Light Stands and other gear for indoor portraits.

One of my favourite light stands is the Matthews Reverse Stand - 7'.

If I had to only buy 1 set of lightstands this would be it for portability and stability.

I'd confidently use my einstein's with 5 foot octadome. The foot print is big and the stand is not wimpy like a Manfrotto Nano(which i also own).

I love my manfrotto stackables but for majority of shoots I'd gladly bring my Mathews stands.

Flash application is very personal. I just recently picked up some "manual" Cactus flashes (with built in triggers) that are adjustable remotely. Fantastic reviews on the flash heads. The cactus trigger on the camera can hold flash on the hotshoe. For run and gun you can use ETTL on camera and have full control of manual flashes remotely with brainless easily accessible buttons to control the groups. It's all about photographer's preference.

This is where it's fun buying gear

I do have a 5x7 Impact Collapsible Background. Would a boom work for this? I've been just using the side velcro to place it between 2 stands that I have for speakers.

Ok, I think this is what I will go with for now to add to my set up

Set of Two 9 feet Neewer stands - $30
But I'm still considering the Ravelli ALS Full 10' Air Cushioned Light Stand With Included Adaptor. They seem like higher quality and come with a case. - $33 each so it may be worth the extra $30 bucks. Especially if I want to use a background. They have a set that has the background for $100 that I'm considering too.


One Godox Multifunctional S Style Speedlite Bracket - $17.
Later I may add 1 s bracket with 32x32" soft box if I like using the S bracket over my current bracket.


One Fomito Godox Photo Studio 120cm/47in Portable Octagon Flash Speedlight Umbrella Softbox Soft Box Brolly Reflector - $30

Tommydigi wrote in post #17868289
Hi Charlie, thanks for the link for the S bracket. That's crazy that its the same.

I was ordering the 9 foot stands but you think the ravelli are better? worth it? I may be using these just to hold a background. I do have 2 manfrotto stands already

I don't plan to spend a lot on this, I really only do portraits on occasion.

way way way back in the day, I used some portable rolling medical stands for lights, and based off my buddies 7' stands, they are somewhat similar in size and footprint. They feel like they can tip over with large modifiers, still have them and will use them with bare strobes or snoot setup. I was concerned not so much about the height, but the associated footprint of taller stands, making them less likely to tumble. There is a difference in spiget holder with the two brands, and the ravelli is air cushioned. I'm sure either will work fine for speedlights, but I do plan on at least one or two rovelights down the line, which I hope these can manage.

as for a background stand, I've been eyeing this ravelli kit: http://www.amazon.com …avelli+light+st​and+muslin, but since you already have backdrops, this may work better: http://www.amazon.com …avelli+light+st​and+muslin

Tommydigi wrote in post #17868355
Ok, I think this is what I will go with for now to add to my set up

Set of Two 9 feet Neewer stands - $30
But I'm still considering the Ravelli ALS Full 10' Air Cushioned Light Stand With Included Adaptor. They seem like higher quality and come with a case. - $33 each so it may be worth the extra $30 bucks. Especially if I want to use a background. They have a set that has the background for $100 that I'm considering too.


One Godox Multifunctional S Style Speedlite Bracket - $17.
Later I may add 1 s bracket with 32x32" soft box if I like using the S bracket over my current bracket.


One Fomito Godox Photo Studio 120cm/47in Portable Octagon Flash Speedlight Umbrella Softbox Soft Box Brolly Reflector - $30

I have the ravelli als stands and they are pretty good for the price.

Those look good charlie, I only have one of those collapsable background so I may go with the first one you linked since mine does not allow me to do full body portraits.

This is my christmas card from 2015. The background is pretty small so that may be what I need.

thanks

I did go with the stands with the background as well as the S clamp with the 32x32 soft box. I'll add more down the road ( brolly box and another S clamp ) but I realize that I really need a better background as mine was very limiting.

Thanks again

Personally this is what I use ("one light" set up):

Avenger light stand, with a Manfrotto umbrella bracket. On top of that I mount a Phottix multi boom so I can mount two speed lights inside the Westcott Apollo.


The multi boom also fixed the tilting issue with the Apollo. I think Phottix also makes a less expensive version of the Apollo. I like that I can mount two speedlights in the Apollo (using the multi boom) so i can lower the output of both lights. Espically great when using hss. Also the Apollo has a grid option that velcros on. I wish it was included but is worth picking up.

With that I have a reflector and some gels. Nice quick little "one light" set up (though I use two lights to make one) that fits in a small light stand bag.

I am going to have similar set up with Yongnuo YN600ex-rt Ravelli ALS 10' and 47" octagon softbox umbrella. I also have YN 560II and a 24x24 4 socket softbox. So I will have three lights total. The reason I am updating here is that I found the octagon (brolly) for $10 cheaper on eBay for $25.99. In case someone is trying to save few bucks.

http://www.ebay.com …geName=STRK%3AM​EBIDX%3AIT

Lightstands are such a personal thing i guess. I just tend to look at versatility. This is why i suggested Mathews Reverse stands. You can lug them on or off site and it is extremely stable.

Having a boom is so handy to have if you have a beauty dish or other light modifiers. The Avenger C stand boom is killer awesome in quality. That will undoubtedly last forever for any hobbyist. Most importantly it's affordable and made in Italy.

My most favourite light modifier is my umbrella box that is 6 feet iirc. I have 3 of them for large groups!! Soft fill light. Open it up and it's ready to go!!!!!!!!this setup is heck of alot easier to setup compared to those large PLM modifiers which I also own.

I've purchased my share of inexpensive light stands and I've given them all away. You will find that it's worth spending a tad more for higher quality lightstands with zero remorse.

go take a look at some cactus manual flash units with built in triggers. I use this system for dance floors. The V6 version of the Cactus triggers is manual only. You can put an ETTL flash ontop of the camera and have full manual control of the remote flash. I'm surprised alot of people do not have this system yet. the dial system is fantastic!!!

lots of stuff out there.

Charlie wrote in post #17868387
way way way back in the day, I used some portable rolling medical stands for lights, and based off my buddies 7' stands, they are somewhat similar in size and footprint. They feel like they can tip over with large modifiers, still have them and will use them with bare strobes or snoot setup. I was concerned not so much about the height, but the associated footprint of taller stands, making them less likely to tumble.

Footprint = resistance to getting knocked over, or falling when used with lights on booms with counterweights

...my primary selection criterion (in combination with height)

AlanU I guess it depends on how much work you do, it sounds like you do a lot more than I do. I just wanted something decent that is portable.

I went with the ravelli kit which has the 2 stands with the backgrounds along with the S bracket and soft box. I'll add the brolly box later. This should do the trick.

AlanU wrote in post #17873467
Lightstands are such a personal thing i guess. I just tend to look at versatility. This is why i suggested Mathews Reverse stands. You can lug them on or off site and it is extremely stable.

Having a boom is so handy to have if you have a beauty dish or other light modifiers. The Avenger C stand boom is killer awesome in quality. That will undoubtedly last forever for any hobbyist. Most importantly it's affordable and made in Italy.

My most favourite light modifier is my umbrella box that is 6 feet iirc. I have 3 of them for large groups!! Soft fill light. Open it up and it's ready to go!!!!!!!!this setup is heck of alot easier to setup compared to those large PLM modifiers which I also own.

I've purchased my share of inexpensive light stands and I've given them all away. You will find that it's worth spending a tad more for higher quality lightstands with zero remorse.

go take a look at some cactus manual flash units with built in triggers. I use this system for dance floors. The V6 version of the Cactus triggers is manual only. You can put an ETTL flash ontop of the camera and have full manual control of the remote flash. I'm surprised alot of people do not have this system yet. the dial system is fantastic!!!

lots of stuff out there.

that's a really nice C-stand, however I got real cheap and got the cowboystudio double duty 13' Stand/boom. Amazon sent me my stand, but turns out they sent me a continuous lighting kit worth 100+, and they dont even want it back, will send me the boom in a few days. Also got the fotodiox 70" octobox, and rovelight 600b, been shopping like crazy and trying to keep a budget

Anybody have any thoughts on this 60" box?

http://www.amazon.com …89&sr=1-9&keywords=ez+box

Charlie wrote in post #17874138
that's a really nice C-stand, however I got real cheap and got the cowboystudio double duty 13' Stand/boom. Amazon sent me my stand, but turns out they sent me a continuous lighting kit worth 100+, and they dont even want it back, will send me the boom in a few days. Also got the fotodiox 70" octobox, and rovelight 600b, been shopping like crazy and trying to keep a budget

Hi, You mentioned the Rovelight. These weigh 5.31 lb. A modifier might be 2 lb. Even if you limit yourself to a counterweight equal to the Strobe wt (& consequently limit boom extension), that's a total of 12.6 lb (5.7 Kg). A boom needs to be rated to take that weight. Anything less is indefensible.

For the stand, you need to add the weight of the boom & fittings to the total above.

I know people use lighter boom setups for the Rovelight here - I would advise against that practice. If you really just need c 20 in of offset from the stand, then a Grip arm may be a better option (still counterweight it). For a Griphead, the stand needs to be topped off with a proper Baby pin not just the more usual stand spigot/stud. HTH.