Light stand (non-rotating center column)?

Hoping I can get some help from you all. My old light stands that I used were some cheap/small stands meant for speedlites. However, I have purchased a bare-bulb flash and larger/heavier modifiers. As a result, I am wanting a higher quality stand.

My old stands had a groove down the center poles which kept the center pole from rotating around. I just received a new stand, and while it is much better and supports all the weight I need, it has a new problem for me since it does not have a groove down the middle.

When out doing location shoots, my wife often uses the light stand to "boom" the light over the subjects. With this new stand, the light just rotates and points down.

Do any of you have any suggestions? Would I be better off getting a painters pole and an adapter for this, or do you know of any other light stands that do not rotate? I am looking for something around $55. I know this will not be an amazing stand, I just want something to get the job done .

Thank you for any help in advance!

my first thought is that it is not the poles of the stand that are spinning, but the strobe bracket where it attaches to the pole. If the poles rotate around themselves my only guesses are that they are either cheap poles with poor locking mechanisms, or you are just not tightening them down enough.

the bracket at the top is a different story. My good stands are all knurled to help keep the bracket from rotating on the top of the pole. One thing you can do is to take a metal file and flatten a part of the pin on top of the pole and make sure you screw the bracket down right on that spot. However, i have a set of cheap stands that the top pin is hollow, cheap aluminum, i would be afraid that weakening them any more would lead to disaster.

JeremyKPhoto wrote in post #17792404
I am looking for something around $55.

sorry, only on my second cup of coffee. meant to answer this too.

i like this stand for location work, the legs can be put anywhere from straight up, to almost straight down.

http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …7486_Reverse_St​and_7.html

i'll post a pic of the top pin in just a minute.

Left is cheapo stand, right is the Matthews from above link. Not sure if you can tell, but the Matthews knob pushes in against the metal, it is very sturdy. The cheapo only pulls the plastic part together to try and squeeze the pole tightly.

I think the difference in the top of each pole will be obvious. The Matthews is steel the cheapo is aluminum.

JeremyKPhoto wrote in post #17792404
I just received a new stand, and while it is much better and supports all the weight I need, it has a new problem for me since it does not have a groove down the middle.

When out doing location shoots, my wife often uses the light stand to "boom" the light over the subjects. With this new stand, the light just rotates and points down.

How about showing us the make and model of the new stand (and maybe a web link to it) as well as a photograph of what your wife is trying to do. That way we can really understand what your problem is and offer some relevant advice.

JeremyKPhoto wrote in post #17792404
When out doing location shoots, my wife often uses the light stand to "boom" the light over the subjects. With this new stand, the light just rotates and points down.

With any heavier load, you must either mount it vertically or use a drop-down pin. You do not want rotational torque on the mounting pin as the load may suddenly come loose (a serious safety hazard for your subject).

Ref: http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …27804_Baby_Drop​_Down.html

This is the stand that I have: http://www.adorama.com​/FPLS9.html

It has the knobs that try to pull a collar tightly around the pole, much like the left pole in the picture above. I'm thinking that is why it is rotating. The other one posted above (pin that pushes against the pole) seems like it would likely hold it better from rotating.

When I said "above the subject", I don't think that was the best description. What my wife does is try to boom the light so that the stand and her can be outside of the frame. Not really "above the subject".

Left Handed Brisket wrote in post #17792488
sorry, only on my second cup of coffee. meant to answer this too.

i like this stand for location work, the legs can be put anywhere from straight up, to almost straight down.

http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …7486_Reverse_St​and_7.html

i'll post a pic of the top pin in just a minute.

Left is cheapo stand, right is the Matthews from above link. Not sure if you can tell, but the Matthews knob pushes in against the metal, it is very sturdy. The cheapo only pulls the plastic part together to try and squeeze the pole tightly.

I think the difference in the top of each pole will be obvious. The Matthews is steel the cheapo is aluminum.

Hosted photo: posted by Left Handed Brisket in
./showthread.php?p=177​92488&i=i83103056
forum: Flash and Studio Lighting

I think that stand would work much better for me. I think that if the pins were to press against the pole, it would help keep it from rotating.

JeremyKPhoto wrote in post #17792924
This is the stand that I have: http://www.adorama.com​/FPLS9.html

It has the knobs that try to pull a collar tightly around the pole, much like the left pole in the picture above. I'm thinking that is why it is rotating. The other one posted above (pin that pushes against the pole) seems like it would likely hold it better from rotating.

When I said "above the subject", I don't think that was the best description. What my wife does is try to boom the light so that the stand and her can be outside of the frame. Not really "above the subject".

JeremyKPhoto wrote in post #17792926
I think that stand would work much better for me. I think that if the pins were to press against the pole, it would help keep it from rotating.

Jeremy, it is still quite unclear what you and your wife are trying to do. Are you using a boom arm attached to a light stand? Please try to clearly describe what's going together and what the problem is. A photo or two of your lighting equipment with a pointer showing where the movement is would be very useful for us to help you.

SkipD wrote in post #17792984
Jeremy, it is still quite unclear what you and your wife are trying to do. Are you using a boom arm attached to a light stand? Please try to clearly describe what's going together and what the problem is. A photo or two of your lighting equipment with a pointer showing where the movement is would be very useful for us to help you.

I don't have a photo right now. My wife simply takes the light stand (no additional attachments, no boom arms, or anything) and hold it somewhat horizontally to stay outside of the frame.

This image is pretty much what we do. Sometimes she has to hold it out a bit more though. http://www.thebouncing​box.com …chrom-boomstick-image.jpg

JeremyKPhoto wrote in post #17792990
I don't have a photo right now. My wife simply takes the light stand (no additional attachments, no boom arms, or anything) and hold it somewhat horizontally to stay outside of the frame.

This image is pretty much what we do. Sometimes she has to hold it out a bit more though. http://www.thebouncing​box.com …chrom-boomstick-image.jpg

What you could do to totally prevent nested tubes from spinning, assuming there's enough material in the tubes that make up your stand, is drill through the entire joint and put a cotter pin through both inner and outer tubes. Do this at each joint. You could also pin the at the top of the stand to the tube it's mounted in. In addition, drilling little divots around the spigot would allow the screw which holds a flash unit on to go into one of the divots. Thus, the screw wouldn't have to be as tight as it would on a smooth spigot surface.

I think the collar thing is your biggest issue, but if a better stand doesn't fix the problem Rico's suggestion of the drop down pin is your next step. With that you would mount the strobe upside down so it doesn't put too much torque on the top of the stand.

JeremyKPhoto wrote in post #17792990
I don't have a photo right now. My wife simply takes the light stand (no additional attachments, no boom arms, or anything) and hold it somewhat horizontally to stay outside of the frame.

This image is pretty much what we do. Sometimes she has to hold it out a bit more though. http://www.thebouncing​box.com …chrom-boomstick-image.jpg

Buy a monopod to use in these circumstances. They lock securely and are stiffer and more comfortable to hold when used that way.