Recommendations for boom stand vs C-Stand

[npfarm]

Hello I hope this is an appropriate question. I have started doing more on location photos and wanted to get some perspective on stands. The really want a rugged stand that I can have the light reflect downwards from a Godox 600 light shot into a large modifier like 63 or larger umbrella. Durability and stability are important and reviews have me in questioning what to get. I wanted it to have wheels so I can move it as I shoot dance so re-positioning would need to be frequent based on the dancer's chosen leap. I figure at least 10 feet extended would be a good height.

Any advice or set up's you've had success with would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

 

[npfarm]

The extended boom arm is rotating so the flash isn’t point up

then the main knuckle tends to shift separately

 

[Ellis Vener]

I would not bout that weight of monolight on the end of this size boom. As others jave suggested: use the remote head for the AD600 instead and either mount the body of the monolight to the stand or hang it as ballast on the tail end of the boom

 

[Ellis Vener]

The drop pin is not useful in this circumstance.,

if flashpoint does not have the extension head in stock, the Godox one works perfectly fine so try another dealer.

 

[A-Marc]

thank you
I’m not sure that I understand. How the is mounted
do I need a different pin to attach the flash to the end?

no worries, hope this will make things clear




TV to Baby Pin / Junior to Baby






giving you a more solid fixture for the boom






boom mounted






grip head at the end of the boom




baby pin with notches for the flash screw




make shure the screw sits in the notch




mount flash into grip head, use the grip head as rotation point, not the flash

make shure the blue rubber grip cover is always on the right hand side.

if the load is heavy you can strap the end of the boom (hook) onto the light stand.

--

Marc R. A.

Explore Marc R. A.’s 746 photos on Flickr!

www.flickr.com

http://www.marcalter.com

http://www.fivedaggers.com

 

[Off The Mark]

No the extension head has been back ordered for some time now.

im not sure how I would use the pin with the ligjht pointed up to shoot into in umbrella.

Oppsss... didn't realize the flash was going to point UP in to a bounce umbrella. My mistake.

 

[npfarm]

Thank you! I’ll experiment with this.

 

[npfarm]

It’s a common practice in dance to use an overhead light as you are trying to get things away from the dancer and have as much open space as possible. I find myself having to stay close to keep my power and t0.1 rapid enough to freeze motion. For a 600 that’s about 1/8th ish power. You are shooting with a bigger mod so that gets challenging. I edit out a lot of things that are on the edges.

 

[TechTalk2]

Question about the Redwing boom. How does the head extension rotation lock into place ?

I noticed in the previously linked video; one of the Limelite models shown has a knob where the locknut, for the head mount block, is on other versions. I've never seen a knob there except in that video (at around the 4:05 mark), only a locknut. There have been various versions of this design produced over the years under different names, so you can find some variance model to model.

Thanks. As you said, he mentions the knob as how to lock position. That answers my question. Thanks again.

The only locking knob I've ever seen to control rotation of the extended head is in the video I linked showing one version of the boom sold under the short-lived and long discontinued Bowens Limelite brand. The video shows two Limelite booms and only one has a knob for locking. A lock knob appears to be an oddity even for that brand and specific model based on every photo of it I've seen online.

On any version I've ever used, there is no lock — though perhaps you could use a wrench on the locknut, if necessary, to adjust the drag. My actual answer to your question was above the portion which was quoted in your reply:

The head extension rotation is designed to rotate with enough friction or drag to adjust the light and have it stay in position without locking. The drag is controlled by the locknut assembly which holds the head mount block. Here's an instruction manual with a diagram of the sections for assembly.

The head mount block, to which the various length head extensions are attached, is the part that rotates and comes mounted to the arm with the friction drag set at the factory. I've mounted a variety of heads and modifiers and never had to adjust the amount of drag in order to hold the light in position.

Thanks for your reply. I hope I've added some clarity to my previous post.

 

[TechTalk2]

I really liked the Redwing boom when I have used one, but I don’t own one. But I do own a Kessler Pocket Jib Traveler https://kesslercrane.com/collections/pocket-jib-traveler which I bought for a video job, and have used it for small lights (like a AD200) plus a small softbox.

It's always nice when equipment has multifunction capabilities. Looks like an excellent choice.

 

[npfarm]

Thank you for your advice. I did reach out to B H and they say the boom and light combo that they recommended may be overloaded....and I should look at a different boom or buy and extension head and clamp system......more that disappointed at this point.

 

[Richard Eskite]

I've been using the Manfrotto Super Boom since it was the Bogen Super Boom.

 

[TechTalk2]

I've been using the Manfrotto Super Boom since it was the Bogen Super Boom.

I also used the Super Boom when it was imported by and called Bogen. I never liked it much, but I knew others who were much better than I ever was at getting the desired light position using the crank handles. I never quite mastered making it work smoothly and efficiently.

What I do like is your work shown on your website. Northern California has always seemed to have great food shooting talent. Food was one of those specialties that I dabbled in a bit but, like the Super Boom, never mastered it as you have.

 

[TheGrammarFairy]

I've always used a 12-foot Manfrotto Boom Stand 420 and it's never let me down.

https://www.adorama.com/bg3398b.html

That said, because of the geometry booming out more than a foot or so very quickly puts a huge amount of downward force out on the end of the arm so no matter what brand you use it's going to get wobbly at a certain point.

Nevertheless, the big benefit of this stand, in addition to it's stability, is that it collapses down to a fairly small package given its size.

 

[Off The Mark]

I've always used a 12-foot Manfrotto Boom Stand 420 and it's never let me down.

https://www.adorama.com/bg3398b.html

That said, because of the geometry booming out more than a foot or so very quickly puts a huge amount of downward force out on the end of the arm so no matter what brand you use it's going to get wobbly at a certain point.

Nevertheless, the big benefit of this stand, in addition to it's stability, is that it collapses down to a fairly small package given its size.

Pardon my ignorance here...

That looks like an interesting stand (and the model number is 420 so you know what that means...)

However, the specs say the max load is 19.9 pounds and for the boom arm it says:

Max. Boom Extension: 1.98 lbs (0.9kg) without counterweight (sold separately)

Isn't that all pretty low?

To me, it looks like it would be a pretty good for my needs, but it is hard for me to visualize what it will be able to hold realistically.

Anyway, again, pardon my ignorance about boom stands and arms.

--
What Middle School Is Really Like:

 

[TheGrammarFairy]

That’s about right; without a counterweight the boom arm can only boom out a speed light and small umbrella at best.

With a counterweight and a sandbag on the base it can support a softbox and a typical monolight, so maybe 8 to 10 lbs. you’re trading lighter weight and portability versus load capacity.

But if you want to boom way out with heavier lights I would go with a cinema stand like the ones from Matthews. Or, if the ceiling is accessible Matthews, Avenger, and Manfrotto make a lot of clamps and other accessories that let you hang lights from almost any surface

I've always used a 12-foot Manfrotto Boom Stand 420 and it's never let me down.

https://www.adorama.com/bg3398b.html

That said, because of the geometry booming out more than a foot or so very quickly puts a huge amount of downward force out on the end of the arm so no matter what brand you use it's going to get wobbly at a certain point.

Nevertheless, the big benefit of this stand, in addition to it's stability, is that it collapses down to a fairly small package given its size.

Pardon my ignorance here...

That looks like an interesting stand (and the model number is 420 so you know what that means...)

However, the specs say the max load is 19.9 pounds and for the boom arm it says:

Max. Boom Extension: 1.98 lbs (0.9kg) without counterweight (sold separately)

Isn't that all pretty low?

To me, it looks like it would be a pretty good for my needs, but it is hard for me to visualize what it will be able to hold realistically.

Anyway, again, pardon my ignorance about boom stands and arms.

--
What Middle School Is Really Like:

 

[Richard Eskite]

I've been using the Manfrotto Super Boom since it was the Bogen Super Boom.

I also used the Super Boom when it was imported by and called Bogen. I never liked it much, but I knew others who were much better than I ever was at getting the desired light position using the crank handles. I never quite mastered making it work smoothly and efficiently.

What I do like is your work shown on your website. Northern California has always seemed to have great food shooting talent. Food was one of those specialties that I dabbled in a bit but, like the Super Boom, never mastered it as you have.

thanks for the kind words. I love my job.

 

[Off The Mark]

I've been using the Manfrotto Super Boom since it was the Bogen Super Boom.

I also used the Super Boom when it was imported by and called Bogen. I never liked it much, but I knew others who were much better than I ever was at getting the desired light position using the crank handles. I never quite mastered making it work smoothly and efficiently.

What I do like is your work shown on your website. Northern California has always seemed to have great food shooting talent. Food was one of those specialties that I dabbled in a bit but, like the Super Boom, never mastered it as you have.

thanks for the kind words. I love my job.

 

[Off The Mark]

That’s about right; without a counterweight the boom arm can only boom out a speed light and small umbrella at best.

With a counterweight and a sandbag on the base it can support a softbox and a typical monolight, so maybe 8 to 10 lbs. you’re trading lighter weight and portability versus load capacity.

But if you want to boom way out with heavier lights I would go with a cinema stand like the ones from Matthews. Or, if the ceiling is accessible Matthews, Avenger, and Manfrotto make a lot of clamps and other accessories that let you hang lights from almost any surface

Thank you for the reply.

One more question if I may.

If you have the boom extended, how high up can the stand go? I envision I might have to shoot somehwat wide (say, 35mm) and would like to have two or three people in the shot. (I realize that 35mm can be tight if one moves in close, but I am thinking about moving far back enough to shoot from waist up).

I thought that once you level the boom, it can only be 6-feet off the ground. Is that right?

Thannks in advance.

 

[bobby350z]

I have mathews and avengers but you can't beat this flashpoint for $160.

https://www.adorama.com/fplsrb12.ht...wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds&utm_source=inc-google-shop-p

I like the price but have questions

Do you own one?

How long have you been using it?

What are its strengths and weaknesses?

I have it along with mathews, avenger booms and trust me, it is as good if not better.

 

[bobby350z]

Yes that's the one! It seems to be built like a tank.

Agree. Naysayers will say no, can't be true. I was also amazed when I got the pkg delivered.