Good bargain on sturdy lightweight light stand?

[Atracksler]

Looking to upgrade my cheapie light stands. Looking for something in the 6-9' size. I'd rather buy something good than more cheapies. I'll be using it with speed lights and a white lightning 1600.

Thanks in advance.

 

[nsurit]

I've been pleased with my Giottos LC 325 stands. Air cushioned. extend to about 10 1/2 feet. Reasonably priced. I use them with Tota lights and alien bees. They work for me and I've had them for 6 years or so. Bill Barber

 

[Mainecoonmaniac]

I haven't used Giottos light stands before, but I have a small carbon fiber tripod that I travel with and it's built pretty well. I also have mounted on the tripod a Giottos tripod ball head. Both are very well built. The Chinese are making some photo products that rival Japanese, German and Italian manufacturers.

 

[M Carter]

Best value - B&H photo and Adorama carry the "Matthews steel kit stands". $86. Wide footprint, specs are almost to Beefy Baby level (that's a $200 pro stand). You could put a large or XL softbox on it with no worries (though a sand bag might be advised!)

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/99162-REG/Matthews_387485_Maxi_Kit_Steel_Stand.html

That's an everyday steel "tripod-style" stand vs. a c-stand or a really heavy stand. Really about the best value in a stand. Ebay has hundreds of aluminum stands for less $$, but that may be a crap shoot. Pro-level stands such as c-stands, beefies, combos - those are pricey and very heavy for one-man band kind of gigs, though they last forever.

Manfrotto's "basic steel stand" is $80 and specs out lower. I have a few of those, they're OK for scrims and small cards. (Manfrotto makes some great pro stands, but for the same $$ as Avenger and Matthews).

Cowboy Studio carries a lot of cheap stands, like these:

http://www.cowboystudio.com/product_p/2xc-803.htm

Can't say how they'll hold up, but Cowboy does sell on Amazon so returns might be easier. Matthews is a "pro" manufacturer and their gear is on every movie set on earth, so probably worth it. Buy once, cry once, right? I still have some cheap stands from when I was starting out, but you constantly have to tighten them, etc… they're in the "emergency gear" pile and only good for crazy product sets with a dozen little cards and reflectors.

Also, personally - I hate "air-cushioned" stands. It's a consumer "super-extra-feature" that just makes them harder to close when packing. Never had a situation where it saved my gear or anything. Hope that helps!

 

[M Carter]

I haven't used Giottos light stands before, but I have a small carbon fiber tripod that I travel with and it's built pretty well. I also have mounted on the tripod a Giottos tripod ball head. Both are very well built. The Chinese are making some photo products that rival Japanese, German and Italian manufacturers.

I think he's looking for light stands… a photo tripod isn't a great form factor for lights, my .02 anyway - way too much spread and too fussy to change height, especially in tiny increments.

 

[adelorenzo]

I'm happy with my 13-foot Paul C. Buff heavy duty stands, I use them with big old White Lightnings and large parabolic umbrellas no problem. For your smaller lights they make a 10-foot version. Pretty inexpensive, from what I can tell.

 

[M Carter]

In that price range, I'd still spring the extra $15 for the Matthews - steel vs. aluminum and really butch stands… free shipping, too. Locking wheel kit is available if needed.

I've researched stands obsessively - unless you really need a lightweight aluminum stand (air travel, or just for small cards or reflectors) beating those Matthews stands takes $180 or so… next step up is really a beefy baby, a baby roller, or a turtle-base C-stand. (I have maybe a dozen aluminum stands - some of them came with light kits - but if I only could afford one or two, I'd start with the Matthews and then get a c-stand or a baby roller. Badass stand for the bucks!)

 

[wildbill]

Matthews is a "pro" manufacturer and their gear is on every movie set on earth, so probably worth it. Buy once, cry once, right?

American Grip Equipment is the most popular and best made as far as stands and grip equipment. Matthews probably dominates on a global scale but their gear isn't as good.

I have a couple cowboy stands and they're fine. I hate air cushioned stands too but they work.

 

[M Carter]

American Grip Equipment is the most popular and best made as far as stands and grip equipment. Matthews probably dominates on a global scale but their gear isn't as good.

I have a couple cowboy stands and they're fine. I hate air cushioned stands too but they work.

True, but (far as I know) American isn't in the sub-$100 category. Even that can be a tough sell to someone used to $40 aluminum stands.

Avenger is also excellent in the higher-end stuff, and Kupo is doing a great job in the Asian knockoff realm (though lately their pricing isn't as great as when they started). The Kupo HD Combo looks like a killer value at $150 & free shipping. But in the $50-$100 range, I haven't found anything better than the Matthews kit stands - I would love to know of more options though. There's never, ever "enough" stands.

 

[jacaquarie]

Another one that has Matthews. Good kit!
+1

 

[Atracksler]

I ended up getting a pair of impacts from b&h.... We'll see how they do....