Chimera Panel Frames vs. Westcott frames....

legrevedotcom

legrevedotcom

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The two companies both use some similar sizes but I haven't seen any cut to fit grid cloth from Westcott's side, so now I thinking... I could buy the Chimera grid cloth and then use it on a Westcott frame.

But which is more sturdy? The Panel Frames seem to be tubes with stretchy strings running inside, and the Westcott frames are aluminium frames that are quick and easy to assemble.

Has anyone tried both and can offer some advice which of the two frames seem more durable?

Their purpose would mainly be indoor footage or standing outside windows, not immediately in open air as overheads.
 
I have two each of Chimera's 2x2', 4x4', & 6x6', frames that I use for travel. Though lightweight, & compact, they're also remarkably strong, & have survived gusty winds.

Standard rags fit, but they get snugged right up against the frame, & if the frames are subjected to lots of flexing they can loosen.

Avenger's 2.5" Grip Heads are my favorite for mounting them on stands as they have an extra slot most the others don't.

And it all fits in a SKB Golf Case without incurring overweight baggage fees.

http://www.amazon.com/SKB-2SKB-4812WS-Standard-Golf-Travel/dp/B0007VNZDG
 
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I went ahead and ordered the westcott frame. I really like that it can be assembled im various sizes downwards. However just yesterday I thought Id try making a pvc frame just for fun for the 42" chimera fabric since it has loop hooks.... Works excellently.
I dont know how sturdy a 72" frame would be but Im tempted to try it out.
Main problem with pvc is that unlike yours Bern id need a superclamp and an arm or similar to secure it to a stand.
 
I've used scrim jims since they first came out, something like 16 years. still have all the original stuff I bought. It is very, very solid gear - nothing has broken.

About a year ago I had to strip the velcro off some of the sticks, clean off the adhesive, and add new velcro - not bad maintenance-wise, epoxied it on with new pop rivets.

I have a 6x6 silk that's started to tear a bit - after over a decade of constant use. I've had "sewing-grannies" (ask for business cards at a big fabric store, plenty of ladies willing to make drapes, curtains, etc) make me a big strip light, a 1/4 stop mesh, a blackout, etc. Way cheaper than westcott's prices, and the assembly is ridiculously simple for anyone who can sew drapes or curtains.

I use superclamps with long 5/8 pins to support them; I've never tried the newer "huge" size, but for three sizes of panels that packs down small and sets up fast - really one of the best gear investments I've ever made.
 
Just got the Scrim Jim yesterday (72")... the youngest kid was thrilled hehe. It's pretty easy to set up and take down, and Chimeras standard sized fabrics fits right around it.

But... I'm not all that confident that I wouldn't get the same sturdyness / user friendly traits from pvc piping. The Westcott is still sectioned at the middle of each side, so it's not totally stiff, and the rails are a bit smaller in width than I had imagined.
I know pvc doesn't look that pro, but if it works it works and frankly... once the fabric is on, you quickly forget that it's sitting on a pvc frame.

So I'm going to build another pvc frame in the same size as the Westcott and report back with a comparison...
 
I have a couple of Scrim Jims and do like them, but like you said, they aren't the stongest-stiffest as you might like. For me, the great thing about Scrim Jims are how they pack down to near nothing, and in the kit form, you get the frame and covers for a somewhat reasonable price.

Grant
 
That, and the velcro-edge mounting of fabric is unique, you'll either dig it or not. I've done a lot of plumbing in my house (every inch of supply and most drains, from the street to the house in fact) and I'm wondering if 1" PVC really stays together that well. I fly the 6x6 Scrim Jim on two beefy babies often and the corners lock up very tight.

I suppose you could glue velcro to PVC and use the westcott fabrics on it... my clients might roll their eyes at a lot of home depot stuff on set, that's more of a situational call of course.
 
That actually looks interesting Grant thanks.

Regarding the pvc pipe. I dont know how a large frame with couplings on the middle would work out. But since the chimeras wrap aromd thebcorners and kind of pulls on the slightly i imagine that this helps hold it together when a smaller size like a 42".

the pvc pipe i found is a little thicker at 3,2 cm and the sides lock pretty deep into the corners without glue.

http://www.xl-byg.dk/produkter/vvs/roer/
 
Calumet also used to have their own frames and fabric. Both aluminum and PVC.

I have a lot of fabric that I picked up pretty cheaply on eBay from them. Also fits my Photoflex frames ok.

Dont know if they still make & sell them? (I also picked up 50+ rolls of Savage background paper for $200 when they stopped selling that and started selling their own. I suppose I shouldn't be sharing this ...) ;>}

Cheers!
Michael
 
I was gifted a couple of old LightPanels frames, & bought another set of Calumet's. Don't use them outdoors very often, but they're very handy indoors. Love how they're taller than the other options, so better cover doors, & the likes.
 
One last suggestion is to consider getting "industry standard".

For frames 8x8', or less, my favorites are American's butterflies. The square tubing is around 3/4" but seems half the diameter of the standard 1". The weight savings is great, especially if you have a pair of grips walking a bounce.

If you mix and match frames you can also make 4x6', & 4x8' frames that can be skinned with a roll of diffusion. I find these incredibly useful.

If weight's not an issue' consider 1" breakdown frames from Norm's & such. A breakdown 12x12', & 8x8', can be configured into a good variety of frames, or used to T-Bone larger rags.
 
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