What Light Stands are people using?

I currently have a home studio setup and I have lights stands that came iwth my lighting kit. Recently I am finding that they are less than great for some of the applications I want to use them for so I am in the market for some new stands. I need stands that aren't extremely heavy as I do take them places when doing shoots but they need to be sturdy. So I figured I'd ask what everyone else was using for their strobes/studios?

Thanks

I am using impact 9.5' heavy duty air cushioned ones. Bought at B&H for $40 a piece.

I used to have access to a studio, and used Manfrotto stands. Now I have an Interfit kit, which comes with not as well built air cushioned stands. Still not bad for the price though .

I have an Interfit kit and the lightstands were great for the first year or so they were great. After almost 2 years they are starting to fall apart. The lights still work great, but I need new stands for sure.

I'll have to check out the Impact stands.

Ah, well I can highly recommend the manfrotto stands. They have the build quality you expect from Manfrotto, and the air cushioning is silky smooth compared to the Interfit ones.

I am slowly replacing all my cheap stuff (which was included in different kit deals, etc.) with Manfrotto gear. I just find it a better deal in the long run.... Currently I have two Manfrotto Nano stands on their way from B&H for my mobile kit. Here's the link: http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …_001B_3353_3373​_Nano.html

Anyone know anything about these Giotto light stands?

http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …ushioned_Light_​Stand.html

Hey Rudi,

I'm going through the same thing. I've been slowly making upgrades to the hardware especially now that some of it travels with me and is used on location.

I have and love the Impact 9.5 ft air cushioned light stands and they work great. Now that I use light stands outdoors and for location shooting I've found that they are good but not great. I don't regret having them because I never could have anticipated doing the things I'm now doing.

The issues I have with these light stands are that once you get outside and you have a strobe with an octabox 10 feet in the air you see any instability in the risers and tripod base. The aluminum tubing is a little thin and when the risers are fully extended there is a bit too much motion and movement. I use sandbags at the base of the light stand but have found that with a a strobe and modifier mounted, and a small breeze, there is still the possibility of one of the legs lifting up a bit. So, a wider footprint comes in to play.

The Impact stands do have a fairly wide footprint but when you start looking at some better stands you find a foot print that can be as much as 12 inches wider. That's significant. Working outside and on uneven terrain also makes the 'lazy leg' a very attractive feature for leveling. I recently had 2 shoots where I needed it and was very nervous about the stability of the light stand that was leaning because of the ground unevenness.

Lastly, when there is a breeze and you have a huge reflector hanging from a reflector holder there is a tendency for the risers to rotate and move around. They can rotate within the outer tube and no matter how much you tighten the hardware it still moves. This is due to the plastic components used and I suspect that over time those components will wear or crack and break from weathering and overtightening.

Don't get me wrong... until I started taking the gear outside I never had issue and I feel the Impact stands are one of the better made stands for that price range and functionality. So I do still like them and would recommend them highly for a studio, but they would not be my recommendation for a portable lighting kit.

After a lot of research and countless hours in the B&H lighting department I've come to the conclusion that the stands that meet my needs in all respects are the Avenger (Bogen) stands, specifically the Avenger A410 13.5 foot heavy duty stand with the lazy leg. They're not inexpensive but you do get what you pay for.

This is the stand I'm getting:
http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …etails&Q=&sku=3​553&is=REG

It has a ~50 inch foot print and will support a load of 22 pounds. It's also a bit heavier than something like the Impact stand, weighing in at 8.8 pounds. Unfortunately it is not air cushioned but I don't consider that essential. From what I can see, I can't get all the features I want in a stand that is air cushioned and it seems that most of the high end pro stands are not air cushioned either. Not a big deal for me.

Yup, it's $161.95 and as expensive as that is I see it as protecting the investment that sits atop that stand. If I were to have an Elinchrom Style 600 RX, a 5 foot Photoflex octabox and Pocket Wizard then I want to protect that gear, so why wouldn't I spend the money for that protection? I want to make sure that rig ain't movin'.

jtmorales wrote in post #5650084
Anyone know anything about these Giotto light stands?

http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …ushioned_Light_​Stand.html

I recently picked up a pair of these at B&H to replace the standard "kit" stands that came with my Genesis 200 lights. The Giottos stands are taller than the Calumet stands, have a wider footprint, have a removable stud/spigot and, most importantly, offer air cushioning. They're also cheap.

Having had them for a few weeks now, I'd say they're very good medium-duty stands with effective air cushioning. Build quality is more than adequate for "enthusiast" studio use but might not stand up to heavy duty location or pro use. They're pretty much built to the same standard as any of the stands in this general price category. I have noticed that the risers can be induced to slip if the thumbscrew locks are not tightly engaged. They've never slipped under normal usage. Neither these (nor the Impacts) are in any way comparable to true, pro-level stands such as the Avenger line.

The Giottos stands (and Calumets, and Impacts) are absolutely fine for any application I and, I suspect, most readers of this forum might have. If I need to fly a light on a boom, that's when I dust off my trusty Manfrotto convertible stand. The Avenger (and similar) stands are in a different class entirely both in price and build and weight. For me, they would be overkill. That said, I do look wistfully at the smaller turtle base c-stands on display at B&H and could picture one or two of those in my future.

Dave F.

that Avenger stand looks real nice but I wish it was air-cushioned. I've been considering these Bogen stands but the weight and spread on those Avengers is intriguing. The lazy leg is less important to me. Stability and height are crucial.

DavidPhoto wrote in post #5650947
that Avenger stand looks real nice but I wish it was air-cushioned. I've been considering these Bogen stands but the weight and spread on those Avengers is intriguing. The lazy leg is less important to me. Stability and height are crucial.

Hey David,

That was one that I initially looked at. I had to make the choice between air cushioning and the lazy leg. For my purposes the lazy leg becomes crucial. Without the adjustable leg it means the stand is either going to lean or I have to carry bricks or count on finding something on location to use. I've already found out that I can't count on anything and must be fully prepared within my own kit. As much as I like air cushioned stands I can forego and get used to lowering stands a bit more carefully. I think I would regret not having the lazy leg more than not having an air cushioned stand.

I do think that almost any stand from Bogen/Manfrotto/Avenge​r is outstanding and you can't go wrong as long as it meets your needs. The build quality is so obvious once you work with them.

bobbyz wrote in post #5649662
I am using impact 9.5' heavy duty air cushioned ones. Bought at B&H for $40 a piece.

I bought the same. Two in fact and they are really solid...

-Mario

TMR Design wrote in post #5650231
Hey Rudi,

This is the stand I'm getting:
http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …etails&Q=&sku=3​553&is=REG

Hi Robert. I agree with you about the air cushioning, its of little importance. I've used both, and while its nice to have, the 'lazy' leg is far more important from a usability and stability standpoint.

I'm at the point of replacing all 14 of my stands. Many are mixed manufacturers, etc, and I would like to limit it to two if possible. A set of 6 for location work, and another 6 better suited for studio work.
I'd used them in either situation when needed, but I find 6 stands fit more circumstances for me. So when I need more, I can use either to augment the others.

Can you tell me if the knob assembly to tighten each section is metal or plastic? The stands I currently have are plastic, and under pressure have broken. If I forget to tell a new assistant not to tighen it too tight, they tend to snap one. So 4 of my stands are now held together with gaffers tape since I can't tighten those sections anymore. I'll probably get these fixed and use them in the studio, and get a new set for the field.

If the Avengers are metal, I can live with the $1,000 cost for 6 stands since they should last, are heavy duty, and have a lazy leg. So I am very interested in your review, and will probably go see some in person in the very near future.

sfaust wrote in post #5653547
Hi Robert. I agree with you about the air cushioning, its of little importance. I've used both, and while its nice to have, the 'lazy' leg is far more important from a usability and stability standpoint.

I'm at the point of replacing all 14 of my stands. Many are mixed manufacturers, etc, and I would like to limit it to two if possible. A set of 6 for location work, and another 6 better suited for studio work.
I'd used them in either situation when needed, but I find 6 stands fit more circumstances for me. So when I need more, I can use either to augment the others.

Can you tell me if the knob assembly to tighten each section is metal or plastic? The stands I currently have are plastic, and under pressure have broken. If I forget to tell a new assistant not to tighen it too tight, they tend to snap one. So 4 of my stands are now held together with gaffers tape since I can't tighten those sections anymore. I'll probably get these fixed and use them in the studio, and get a new set for the field.

If the Avengers are metal, I can live with the $1,000 cost for 6 stands since they should last, are heavy duty, and have a lazy leg. So I am very interested in your review, and will probably go see some in person in the very near future.

Stephen, I hope everyone reading this thread visits your website. What a wonderful collection of absolutely stunning images. So when are you giving a workshop in NY?

Dave F

I love my Giotto stands. Air cushioned. This is the first I heard of lazy legged. I have the giottos, calumet, and impact and by far giottos much better of the three.