Which Stand? (C-Stand,Boom?)

Hi,

I need some help finding the right lightstand for me.

I would like to have some kind of boomstand which holds my elinchrom bxri 500 and a 100cm deep octa (4Kg total weight). The Manfrotto Steel Version of the 420STU seems to be a good match, but a friend mentioned that he read something here regarding the 420STU.

I dont have a studio, so weight and portability are very important. OTOH it should be able to hold my stuff without a counterweight. It even should be able to hold my bxri 500 with a 190cm octa bank attached.

Thank you in advance,
Dirk

subscribing

Don't know too many booms that will hold a "monolight and Octabank" together without having a counter weight..... in fact, I don't know of any at all.
If you are wanting something compact, light weight, and portable - you are definitely going to need a counterweight and possibly even a sandbag for the leg(s) whether it be a C-Stand or Boom.....

I saw this setup at a trade show here in Vegas.
Avenger A2033FCBKIT it looked pretty nice.
I would also look into the Manfrotto boom/stand 420 series, I think they make an Alum version? I almost bought one for my studio but went with an Avenger A4050CS which is a much larger HD steel stand/boom. I love it.

There isn't a magic lightweight portable solution, You will most likey need a counterweight. My A4050 has a counterweight and it is a heavy steel unit that weighs about 36 lbs.

Avenger A700, I use mine that way all the time here in my apartment living room doing tabletop and sometimes put a beauty dish up there instead. The boom arm slides into the top riser of the stand making it like an additional riser to what was there and I tuck it under the legs of a dresser here in my living room for storage. I think it weighs about 35 pounds, is solid and yes I've often used it with a counterweight but that means I stick the boom out a lot to the back side for balance. It's easy to make up something (plastic milk jug filled with water) to attach to the back. It's an incredibly good setup and very secure. And yes I've carried it in my Mitsubishi to a location but honestly that wasn't a lot of fun. Personally I wouldn't want to go much lighter.

Yep, the Avenger A700 is the only stand that I know of that will hold things without a counterweight (and this includes the new model, which of course has a new model number). But... I wouldn't want to lug it around on location. The thing weighs 33 lb! The Avenger A700 is a studio stand, and it's perfect for so many things if you don't have to travel with it (some photographers do, but they'd be the exception ). Even in the studio, you want to have it on casters, IMO.

For a really sturdy location stand, you cannot go past the good-old C-stand, IMO. Coupled with the grip-arm, you have a nice " short boom" setup (you will need a counterweight though). Something like this: http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …BKIT_Century_C_​Stand.html (you can get them with detachable base, or with a sliding leg, for uneven ground, etc).

I have the Manfrotto 420 series aluminium convertible boom stand, and it's nice and light, but nowhere near as sturdy as a steel C-stand. And you will still need counterweights.

Thanks everyone!
I think I ll buy the A2033FCBKIT.