Calumet On-Site Backdrop System

Does anyone have one of these things? We are thinking about getting one because it 'seems' like it could be a pretty great system. But I'd like some feedback on it before ordering.

http://www.calumetphot​o.com/item/MP0500/

Ooo I like that item. I would be interested in hearing reports about it as well.

seems like it would fall over with slight winds

I agree with the above snake. One big sale. Plus you have to buy their muslins to fit it.

CliffordPhotography wrote in post #9142079
I agree with the above snake. One big sale. Plus you have to buy their muslins to fit it.

The new issue of "Calumet Focus" features this background system on the back cover. According to the verbiage, the sale price includes a musln:

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subscribed as well. looks like there's interest but no feedback as of yet.

Yeah the magazine was where we first saw it too. I also noticed the difference between the magazine ad and the website.

Maybe it is a new item and nobody has tried it out yet. As someone mentioned above you would have to buy their muslin for it... but the $59.99 price tag doesn't seem too bad for an 8x8 hand painted muslin.

I too could foresee wind issues if trying to use it outdoors, but even just the ability to take a rig like this to a clients house and setup in a spacious living room would be pretty handy. Much easier than setting up a full BG stand and dragging a larger muslin BG out. Not to mention if this thing holds the muslin tight it could help a lot with wrinkles too...

At that price for just the stand it sounded a bit overpriced, but at $169 including a muslin, it's starting to sound like it might be worth looking into.

I have one and it works well.
It sets up in a flash , its light to carry and the bow in the cross members keeps the muslin reasonably taut to minimize wrinkles.

When I get to my main computer, I'll upload a couple of images that were made with the background.

It will be a problem if there is any wind. The good news is it probably won't hurt anyone if it fell on them.

This was shot with the Calumet Background. The lighting was a silver 64" PLM camera left for main. a white 64" PLM with spill kill panel on lens axis, both with AB800s. Also, a 30* gridded AB800 above the background aimed down for hair accent.

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Here's another shot on the background.
This one was with a Softliter II on lens axis as the main and another camera left for fill.

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and here's one in color.

All were with the gray muslin

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I also own this and its not bad at all. I have the white and gray muslim. Set-up is quick and easy, but you need plenty of room, if your worried about wind just get a couple sand bags or leg weights and you should be fine.

Subject to Muslin distance in these David?

I also own the Calumet On-SIte system. I feel it is an excellent solution for location work. It's easy to assemble (can easily be done by one person), relatively lightweight to carry in its included bag, and the hand-painted muslins are of good quality. I've had experience with some more traditional sized "economy" muslins and I feel these Calumet On-Site muslins are of superior quality.

I currently have four of the on-site muslins: Eggplant, Black, Light Gray and Arizona Desert. There's plenty of room to carry these four muslins in the On-Site's included bag but it does make it weigh bit more. I think I could squeeze a fifth muslin into the bag but I think that would be the limit.

Here's an example taken in front of the Eggplant muslin:

http://www.thephotoboo​th.net/photos/73319581​7_xSobw-O.jpg

And one taken in front of the Black muslin:

http://www.thephotoboo​th.net/photos/73319581​9_YtJC7-O.jpg

Personally, I wouldn't feel comfortable using the On-Site system for outdoor shooting if there was more than just a mild breeze. Sandbags or not, I could easily imagine a gust of wind literally pulling the muslin pockets right off of the frame (arms) of the On-Site system. The arms are designed to bow to hold the muslin taught. All they would need to do is bow just a little bit more thanks to a gust of wind and the muslin could go flying off.

The system is a tight fit in a house with 8' ceilings. If the carpet is extra thick, there could be clearance issues. You can angle the muslin a bit to help with that. Forget about using this in rooms with less than 8' clearance.

The two negatives I see with this system are the limited number of muslin styles available, and the fact that it's not an appropriate system for full body shots. But I think both issues could easily be solved by buying a 10x12 or 10x24 muslin and using lightweight clamps (bulldog clamps?) to attach the top edge and part of the sides of the larger muslin to an On-Site 8x8 muslin that is mounted to the frame. Basically, using the existing On-Site system as the "stands and crossbar" for your larger muslin. Or, the more industrious could use a sewing machine to size the larger muslin to 8' wide and add a full-width pocket across the top. Then you could just drape the large pocket over the existing system and let the longer muslin hang down from there.

Mark

The boy and his mom were probably 4 feet in front, the boy alone maybe 6 feet. And the Blonde is about 4-5 feet. Mom and son were shot with 70-200 as was the boy. Probably about 100-125. Blonde was shot with 24-105 at close to 105.

I also agree with Mark about the outdoor wind concerns.

When I decided to get mine at the Cherry street store here in Chicago, I asked about longer muslins for full length. The response was that they were considering that as an option. I have also thought about just getting a second muslin and clipping it to the bottom of the one supported by the frame, it would leave a bit of a seam but that should be easy to get rid of.

I have also thought about draping one of my 12x20s but the background stand I use isn't that hard to put up so I haven't bothered.