Portable backdrop recommendations

Are there reasonably priced portable backdrops available? I would want to be able to take photos of 2-4 people on a portable white seamless.

I got a couple on eBay pretty cheap & they aren't ghetto thin either. I think I paid $20?...and they're huge. Plenty big for 2-4 people.

My portable support is a relatively inexpensive set from Adorama. I'll have to look up the brand.

Here's the support: http://www.adorama.com​/PABSS102124.html It has apparently gone up in price.

Wow that thing is a monster! How long does it take you to set up? I was thinking a bit smaller.

The center post comes in 3 sections and you can use two, effectively cutting the width in 2/3. It's easy and fast to set up. Just two standard light stands and a pole in the middle that feeds through a loop in the muslin. Folding up the muslin when you're done is another story.

The light stands are a lot lighter than typical stands though, which is nice. Sturdyness seems fine, although you won't want to be shaking it or anything. Basically apply the same common sense as you would to a stand with a light on it.

Interesting, thanks. Still seems pretty big and unweildy, which is to be expected from a background system. I wish I had the space for a studio (sigh).

You and me both. It's not that bad actually. You set up your stands, stick the bar together, slide it through the muslin, set it atop the stand posts, then raise the posts up to where you want 'em. Dealing with the fabric is the part that sucks, and that's the same regardless of the support system.

Now that you've reminded me I actually own one of these, I'm going to start using it as my kit for off-camera wedding lighting. I don't have a case for my NRG stands, and these are lighter anyway.

tim wrote in post #5917871
Are there reasonably priced portable backdrops available? I would want to be able to take photos of 2-4 people on a portable white seamless.

How about the Interfit INT714 Giant Collapsible:

http://www.interfitpho​tographic.com …Masters%20backg​rounds.php

98" x 16'. Collapses into a 39" case.

$149 at Adorama.

Dave F.

cdifoto wrote in post #5917929
Here's the support: http://www.adorama.com​/PABSS102124.html It has apparently gone up in price.

I have interfit light stands. I was surprised how nice they were for the money. I would think their background stand is also nice.

I would look at Photek People Popper. Not white seemless though.

I have Savage Port-A-Stand which I got for $129 from B&H. Came with 1 53" seemless white roll.

Lastolite collapsible backgrounds.

Since he didn't say it had to be inexpensive, the Lastolite Hilite background might also be a possibility. It collapses into a very portable bag and provides that white seamless background for 2-4 people (4 might be tight). Works well in a tight space too.

^ Actually, I wasn't even referring to the HiLite and bottlecaps, but that's another option - albeit a somewhat pricey one. They also make black velvet, dyed and other collapsible type backgrounds, though they're somewhat limited in size. That is, they're not meant to be a seamless replacement, but rather a quick backdrop.

sdipirro wrote in post #5921993
Since he didn't say it had to be inexpensive, the Lastolite Hilite background might also be a possibility. It collapses into a very portable bag and provides that white seamless background for 2-4 people (4 might be tight). Works well in a tight space too.

He also didn't say whether the groups were to be photographed full length. The (optional) train for the Lastolite apparently doesn't blend seamlessly with the Hilite itself. I think other collapsibles with integral trains might work better (i.e. require less PP) for full-length shots where the floor-wall seam is included in the photo.

Dave F.

Thanks for the ideas everyone. The Lastolite stuff looks good. After looking at the options a portable white seamless is going to be big, unweildy, expensive, and most importantly a pain in the butt, so I think i'll just make do without one for now.