large wheeled light dolly?

Thanks for the compliment David. Yeah, the 400w/s setup is the one I was thinking about. I get confused because they're all called Rangers. The specs say the head weighs 8.8 ounces. Put that on a CF pole and sling the pack over a shoulder. Should be pretty easy to manage and a lot more light than the speedlight.

Bob

Hot Bob wrote in post #14913522
Thanks for the compliment David. Yeah, the 400w/s setup is the one I was thinking about. I get confused because they're all called Rangers. The specs say the head weighs 8.8 ounces. Put that on a CF pole and sling the pack over a shoulder. Should be pretty easy to manage and a lot more light than the speedlight.

Bob

that should work well. There is an adapter that makes the Quadra head work with regular Elinchrom modifiers so you may be able to find some reflectors and grids that will help you control the light as well without adding significant weight.

I thought Speedotron made a small, light weight head with a battery powered pack.
Since you already have Spedotron equipment might be worth a look.

David

dmward wrote in post #14913964
I thought Speedotron made a small, light weight head with a battery powered pack.
Since you already have Spedotron equipment might be worth a look.

The smallest head I've seen from Speedotron (Blackline) is their fanless 103 head. It still weighs 7+ lbs probably because the cable is 25' long. They do have a battery pack but it's 1500w/s, pretty heavy, and quite spendy. I'm wondering about any third party, all manual speedlights. Any idea if there's anything out there that is basic, reasonably low priced and out powers the 550/580's by a decent margin?

Bob

Hot Bob wrote in post #14914353
The smallest head I've seen from Speedotron (Blackline) is their fanless 103 head. It still weighs 7+ lbs probably because the cable is 25' long. They do have a battery pack but it's 1500w/s, pretty heavy, and quite spendy. I'm wondering about any third party, all manual speedlights. Any idea if there's anything out there that is basic, reasonably low priced and out powers the 550/580's by a decent margin?

Bob

Someone posted a link to this Impact offering at B&H; http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …ek_4_0_Monoligh​t_and.html

According to the specs the head weights between 2 and 3 Lb. and its essentially a Quantum type battery.

It uses a less common modifier adapter but there is an adapter to make it work with Bowens S Type mounts. And there are lots of modifiers for the Bowens mount.

fotodiox, a company offering a lot of inexpensive modifier has available a long list of interfaces, via speedring adapters, including comet.

I have several of their modifiers. They do the job. One nice feature of their foldable softboxes and octas is a plastic disk that fits on the umbrella mechanism to deflect the light into the modifier. Similar to a beauty dish deflector. They also have some reasonable beauty dishes ranging in size up to 28". Its heavy but offers nice light. And comes with a diffusion sock to make it into a big round soft box.

For the price it seems like something to consider. I've been thinking about getting one for "just in case" situations during a wedding, and the battery, with an appropriate cable will power speedlites.

I use a similar setup with speedlites and umbrella for run & gun photos at conventions, though I often use a shur-line paint pole with a kacey adapter instead of a lightstand, and superclamps for makeshift handles.

Why not get simple rolling stand if shooting indoors? My stand even works outdoors and no need for assistants. Holds BD, Softbox, Octa whever I throw at it. Not small but I manage it quite easily. Indoors it works like a charm.

Hot Bob wrote in post #14913002
The other day I was looking at a broken Impact light stand I had sitting in the corner and decided it could still serve a purpose. I dismantled it until I had the top two sections separated from the rest. I attached a cheapo speedlight umbrella mount topped with a RF603 and my 550EX. I put a 603 on my camera and headed out into the yard. It took a few minutes to figure out what zoom and power level worked but then it kinda came together.

The problem was, my arms started getting pretty tired after a while holding the light at the end of a pole overhead in one hand and the gripped 5DII w/17-40L in the other. So, I'm brainstorming the ultimate one man (or woman), handheld run & gun system. I wish I hadn't given away my XT. That was a lightweight camera especially with the 50/1.8 mounted. For light, I'm thinking about the Elinchrom Ranger A head mounted on a carbon fiber micrphone boom. Haven't seen any CF boom poles for strobes.

Anyone doing this or similar? Would like to hear about it. Here's a couple shots from the other days test. I think I ended up at 1/2 power zoomed to 35mm on the 550EX. Camera settings were 17mm, 1/200sec, f/5.6, ISO100 for both shots.

Bob

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/hotbobs/7873441​468/
IMG_1821 by Ranger_Bob, on Flickr

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/hotbobs/7873434​852/
IMG_1790-Edit by Ranger_Bob, on Flickr

Bob. That is Hot!!!!

I picked up a used Elinchrom Ranger Quadra basic set with the A-head on Ebay. I also bought a 9' telescopic carbon fiber microphone boom that weighs .8lbs. I'll have to figure out an adapter to get from the 5/8"-27 thread on the end of it to a 5/8" baby stud. I'll probably just machine something up; titanium would be cool. Now I need someone to make a ultra light carbon fiber beauty dish.

I really like the freedom of movement that I get out of this style of shooting. It allows for a lot more spontaneity than shooting with a big light setup. I was also thinking I could combine this with the big light setup and easily pull out deep shadows as the horse is repositioned.

Bob

Dear HOT BOB-

Sounds like you already have a planned solution that you are enthusiastic about and will work for you – that’s good to read!

Here are a few other thoughts…
Perhaps you may want to use a pole base-holder on one side [either supported by your regular waist belt or by a shoulder strap, (like a flag carrier does)], to further steady the light source, to reduce your arm & body strain and the force of any leverage or cantilever action.
Lastolite Pole Holder [Mfr #LS 2499]:
http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …st_Holder_for_E​zybox.html $14.65 USD

Lastolite Telescopic Pole [Mfr #LS 2413]:
not carbon-fiber, but light-weight aluminum and reasonable durable AND comes with a nifty pole holder; but you obviously may prefer something stronger, particularly with a strobe.
(It is one of several poles I have for speedlights with softboxes, snoots, or collapsible umbrellas, but I wouldn’t put my Profoto D1Air-500’s on it)
http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …ox_HS_Long_Exte​nding.html $48.90 USD
Alternatively a stronger/sturdier telescopic pole yet still relatively compact & light-weight is
Interfit Strobie Boom Arm [Mfr # INT333, Wt:1lb]:
http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …333_Strobie_Boo​m_Arm.html $24.95 USD

or
Quantum Instruments QFlash (150Ws, Wt: 1 lb)
http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …R_Qflash_Model_​T5D_R.html
on the end of a telescopic pole with a modifier, such as a Westcott 42” collapsible umbrella [Mfr # 2011]
http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …Umbrella_Collap​sible.html
or Ziser’s Zumbrella.
(i.e. the David Ziser approach - although I think he still uses on end of an older heavy Manfrotto monopod)
http://digitalprotalk.​blogspot.ca/search?q=z​umbrella+video (see 12:05 minute video)
Like EQUATION112’s setup – it’s nice and quite effective.

or
Perhaps while this isn’t exactly what you are looking for, it’s a quasi run-n-gun setup…
Could stuff 2 or 3 OCF Quantum Instruments QFlash on 2 or 3 Manfrotto Nano lightstands [Mfr # 5001B; folder LOA 19”]: http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …01B_Nano_Black_​Light.html
into either one of these inexpensive yet convenient & comfortable compact bags:

Smith Victor tripod-bag* http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …18_TB_330_Tripo​d_Bag.html $9.95 USD
or
SILK tripod-bag http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …BM_Medium_Tripo​d_Bag.html $9.95 USD

leaving the top zipper unzipped/open, which you can carry over one of your shoulders.
*the SV tripod-bag zipper needs to be first reverse-stitched (as the manufacturer has the zipper inconveniently sewn in, what I would call backwards). The SILK tripod-bag’s zipper direction is sewn in fine.

I do this set-up for 2 or 3 OCF pre-mounted 580EXII’s on Manfrotto Nano lightstands [Mfr #5001B]
http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …01B_Nano_Black_​Light.html (or 2 with 3rd 580 EXII on a Manfrotto Justin clamp)
[each 580EXII with associated Pocket Wizard PW FlexTT-5’s, Rogue Flash Benders-Large
http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …r_Large_Positio​nable.html
and Sto-Fens http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …ce_Dome_Diffuse​r_for.html],
when applications requires me to be on foot for multiple-location quick portraits…

BOTH OF MY HANDS ARE FREE, since:
OCF lights are readily accessible on one carrying shoulder(in partially unzipped/open top tripod-bag) and I have two cameras ready to fire as they are on a Cotton Carrier VEST http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …_Camera_Vest_fo​r_All.html
(with 1DmkIII with mounted 70-200f2.8L IS USM), with Cotton Carrier Holster (with 5DmkII with mounted 85f1.2LmkII) on right side of CC Vest) and on left side of CC vest a Think Tank SKIN 50V2.0 or Think Tank BODY bag V2.0 or a Lowepro POUCH 60 (carrying misc. such as a 24-70f2.8L &/or cell phone, business cards, pen & paper, lens cloth, spare rechargeable batteries, etc. the usual photographer junk)
SET-UP TIME, ready to fire, IS IN SECONDS (often <10 seconds per combined speedlight with stand), NOT MINUTES; on any type of surface or uneven terrain, including beach sand, rocks/boulders, mountainous cliffs, streambeds etc.


Everyone has to find a solution that works for them and while this isn’t a strobe setup (but rather a speedlight), this is one quasi run-n-gun setup, that is tolerable for me; when I’m “solo” or even when I have my assistant and time is of the essence, but want light-weight multiple lighting effect & OCF (albeit not strobes) - think of it as “bow & arrow” or “quasi run-n-gun” photography. Perhaps kind of like your army days carrying a rifle on one shoulder. Also, which was important to you: NO fatigue factor - so you can still be happy after a long shooting session!!

Good luck with your “Hot-Rod” light set up (and I too will want to monitor this thread with interest, for other users’ solutions).

Also thanks DMWARD – always enjoy your researched and experienced posts.


Mary

Wow, someone read my profile. I had to look myself; I had no idea what it said. Thanks for a very thoughtful and researched post. Some great ideas there, to be sure. Thanks.

Bob

Hot Bob wrote in post #14919581
I picked up a used Elinchrom Ranger Quadra basic set with the A-head on Ebay. I also bought a 9' telescopic carbon fiber microphone boom that weighs .8lbs. I'll have to figure out an adapter to get from the 5/8"-27 thread on the end of it to a 5/8" baby stud. I'll probably just machine something up; titanium would be cool. Now I need someone to make a ultra light carbon fiber beauty dish.

I really like the freedom of movement that I get out of this style of shooting. It allows for a lot more spontaneity than shooting with a big light setup. I was also thinking I could combine this with the big light setup and easily pull out deep shadows as the horse is repositioned.

Bob

Bob,
Not sure if it will fit your carbon fiber mic boom but Jerry Kacey has an adapter he designed for paint poles. Here is a link: http://www.kaceyenterp​rises.com/?page_id=447

As for the carbon fiber Beauty Dish. Look at the configuration of the BD you have. It should be relatively easy to find a light plastic or similar bowl that could be adapted. All it takes is a speedring adapter for your light and a means of attaching it to the adapter.

With the Quadra, maybe the better approach is to find a light dish that you can modify to fit on the Quadra reflector. Then use the Elinchrom deflectors.