DVX100Shooter
Veteran
Anyone purchased C Stands from Amvona? They have some nice prices on stands there but I can't find on their site how high they go. All they say is Medium, Large and X-Large.
www.amvona.com
www.amvona.com
C stands from Amvona
- Thread starter DVX100Shooter
- Start date
hemophilia
Well-known member
Search around, they've been discussed here a LOT.
They're solid; worth it if you can get it for significantly less that the industry-standard brands; not worth it if you're paying close to the 'real' stuff anyway.
-Kevin
They're solid; worth it if you can get it for significantly less that the industry-standard brands; not worth it if you're paying close to the 'real' stuff anyway.
-Kevin
MattinSTL
Sound Modulator
I agree with that statement. Realize that the initial buzz created around these stands was due to people getting them for rock-bottom prices... most of those early, enthusiastic threads only talked of high-quality and the posters implied that the stands were on par with industry standard options. This buzz must have made Amvona's day because for a while there you would find ebay auctions for these stands that would end up within $20-40 of the cost of an Avenger C-Stand (total shipped price).
I can't speak for everybody, but I used one of the Amvona's one day and the thing got locked up somewhere between open and closed... in the base. There is some kind of catch in the mechanism that slipped and got stuck. It ended up taking 2 of us about 10 minutes to get it sorted out. Combine that with the extra few pounds (like nearly 4 lbs each) and all I'm saying is don't over-pay for them.
Barndoor Outfitters was selling Avenger kits (the turtle base 60" riser w/ the grip head and arm) for $169 + $20 ship on ebay. For a total price on that stand that was pretty darn good... all black too.
If you research this you'll find that some of the people who were really excited about the Amvona's paid less then $50 per stand (+ ship in most cases)... some of them went as low as $38 each. Once they got talked up, people were paying $120 before shipping... and something like $35 shipping. So the gist is that if you get a good deal on them then they're decent (at the good deal price).
I can't speak for everybody, but I used one of the Amvona's one day and the thing got locked up somewhere between open and closed... in the base. There is some kind of catch in the mechanism that slipped and got stuck. It ended up taking 2 of us about 10 minutes to get it sorted out. Combine that with the extra few pounds (like nearly 4 lbs each) and all I'm saying is don't over-pay for them.
Barndoor Outfitters was selling Avenger kits (the turtle base 60" riser w/ the grip head and arm) for $169 + $20 ship on ebay. For a total price on that stand that was pretty darn good... all black too.
If you research this you'll find that some of the people who were really excited about the Amvona's paid less then $50 per stand (+ ship in most cases)... some of them went as low as $38 each. Once they got talked up, people were paying $120 before shipping... and something like $35 shipping. So the gist is that if you get a good deal on them then they're decent (at the good deal price).
If I may add in my two cents - it's kinda weird. I ordered one from ebay about two years ago. People might be fooled by the "quality" but I personally feel Mathews C-stands are far better. The reason why I say fooled by the quality of the Amvona stand is because it is very rugged and damn good looking. But after I went to Sammy's Camera in Hollywood and bought a Matthews C-stand there for 135.00 I immediately could see and feel the difference. The Amvona is heavier and something that is really annoying is that the knob at the base where on any other C-stand would be to loosen the legs, on the Amvona stand it detaches the base. I find this base coming loose all the time. The only thing I use my Amvona C-stand for is to hold the NTSC monitor on set. Matthews is lighter, taller and just damn built better. In my opinion well worth it. Just pay a few more dollars and get your money's worth. C-stands last forever so you might as well buy some good ones. Both brands are rugged. But so what. A car is rugged but if it doesn't run than it's a dead piece of weight. If you want to save money I don't think saving it on C-stand's is a good choice. Try to cut your budget in other areas.
MattinSTL
Sound Modulator
It all comes down to what you pay for them.
Since I plan to be doing video/film work forever I don't buy anything of this nature that isn't the best... for the extra $50 or whatever per stand it's worth it. We move c-stands a dozen times during a long shoot day... not to mention getting them out of the van and putting them back away. Plus there are times when I find myself running stairs with a pair of c-stands... try to pick up two of the amvonas with grip and arm... and carry that pair up a flight of stairs... you better be in great shape. The extra 10 or so pounds (total stand-grip-arm) or 30% + increase... is huge if you ever carry 2 at once.
I paid an extra $200 to knock 2lbs off of my tripod... and I could have paid ANOTHER $300 to knock off 2 more lbs. So for me a stand that I move TWO of constantly is worth at least an extra $50 each to save between 4.5-6lbs each.
Again... it all comes down to what you pay for them. I have nothing against them if you get 'em for under $70 or so... but I wouldn't pay within $50 of a new generation Avenger or Matthews. It's not just the weight either... try out a Matthews or Avenger... check the knobs... they are so satisfying to use... this dude above me knows what I mean... the knobs are pure luxury on the newer Matthews (and they're really just as good on the Avengers)...
Since I plan to be doing video/film work forever I don't buy anything of this nature that isn't the best... for the extra $50 or whatever per stand it's worth it. We move c-stands a dozen times during a long shoot day... not to mention getting them out of the van and putting them back away. Plus there are times when I find myself running stairs with a pair of c-stands... try to pick up two of the amvonas with grip and arm... and carry that pair up a flight of stairs... you better be in great shape. The extra 10 or so pounds (total stand-grip-arm) or 30% + increase... is huge if you ever carry 2 at once.
I paid an extra $200 to knock 2lbs off of my tripod... and I could have paid ANOTHER $300 to knock off 2 more lbs. So for me a stand that I move TWO of constantly is worth at least an extra $50 each to save between 4.5-6lbs each.
Again... it all comes down to what you pay for them. I have nothing against them if you get 'em for under $70 or so... but I wouldn't pay within $50 of a new generation Avenger or Matthews. It's not just the weight either... try out a Matthews or Avenger... check the knobs... they are so satisfying to use... this dude above me knows what I mean... the knobs are pure luxury on the newer Matthews (and they're really just as good on the Avengers)...