Ready to replace "disposable" umbrella & Stand

So to start off learning lighting I bought a super cheapo set off ebay. Two stands, two umbrellas, two continuous light sockets (lol-yeah...never used those), & bag for less than $30. They were a good learning tool to see if I really wanted to get into using off camera light. But alas, they are CHEAP! And I want something more sturdy/durable.

Now it's time to buy grown up stuff but I am not sure which are good and don't have a local store near enough to me to take a look a stuff before purchasing.

Looking for some input from those you have first hand experience with different brands.

Is Wescott good for umbrellas/modifiers?

How about this stand set? http://www.amazon.com …/ref=cm_cr_pr_p​roduct_top The reviews are good but perspective has big influence on everything.

Or should I just get stands like these? http://www.amazon.com …XLJ&coliid=I1HZ​GRZZGKIFHY

Thanks for your input!

On the stands... I hate the lever style.. I had no trouble with the first, then the second one decided not to work -- the nuts come loose or something - I'd tighten and then it would come loose again. At all the wrong times - this last time I had Hubby do it and it has stayed, but I would advise against them for a stand that is the regular twist till tight type (where the sections extend)

I have a back drop stand of these:

http://www.amazon.com …103&sr=1-9&keywords=linco

and I really like them, heavy and quality, but they also have a big footprint... good thing, bad thing.

I can say try for the 10ft ones... 7-8 ft isn't enough many times. (although one shorty for a bg light is helpful)

I'm sure others will post some good ones here shortly.

A little more expensive, but I like the Cheetahstand, especially since I tend to move it around quite a bit for events...

https://www.cheetahsta​nd.com/Cheetah-Stand-C8-p/c8.htm

I have light stands similar to the PBL ones that you linked, though mine are the 7-foot and not the 10-foot. I like them. For the price, they're great. I also have 10-foot Manfrotto stands that came in a kit with Elinchrom studio lights.

I prefer the lever-style locking collar. Sure, it DOES need occasional adjustment - but it's faster and easier than the knob-style collars; more importantly, I have a habit of locking down the knob-style collars so tight that my assistant/wife can't loosen them. The lever-style eliminates that problem.


Westcott has a pretty good reputation for inexpensive modifiers. Fotodiox also is pretty good stuff for the price. You can spend more to get better, and you can spend more to get worse.

I have a couple of the PBL stands, and they've worked for me and held up well for the last 3 years.

I used to have a Cheetah Century light stand/boom combo, but it was heavy, and not very compact.

I sold it and eventually got one of these Cowboy Studios (don't laugh....) combination light stand/booms, and it's actually quite nice for the price. use it as a light stand, use it as a boom.

http://www.amazon.com …ohs_product?ie=​UTF8&psc=1

added bonus that it folds up like a normal light stand.

as for umbrellas, I use Westcott, although I hear Impact is great as well. +1 for Fotodiox. I've owned some of their EZ Octobox softboxes as well as beauty dishes and they are great.

ksbal wrote in post #17018878
On the stands... I hate the lever style.. I had no trouble with the first, then the second one decided not to work -- the nuts come loose or something - I'd tighten and then it would come loose again. At all the wrong times - this last time I had Hubby do it and it has stayed, but I would advise against them for a stand that is the regular twist till tight type (where the sections extend)

I have a back drop stand of these:

http://www.amazon.com …103&sr=1-9&keywords=linco

and I really like them, heavy and quality, but they also have a big footprint... good thing, bad thing.

I can say try for the 10ft ones... 7-8 ft isn't enough many times. (although one shorty for a bg light is helpful)

I'm sure others will post some good ones here shortly.

Thanks for the input. I didn't really think about the footprint. It does make sense to consider it.

sportmode wrote in post #17019075
A little more expensive, but I like the Cheetahstand, especially since I tend to move it around quite a bit for events...

https://www.cheetahsta​nd.com/Cheetah-Stand-C8-p/c8.htm

I move around a bit, too, so I will look into those.

nathancarter wrote in post #17019190
I have light stands similar to the PBL ones that you linked, though mine are the 7-foot and not the 10-foot. I like them. For the price, they're great. I also have 10-foot Manfrotto stands that came in a kit with Elinchrom studio lights.

I prefer the lever-style locking collar. Sure, it DOES need occasional adjustment - but it's faster and easier than the knob-style collars; more importantly, I have a habit of locking down the knob-style collars so tight that my assistant/wife can't loosen them. The lever-style eliminates that problem.


Westcott has a pretty good reputation for inexpensive modifiers. Fotodiox also is pretty good stuff for the price. You can spend more to get better, and you can spend more to get worse.

Nathan - What are the better light modifiers? I'd like to look into them. Like I said, I don't know what's what in this area yet,

Also, you make a great point about the levers on the lightstand. I recently assisted at a wedding and was having a bugger of a time trying to adjust the lightstands because I didn't have the grip strength.

PLLphotography wrote in post #17019196
I have a couple of the PBL stands, and they've worked for me and held up well for the last 3 years.

I used to have a Cheetah Century light stand/boom combo, but it was heavy, and not very compact.

I sold it and eventually got one of these Cowboy Studios (don't laugh....) combination light stand/booms, and it's actually quite nice for the price. use it as a light stand, use it as a boom.

http://www.amazon.com …ohs_product?ie=​UTF8&psc=1

added bonus that it folds up like a normal light stand.

as for umbrellas, I use Westcott, although I hear Impact is great as well. +1 for Fotodiox. I've owned some of their EZ Octobox softboxes as well as beauty dishes and they are great.

Phillip - I like the looks of that boom! I am not opposed to budget stuff if it works!

Thanks for a couple more names of modifiers to check into.

NewCreation wrote in post #17019342
Nathan - What are the better light modifiers? I'd like to look into them. Like I said, I don't know what's what in this area yet,

Ohhhh, that's a tough question. Depends on your style, and what you shoot, and what lights you're modifying.

For basic portraits for a novice, you just want something to make the light bigger.
Generally, bigger+closer = softer light, which is usually desirable for most standard types of portraits.
Smaller+farther = harder light (crisper shadow edges), which can make good portraits with a little practice.

There's way more to it than that, of course.
I usually prefer a softbox or a brolly-box style umbrella, over a shoot-through umbrella. The brolly box gives less rapid falloff, more wrap light, and less of a center hotspot. The shoot-through gives a center hotspot and more spill. Both modifiers have their uses.

When shooting with Speedlights, these brolly boxes are my go-to modifiers:
http://www.amazon.com …/B001BSQK8Q/ref​=pd_cp_p_2
You'll need an umbrella adapter to mount them to the stand & speedlight. I have a couple of the Manfrotto 026 which is by no means the only option.

Those aren't the "better" modifiers. They're cheap and almost disposable, but they work well. If you don't know what you need, start out with those until you figure out what you do need.

Tons of other things out there. Beauty dish, stripbox, grids, snoots, reflectors. You don't need a ton of expensive equipment to get a nice portrait. However, having a bunch of different tools on hand will give you more options when you need to change up your lighting style, for a different portrait look or a different type of subject.

I don't have any expensive modifiers. I'm not at the point where "more stuff" would significantly improve my results (or make me any more money). My most expensive modifiers are a Elinchrom Maxilite and a medium-sized Fotodiox strip box with an Elinchrom speed ring. A second strip box would be nice some days... but then I would need another strobe head for the main light, and a modifier to put on it, and and and and and .. And my budget doesn't allow for a case of G.A.S. right now.

The first question you need to address is how much weight are you going to lift (light + modifier) and how high? Your answer will dictate how sturdy your stand needs to be.

Heya,

I found that inexpensive Impact stands are fantastic. I just toss a sandbag at the base and it holds everything I throw at it. I bought an inexpensive Fotodiox boom extension for holding reflectors for natural light use, as well as the top of the stand still accepting mounts for lite and modifiers. I like the neweer 24" x 24" softbox that takes speedlites, very portable, and produces wonderfully soft light. Westscott umbrellas are fantastic, I like the 43" ones, great for shoot through and for bounce.

It comes down to budget, portability (if needed), and how many lights you want to actually run.

Here's some good portable modifiers to consider:

SMDV 60 (portable softbox)
Neweer 24x24" portable softbox for speedlites
(They're the same thing essentially, one is just a little nicer, but produce nearly the same light)

Westscott 43" umbrella with black cover (bounce)
Westscott 43" umbrella, white shoot through

I tend to use two lights. One with a softbox or umbrella. And one that is just on a stand with a honeycomb grid to do hair, etc from behind.

Very best,

I forgot to mention, when I'm out and about, I also use the following combination:

Monopod with light stand adapter with a Phottix multi-boom attached that allows me to use 2 flashes
Phottix double folding shoot through umbrella. 33" umbrella but folds down to like 15"
Radio triggers

I can hand hold the monopod in my left hand, and shoot with my right.

Not necessarily what you are looking for, but I find it useful for "run and gun".

Can't go wrong with these: http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …AC_Alu_Air_Cush​ioned.html

The air cushioning is really nice: both your fingers and your flash will thank you for it. Those are stackable (they sell them in 3-pack as well) and easy to carry. That's the first stand I bought and it has served me extremely well. The only thing I don't like is that it's too long to fit into my rolling case.

nathancarter wrote in post #17019503
Ohhhh, that's a tough question. Depends on your style, and what you shoot, and what lights you're modifying.

For basic portraits for a novice, you just want something to make the light bigger.
Generally, bigger+closer = softer light, which is usually desirable for most standard types of portraits.
Smaller+farther = harder light (crisper shadow edges), which can make good portraits with a little practice.

There's way more to it than that, of course.
I usually prefer a softbox or a brolly-box style umbrella, over a shoot-through umbrella. The brolly box gives less rapid falloff, more wrap light, and less of a center hotspot. The shoot-through gives a center hotspot and more spill. Both modifiers have their uses.

When shooting with Speedlights, these brolly boxes are my go-to modifiers:
http://www.amazon.com …/B001BSQK8Q/ref​=pd_cp_p_2
You'll need an umbrella adapter to mount them to the stand & speedlight. I have a couple of the Manfrotto 026 which is by no means the only option.

Those aren't the "better" modifiers. They're cheap and almost disposable, but they work well. If you don't know what you need, start out with those until you figure out what you do need.

Tons of other things out there. Beauty dish, stripbox, grids, snoots, reflectors. You don't need a ton of expensive equipment to get a nice portrait. However, having a bunch of different tools on hand will give you more options when you need to change up your lighting style, for a different portrait look or a different type of subject.

I don't have any expensive modifiers. I'm not at the point where "more stuff" would significantly improve my results (or make me any more money). My most expensive modifiers are a Elinchrom Maxilite and a medium-sized Fotodiox strip box with an Elinchrom speed ring. A second strip box would be nice some days... but then I would need another strobe head for the main light, and a modifier to put on it, and and and and and .. And my budget doesn't allow for a case of G.A.S. right now.

Sorry for such a broad question! I am shooting events (weddings) and portrait sessions (a ton happen to be on a windy beach because of my location). So I think I may have to really put some thoughts into my plan of attack.

Seamus69 wrote in post #17019593
The first question you need to address is how much weight are you going to lift (light + modifier) and how high? Your answer will dictate how sturdy your stand needs to be.

This is true.

MalVeauX wrote in post #17019757
Heya,

I found that inexpensive Impact stands are fantastic. I just toss a sandbag at the base and it holds everything I throw at it. I bought an inexpensive Fotodiox boom extension for holding reflectors for natural light use, as well as the top of the stand still accepting mounts for lite and modifiers. I like the neweer 24" x 24" softbox that takes speedlites, very portable, and produces wonderfully soft light. Westscott umbrellas are fantastic, I like the 43" ones, great for shoot through and for bounce.

It comes down to budget, portability (if needed), and how many lights you want to actually run.

Here's some good portable modifiers to consider:

SMDV 60 (portable softbox)
Neweer 24x24" portable softbox for speedlites
(They're the same thing essentially, one is just a little nicer, but produce nearly the same light)

Westscott 43" umbrella with black cover (bounce)
Westscott 43" umbrella, white shoot through

I tend to use two lights. One with a softbox or umbrella. And one that is just on a stand with a honeycomb grid to do hair, etc from behind.

Very best,

Thanks for the links. Those help a lot. I am working with speedlights and want to stay that way for now. I was looking at the wescott 43" recently so it's good to see it pop up in this thread.

PLLphotography wrote in post #17019762
I forgot to mention, when I'm out and about, I also use the following combination:

Monopod with light stand adapter with a Phottix multi-boom attached that allows me to use 2 flashes
Phottix double folding shoot through umbrella. 33" umbrella but folds down to like 15"
Radio triggers

I can hand hold the monopod in my left hand, and shoot with my right.

Not necessarily what you are looking for, but I find it useful for "run and gun".

So glad you replied with this! I will have to see if I can pull something like that together as I am often shooting alone and at the beach where a lightstand is just not practical.

If you're shooting in windy locations, you might consider a C-stand instead: because of their flat legs, they're easier to 'sandbag' and it's less easier for passers-by to trip on them. They're also sturdier (which can be a disadvantage too, because they're slightly heavier) and thus withstand the wind better, especially if you're using brollies. Avenger and Matthews are the brands to go for if you consider these. They also accept booms. In fact, there's a boom kit: http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …BKIT_Century_C_​Stand.html

Alveric wrote in post #17019822
If you're shooting in windy locations, you might consider a C-stand instead: because of their flat legs, they're easier to 'sandbag' and it's less easier for passers-by to trip on them. They're also sturdier (which can be a disadvantage too, because they're slightly heavier) and thus withstand the wind better, especially if you're using brollies. Avenger and Matthews are the brands to go for if you consider these. They also accept booms. In fact, there's a boom kit: http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …BKIT_Century_C_​Stand.html

Very interesting! I shoot at the beach quite often. I wonder how it'd like the sand getting in the joints.

Quality stands can be disassembled easily, so they should be easy to clean. This is another boon: if you bend the legs, you don't have to throw away the stand, you can just order the replacement part from the vendor.