1 C-Stand instead of 1 light stand?

G

Gene Sung

Veteran
Hi,

I'm putting together a basic Flo kit with 2 Cool lights Flos and 2 Lowel Pro lights for the hair and background. I'm trying to keep the kit LIGHT WEIGHT and PORTABLE.

I need about 6 light stands total.

Do you guys think I should substitute a regular light stand with a C-Stand? I would probably use the C-Stand as the boom.

I know there is a big weight penalty as the C-Stand weights about 17 lbs vs. 5 lbs for a heavy weight regular stand + arm. But do you guys think that the versatility and strength of a C-Stand makes it worth while to substitute it for one regular Light Stand?

That way I'll have at least 1 C-Stand in my kit. I think any more than that, and the weight would become too much.
 
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If you don't have a c-stand, you need one. At least one. Nobody is well outfitted, even for basic interviews, unless they have several, with accessories. I use c-stands for anything and everything, though I mainly use them for what they were intended — to hold flags, cutters, nets, etc.

That said, I'm not keen on them being used as light stands (and I have a lot of Kino Flo, which is commonly put on c-stands). Hollywood stands, or light stands, are usually more stable than c-stands (I'm not talking about kit stands). I have a bunch of extra grip heads and c-stand arms, and can just pop a grip head on a baby stand and then attach omni mounts with 3/8 lollipops to that or a c-stand arm inserted in it. That applies to 2ft and 4ft 4Banks w/remote ballasts. My heavier Kino fixtures have baby receivers.
 
I usually set ALL of my lights below 2k's on C-stands... unless I run out, need it shorter (gary coleman even then) or need a sturdier base but I'd be using a larger lighting stand... not those little dinky black ones in an arri kit. Those are too small and weak for most of my applications... but then again, I'm not doing interviews in a Hilton conference room every week in a different city.
 
C-stands definitely. If you don't use lights then you've got c-stands for flags and scrims. If you use stands and you don't use lights then you've got a couple of useless stands.

As for the weight - man up. In fact, my preference is to use combo stands for light stands. Seriously, I did it out of necessity for a shoot once and came to really like it as you can set a light without sand bags. It makes for a fast and solid setup.

That's my 2 cents...
 
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