best c stands

L

Lenilenapi

Carbonite Member
which c stands do you guys recommend these days - consider that budget is an issue but I also need professional gear.
 
I'm yet to come across anything as good as the Avenger C-Stands. Super solid, super reliable and worth every penny.
 
Yeah, the Avenger stuff is nice - but expensive.
The IMPACT stuff is nearly as good as the Avenger - but I like their knuckles better because the locking ridges and teeth seem deeper so I don't have to crank down as hard to get them to the point where they won't slip. I like the Matthews knuckles the least for this reason.
 
I have impact, avenger, and Matthews. The impact turtle base stands are heavy but I use them first for holding something bigger like a 8x frame inside. They open and close with a quick release collar for the legs. I like it, some don't. My Matthews rocky mount is really lightweight and shorter when closed than my other stands. They all do the job, figure out how you work and what would be best.
 
American stands have the best gobo head configuration in my experience. Non spring loaded is my preference.
 
The best c-stand isn't a c-stand. For the money, I prefer beefy babies and combos.

I like having some c-stands, but they're really intended for flags and very small lights, yet people stick 2Ks on 'em with three sandbags. For about the same $$ of a turtle-base avenger, you can get a steel beefy. They're far more versatile, they're taller, they hold more weight, they're much harder to tip. Ever see a bunch of kids making a zombie flick try to fly an 8x8 with two c-stands? It's kinda scary.

Kupo's combo stand is $150 (and ships free from Adorama) - I'd choose that over a c-stand if I only had a few stands.

I don't know why c-stands have become the knee-jerk "pro light stand" for people starting out. Heck, the Matthews steel kit stands were under $90 last I looked, and spec out to almost-beefy standards. C-stands are really designed for when you need to get a flag into a tight space where there's already a forest of light stands - the leg design allows them to step over or under stuff. But they're also a pain to pack - even the turtles require a separate box or case for the base.

I'd try to get a couple baby rollers, too - those are dynamite for boom mics or things you have to move often. And their bases slide under lots of stuff. Love those far more than my c's, in fact I'd trade almost every avenger C for a good baby roller.

Here ya go, $87 bucks -

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/99162-REG/Matthews_387485_Maxi_Kit_Steel_Stand.html
 
Thanks DPS - here's a further breakdown. In the US, all these stands can be found with free US shipping.

There's probably a few more choices out there, but here's what's top of my radar:

BEST VALUE:

Matthews Steel Kit Stand
25 lb load, 37" footprint - 9.5 ft. tall
(Better height, load and footprint than the Beefy Baby)
$87, free shipping


THE KING OF AFFORDABLE STANDS:

Kupo Master Combo HD $156
88 freaking pounds max. load!
55" footprint! ELEVEN FEET high.
baby pin AND junior receiver.
Leveling leg!

OR SAVE A FEW BUCKS:

Kupo Master Combo Alu Senior Stand $144
26.5 lb load at a maximum height of 12' 4".
Aluminum construction, a triple function universal head and a leveling leg.

THE KNEE JERK C-STAND, BEST VERSION AVAILABLE:

Avenger turtle base c-stand $169
9.8' feet height, 3' footprint, 22 lb max load, baby pin

If you shoot strictly in the studio, you can save some money and get 1-piece - non turtle- c-stands. Which are a pain to pack.

If you use turtle base stands, you should invest in some butt plugs at $20 or so each.


BEST ALTERNATES TO THE C-STAND

Matthews Beefy Beefy Double Riser $173
8.5' height, 22 lb max load 33" footprint

Matthews Beefy Beefy Triple Riser $203
12 ft height, 20 lbs max load 33" footprint


WANT WHEELS ON A KILLER STAND?

Kupo Junior Roller $199
17 lb max load - 45" footprint - 8.8' high
WITH VERY USEFUL BRAKING WHEELS.
(Avenger roller is same price, 1 foot shorter, only 28" footprint.)
 
That's a fantastic writeup, Michael! If I may chime in on flying butterfly screens, 8'x8' or larger. I have the 8'x8' DJ Butterfly and I use two of these as stands: Avenger Overhead Steel Stand 56 with leveling leg - $356 - it's a bit more money, for some reason the price went up, I got them for $220 each last year: 77" footprint diameter, 88lb load capacity, 18' height, built in massive grip head. When there's a bit of wind and you're flying an 8'x8', you're happy to have a 77" footprint, believe me.
 
OldCorpse said:
That's a fantastic writeup, Michael! If I may chime in on flying butterfly screens, 8'x8' or larger. I have the 8'x8' DJ Butterfly and I use two of these as stands: Avenger Overhead Steel Stand 56 with leveling leg - $356 - it's a bit more money, for some reason the price went up, I got them for $220 each last year: 77" footprint diameter, 88lb load capacity, 18' height, built in massive grip head. When there's a bit of wind and you're flying an 8'x8', you're happy to have a 77" footprint, believe me.
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I didn't include hi-hi's and the like, thinking c-stand alternatives $200 and under.

$220 for an overhead with the big knuckle is a killer price though. Kupo is making overheads but they're not a huge savings over avenger. The best way to score an overhead is probably used with local pickup. Wish I had a couple...
 
Michael, I do agree with your sentiment that C stands are sometimes overused by less experienced crew, they do have their place. Grips usually have at least 32 of them on their truck, electrics have a handful for kinos and jem balls as well. They're not designed for being "packed away" as you said, they're meant to be folded up and hung on big heavy steel carts specifically designed to carry them, usually 16 each. They're quick to set up and for anything smaller than an 8x indoors, they're the go-to stand. You seem to dislike them as if people only use them for things that they shouldn't be used for like 2k's - I can't remember the last time I saw that, since as you said, they're NOT light stands. But they were the first steel stand I (and I suspect many others) came across, so I see where people who think they can handle a junior are coming from.

Also, you mention the 25lb max load for those steel kit stands and 88lbs for the steel combis. I wouldn't be caught dead going halfway over those ratings. Anything over about 40lbs really needs a crank stand. And those kit stands, well, I wouldn't use them for anything over a 650. The top riser is basically the same diameter as the baby pin, really can't be even compared to a C stand.

Now, to answer the OP's question - the Impact C stands are way too tall at their minimum height due to the design of the base. Avenger stands are nice, good gobo heads, but they're awfully heavy compared to Matthews, Norms, or American grip, especially the turtle base ones. They use a bigger diameter pipe for the main riser so they won't fit in my trusty C boom clamp. The newer Matthews stands are great, just stay away from the older gobo heads. But for some reason, American grip seems to be the preferred stand. Just about all grip gear in my market is owner-operated and maybe one or two guys have stands that aren't American grip. I'm not a huge fan of the non-spring loaded base that they have but I definitely like that they're a few inches shorter than everything else besides Norms, which are basically the same design.
 
Moseph said:
Michael, I do agree with your sentiment that C stands are sometimes overused by less experienced crew, they do have their place.
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Good info Moseph, and I'm aware of all the things you mention. But I'm addressing people agonizing over a few stands at a time for their own use, not which 35 stands to put in a grip truck. Sure, c-stands are designed to fit on huge steel carts or hung in a truck... nobody that's trying to decide if saving $20 by buying an impact c-stand over avenger is shopping for a c-stand cart that costs the same as 6 stands. Nobody that owns 4 c-stands is looking for a cart (or a truck). Transporting 1-piece c's via automobile is a pain compared to turtle-based (4 or 5 bases fit in one long dairy crate) or beefies.

This is all my opinion as well. But, big picture:

You have $500 to spend on stands. You have a few cheap aluminum tripod-style stands from eBay, no professional stands, and want to start "investing" in quality, lifetime stands. You reserve $100 for grip heads and arms. Do you buy:

10 cheap black aluminum tripod stands?

5 Matthews steel kit stands?

2 Beefy babies?

2 C-stands?

I'd go for the beefies over c's... I wouldn't get a c-stand until I had 2-4 babies, and I'd try to keep that ratio, maybe 1 c-stand for every pair of beefies, I'd get a roller or two (I have an odd love for those though) until I had a total of a 10-12 pro stands... from there I'd get a couple more c's, or look into a junior or a pair of overheads, depending on what my work was like.

If I were shooting only 1' LED panels I might feel differently (hopefully, I'd spend some money on lights in that case)...

BTW, I really love those impact grip heads... cheapest heads at B&H, and MAN, that giant knob rocks for tightening. Though there are times when a regular sized will only fit some complex assembly, it's great to have some of these. And, they come stock with an aluminum washer, not fiber.
 
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Well, I guess I'm in disagreement. For starting out, if I had to do it again, purchasing all new gear, for $500 I would get Matthews sliding leg C stands first, until I could come up with the money for some actual 750 light stands. Maybe 2 40" stands and 1 20". They're sturdy enough for almost all lights with a 750 reciever, and most importantly I would have 3 (good) stands instead of 2. Not like I'd have a deuce or 3 light barger (probably the heaviest fixtures I know of with a baby reciever) to put on them anyway...

I can also attest to the quality of those Impact gobo heads. Very nice, I believe they're a direct replica of the Modern Studio design but for only $18.
 
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I am super sorry to necro this thread but this comprehensive discussion really hits home on my dilemma and hopefully Moseph and Michael still actively post here as to answer my question. (btw, I post over at BMCUser more regularly in-case you're wondering "where the hell did this dude come from". Which, to come to think of it, you probably aren't. And yes, I'm aware multiple sentences within parenthesis is poor grammar but it didn't start this way and now I'm just being cute.)

I just upgraded my lighting setup to two professional grade 2x1 soft LED panels that come in at 16.5Lbs each. They will be mostly for in-studio use but I will likely travel with them at some point. I have only cheap light stands at the moment and want to invest in two good quality light stands for these lights.

Would you get 2x steel kit stands, spend the extra money and get 2 beefy babies or 2 Kupo c stands (if this option, should I get quick release legs or sliding leg)?

Again, sorry to necro but I would really appreciate the guidance and rather than create a new thread, I think it adds to the specificity of the recommendations within this one.
 
WiredInside said:
I just upgraded my lighting setup to two professional grade 2x1 soft LED panels that come in at 16.5Lbs each. They will be mostly for in-studio use but I will likely travel with them at some point. I have only cheap light stands at the moment and want to invest in two good quality light stands for these lights.
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Sounds like you went for two Softpanels! I bought one myself.

I'd get two Matthews beefy babies w/wheels or a Matthews c-stand riser w/the Kupo wheeled base. I'm starting to move all my beefy babies and c-stands to wheeled versions. So much easier when roaming around an indoor set and my grips and PAs love me for it.
 
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