Backdrop and stands

Hi all i am looking to buy my first backdrop and stands.

Here are the features i am looking for:

• Good quality stands
  
• Quick and easy to assemble
  
• Fully adjustable height and width to accomodate tight/large spaces
  
• Good quality backdrop that doesnt crease easily(looking for black and white)
  
• Easy to clean and maintain backdrop
  
• light and small enough to carry around as it will be used on and off location shooting so needs to be a bit portable. i will of course store it in my car boot when traveling but dont want to carry a heavy big equipment over say a flight of stairs so it has to be portable.
  

Backgrounds are not really adjustable as to width. The stands and crossbar can, but the drops not so much. A cloth drop can be draped, or folded I suppose. Paper drops are easy as once they are dirty or creased you just cut off the bottom and toss it. I rather doubt you will find anything that meets all your goals as cloth or perhaps vinyl is the only thing to fit in a car boot, but then you have problems with wrinkles.

I have this for background support. It is good quality and comes with a bag that makes it easy to transport. Because it is sturdy it does weigh a little bit but overall I am very happy with it.

http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …56182&is=REG&Q=​&A=details

I am always looking for better backgrounds. I have a Westcott background muslin which I really like although it does lack some character. I would love to here what others say. Otherwise I mainly use seamless paper.

http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …et_Muslin_Backg​round.html

^ +1 on the Photoflex kit as the stands go up to 12 feet (normal in kits is 9 to 10 feet) so this allows you to get low and shoot up at your subject if you want that angle. Plus it seems relatively sturdy compared to some others. Only regret is that the stands aren't air cushioned so the crossbar with backdrop could drop fast but that hasn't happened to me because when you move one side too much up or down the other side binds which slows things down.

gonzogolf wrote in post #16247980
Backgrounds are not really adjustable as to width. The stands and crossbar can, but the drops not so much. A cloth drop can be draped, or folded I suppose. Paper drops are easy as once they are dirty or creased you just cut off the bottom and toss it. I rather doubt you will find anything that meets all your goals as cloth or perhaps vinyl is the only thing to fit in a car boot, but then you have problems with wrinkles.

I cut paper rolls to specific widths all the time.

lastolite stretch backgrounds are nice for not showing wrinkles as much as others throw them in the bag they come with pull them out stretch tight %95 wrinkle free and really wrinkles wont show up on pics they are small enough
downside to some of the backgrounds are of course light bleed through the back so having a dark background to pin behind can be handy if you cant find a wall

stands ? i just use my old bogen stackable ones and a cross bar I got off amazon for $39 seems stable enough with the stretch backdrop size I have a 10x12
a 10x24 or whatever the longer ones are would be nice but I dont do to much full length ? OK I dont really do any but have thought about it but chances are would use something else for floor like a denny I think makes roll up floors ?

never seen some of the cheaper KIT setups but seems cheap stands are something you use then replace a few years later when they fail with nice stands and dont need to replace again
my stands are also great stands for lights when I dont need a backdrop
other reason for cheaper top bar is I dont work with backdrops much but when I do its on location headshots etc.. and want something that is easy
paper or vinyl in studio is great for me at least not a portable thing

with the bar I can easily make the stretch backdrop a 5 or 6 foot wide no problem

10x12 stretch lastolite about $120 (at least here in US on amazon)
top bar about $40
basic bogen stands ? not sure what they cost now maybe $50 each or more ?

a bit over budget but good stuff

Foodguy wrote in post #16248770
I cut paper rolls to specific widths all the time.

Of course thats an option. But you have make sure you have enough margin on a job that you can start cutting the roll.