Manfrotto 5001B or Phottix P200

Hello.
I've a Speedlite 430 EX II.
I wish to use it with PHOTTIX 60X90 CM EASY-UP SOFTBOX. (I still to have buy it)

I should buy a stand too for it.
Initially I looked at Phottix P200 because it's the same brand as the the Softbox and the Varos adapter.

I noticed Manfrotto 5001B has a price not so much different from the Phottix P200

I willl need to use it
- 80% outdoor 20% indoor
- When outdoor, in not extreme conditions..

What do you suggest?
Thanks

Manfrotto describe that stand as "a baby, lightweight stand". Convenient for carrying on location but not a lot of stability. I know a lot of folks like them but, to me they are little more than a wobbly, rather floppy toy.

I'd recommend something with a minimum 10ft height (when you need the height, you really need it; when you don't need it you don't have to fully extend) and as wide a footprint as you can get for outdoor use (and at least one sandbag). Also look for metal joints - some of the plastic ones are fine but some don't even scrape up as low as cr*p, so beware. I like the Bowens BW-6615 but that may not be available in your location. The bits you can't get from websites are:

• Footprint: 43" diameter.
  
• Legs: 22mm diameter (so accessory wheels would fit if desired.)
  
• Tube diameters: 29mm, 25.75mm, 22.25mm, 19mm.
  
• Weight: 1.8Kgs / 3.96lbs.
  

Whortleberry wrote in post #15434266
Manfrotto describe that stand as "a baby, lightweight stand". Convenient for carrying on location but not a lot of stability. I know a lot of folks like them but, to me they are little more than a wobbly, rather floppy toy.

I'd recommend something with a minimum 10ft height (when you need the height, you really need it; when you don't need it you don't have to fully extend) and as wide a footprint as you can get for outdoor use (and at least one sandbag). Also look for metal joints - some of the plastic ones are fine but some don't even scrape up as low as cr*p, so beware. I like the Bowens BW-6615 but that may not be available in your location. The bits you can't get from websites are:

• Footprint: 43" diameter.
  
• Legs: 22mm diameter (so accessory wheels would fit if desired.)
  
• Tube diameters: 29mm, 25.75mm, 22.25mm, 19mm.
  
• Weight: 1.8Kgs / 3.96lbs.
  

I often put over 28lbs on top (head+085B boom+counterweight+Oct​a) but that's overloading.

So there's one option for you. Others will have their own preferences!

Thank you. In USA that model looks not so expensive, and the extra height might be very useful in some cases. I will take a look on some European shops for it.

In the future I will add a second Speedlite with its own "stand", so what do you think about the idea of having (in future) both a lightweight 2 meters tall and an heavier 3 meters tall one (i.e the Bowens)?

Another silly question, I do have a Manfrotto 498RC2 head.
Is it possible to use Manfrotto 498RC2 with the Bowens BW 6615?

Sometimes I would like to take picture above some fences about 2 meters tall (mostly they are fences along some bridges with some nice panorame)

I have a 055XPROB but it reaches just about 1.80 meters

A combination:
Bowens BW 6615 + Manfrotto 498RC2 + Canon 450D + a lightweight optics (less than 1kg) might work together and be safe enough?
It can be interesting to have a "3 meters" advantage to shoot from different angles and positions.

Thanks

zulutown: Le mie sincere scuse - non ho guardato presso la vostra sede. Totalmente imperdonabile.
(My sincere apologies - I did not look at your location. Totally inexcusable.)

I strongly suspect that the Bowens stands are actually made by Manfrotto. Here are details of the Bowens distributor in Italy, I am sure that they will be able to help you:-

Gruppo BP
Via C. Tacito 6
20137 Milano (rather conveniently for you! )
Italy
T +39 550 15489
F +39 2541 21381
info@gruppobp.it
www.gruppobp.it

Not a silly question at all - though I won't ask why you want to be photographing over fences. I hope it is just for the panoramas and not for State Secrets or young ladies (In case that doesn't translate very well, it was intended to be a joke)
No, the Bowens stand mentioned does not have a thread on the stud (Bowens only make studio flash and hence none of their product line requires the threaded top stud) so your Manfrotto head would have nothing to fasten to. You would probably have stability problems with your camera high on an inverted pendulum anyway. If the combination is really important to you then Manfrotto's own range of stands are the first place to look. Availability may vary between UK and Italy so the best thing to do is a local search.

Each of us has different needs in stands. I have a selection but the only ones I actually use are either the tall ones described or a couple of really tiny ones. I've got a couple of 2 metre stands which I never use - truthfully, I know I have them but I don't know where they are! With the flash higher than the subject (natural position) I would be restricted to seated subjects or children. I can get everything I need by not extending the BW-6615 fully withut the restrictions of the 2m stands. A nice tall stand to start with, followed by a 2.4m lighter stand would be my choice. Other people will have totally different needs.

zulutown wrote in post #15434964
...
Sometimes I would like to take picture above some fences about 2 meters tall (mostly they are fences along some bridges with some nice panorame)

I have a 055XPROB but it reaches just about 1.80 meters

A combination:
Bowens BW 6615 + Manfrotto 498RC2 + Canon 450D + a lightweight optics (less than 1kg) might work together and be safe enough?
It can be interesting to have a "3 meters" advantage to shoot from different angles and positions.

Thanks

Screw one of these 5/8" adapters into the bottom of the 498RC2 head and you will be able to mount it on top of any light stand with a 5/8" stud:

http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …014_38_Rapid_Ad​apter.html

I use a similar adapter with one of my spare ballheads, seen here atop an Avenger light stand:

Thank you for all of your help.
I agree that a 3 meters stand might be more useful than a 2 meters stand.
So my first stand might be the BW 6615 as you suggested.

I think I'll buy the PHOTTIX 60X90 CM EASY-UP SOFTBOX.
Its Varos XS http://www.phottix.com …x-varos-xs-combo-kit.html
It has a 5/8” connection on the bottom (so I can attach there the BW 6615) and a a ¼” thread on the top , so I think I can even use BW 6615 + Varos XS to raise my camera up to 3 meters!

Anyone suggests any other alternative to BW 6615?
If not, I'll probably buy that.

zulutown wrote in post #15442603
..........It has a 5/8” connection on the bottom (so I can attach there the BW 6615) and a a ¼” thread on the top , so I think I can even use BW 6615 + Varos XS to raise my camera up to 3 meters!

Anyone suggests any other alternative to BW 6615?
If not, I'll probably buy that.

Ooooh, very very insecure. The ¼" threaded portion on top of the Varos XS looks to be a very small insert into the top of a fairly lightweight aluminium casting. It can only be a short thread going into the casting. I certainly wouldn't trust ANY camera on top of that even at low levels.

Hehe, in that case i`d eventually use my powershot camera from 2006...

I finally bought the 6615 as you suggested.
It was not easy to find online, and I didn't find any shop with low shipping cost.
Anyway, I finally bought it from a german shop: 68,80 EUR