Boom stand recommendation needed

I own a Manfrotto combi boom stand (model 420B) that extends to 12'8" in height, but the boom arm does not extend high enough overhead to avoid getting the strip box in the picture frame.

I can extend the arm further, but there's not enough extension on the opposite side for the counter weight to balance properly.

I have a 10" x 36" strip box with grid, and I'm using an AB400 Alien Bee.

Can anyone recommend a sturdy boom stand that will go higher than 12' ?

You should use the combination of the "height" of your Boom Stand along with the "length" of your boom arm to achieve your desired results.....
I have a Bogen Super Boom (Stand is only 7' tall) and have no problems whatsoever.....

They call this junior:

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

But it's quite capable of going rather high. In these photos, my ceilings are 14'

mumbles wrote in post #11162355
They call this junior:

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

But it's quite capable of going rather high. In these photos, my ceilings are 14'

Still has about another 2 ft of height to go.

I have one of these being delivered on Tuesday. Did you use the A9000B caster set? I was tempted to get them as well but $110 seemed steep.

OP - I am also looking at 420B boom so I got a question for you. Can't you put your boom like in above picture where boom is at an angle putting your modifier at more height?

bobbyz wrote in post #11162404
OP - I am also looking at 420B boom so I got a question for you. Can't you put your boom like in above picture where boom is at an angle putting your modifier at more height?

The arm is simply not long (or rigid) enough to work that way. The 420B is a nice stand but doesn't work well as an overhead boom.

Bave wrote in post #11162403
I have one of these being delivered on Tuesday. Did you use the A9000B caster set? I was tempted to get them as well but $110 seemed steep.

I did. I picked them up from a user here Cathpah. They work great. Makes using it a snap.

I'm considering Avenger A4039CS Combi-Boom Stand - 12.8' and am hoping to use it with a elinchrom 400bx and 53" midi octa. It states it supports 13lbs fully extended but am not sure if I should/have to get a counter weight?

The (or rather a) counter weight is mandatory IMO. If you don't like the clamp on style then you can always hang a sandbag from the hook, but you're going to want some kind of weight on there.

how much counter weight do you guys think is appropriate?

barosborough wrote in post #11162516
I'm considering Avenger A4039CS Combi-Boom Stand - 12.8' and am hoping to use it with a elinchrom 400bx and 53" midi octa. It states it supports 13lbs fully extended but am not sure if I should/have to get a counter weight?

Well i have the 74" indirect octa and an RX600 in the photo above. It didn't need a counterweight as long as you kept the front wheel in the same orientation as the boom itself. However, if you move it at all, you'll need a counterweight.

In terms of strength, the A4050CS can hold anything you throw at it. but i wouldn't call it overkill either. I've never used the 4039 though. Are you planning to only use indoors?

mumbles wrote in post #11162704
Well i have the 74" indirect octa and an RX600 in the photo above. It didn't need a counterweight as long as you kept the front wheel in the same orientation as the boom itself. However, if you move it at all, you'll need a counterweight.

In terms of strength, the A4050CS can hold anything you throw at it. but i wouldn't call it overkill either. I've never used the 4039 though. Are you planning to only use indoors?

Thanks for the input. I'll likely only use it indoors and my studio is kinda skinny. So the footprint difference between the two is the biggest factor for me. I'll practice with it a bit before I get a counterweight.

mumbles wrote in post #11162704
Well i have the 74" indirect octa and an RX600 in the photo above. It didn't need a counterweight as long as you kept the front wheel in the same orientation as the boom itself.

It's not just having it stable when locked in place. The counter weight makes it easier to raise into position and makes it less likely to crash down when you loosen the boom to make an adjustment.

krb wrote in post #11162424
The arm is simply not long (or rigid) enough to work that way. The 420B is a nice stand but doesn't work well as an overhead boom.

Ken, I am not understanding. Even if arm is not long enough, can one have the arm so that light fixture end is higher than the end where counter weight goes? Or the boom arm only can be in horizontal position? I would imagine boom would let me put the light fixture end up or down rather than just horizontal unless I am missing something.

With the lower stand portion you can place the connection to the boom about 6 feet off the floor.

You can tilt the boom higher, but the boom itself is only about 7 feet long and you need to leave 2-2.5 feet sticking out the back with a counter weight attached in order to keep it balanced. Otherwise I can never get it clamped tight enough to hold the light in position. Tilting the boom arm up to make vertical room for the light+modifer means you have to move the subject closer to the stand to keep them under it, and you start having issues keeping the stand leg out of the bottom of the shot if you are shooting full body.

The stand works great for head shots or any kind of seated shot and it's perfect for supporting the upper half of a clamshell setup but it is much more limiting than a "real" boomstand. It is much more portable than these other boom stands while being much more flexible than a normal lightstand. I really like the stand and have considered getting a second one but you'll never confuse it with any of the heavier booms like the Avengers.

There is also the perception side of things. At full extension, the boom arm sags noticably under the weight of a strobe + modifier and sometimes the looks it gets from subjects asked to stand under the light leave me concerned I'm going to get a nervous "I hope this thing doesn't land on my head" expression in the shots.