Clamp Lamps and C Stands

PerroneFord

PerroneFord

Deals in Lead
Ok, for personal reasons, I am having to build a small lighting kit with clamp lamps (aluminum reflectors) of varying sizes. I also have a set of the larger worklights and will be buying another set of those soon.

However, my question is this. Is there any good way to clamp these clamp lamps to common C stands? For the time being, this will be the best I can do to position the lights for my needs.

I am not doing anything fancy, and most of my lighting needs will be small to medium rooms, shooting 1 shots or 2 shots.

I have been VERY pleased with using the compact flourescent bulbs in these reflectors, and will probably be making some small softboxes or diffusion covers for them to even them out a bit more.

So, how do I do it? I'll be shopping eBay for C Stands most likely, and I really need to get this figured out.

Thanks for your thoughts.
 
are you talking about clamps that look a little like this:
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They have a tendency to not want to stay on the stand if they're clamped vertically. They're a nice way to drop a little extra light where a traditional fixture might be too heavy, though, like the boughs of a small tree or a clothesline.
I've used gaffer's tape to hold them when I can't get them to stay still... if you've got a better solution, I'd love to see it!
 
The Brooder clamp lights come with a more significant clamp. It's a lot stronger than the clamps on the lights like you've pictured, and I've had no problem getting them to stay still when I could clamp them to something significant, like a mantle in the living room, or a bookshelf.

The problem is that a C-Stand with an arm is quite small in diameter and I'd need to build it up to have something more substantial to clamp to. At the moment I am thinking of something like small pipe insulation. Essentially, I'd clamp the light, let gravity do it's work and the light hangs quite naturally at it's lowest point, and then, I could adjust the aim. At least that is what I am hoping.

Option 2, is using step ladders as stands. the flat rungs do a serviceable job of holding the lights in place.

I am just not interested in traveling with ladders!


Thanks for your thoughts.
 
I have definitely done ladder lighting before. The bummer is you have to set it up last if you're using the ladder!

Can you clamp a smaller clamp to the c-stand and clamp the light to that? (triple word score) :)
 
yeah i second that. i would lose the clamp that comes with the light alltogether. clamp a #2 or #3 grip clip to the socket part of the lamp. then jaw one of the clamp handles in a c-stand.

if you wanna get fancy and have access to a rental house, rent some cardellini clamps at about $1 each. the cardellini will jaw onto the back of the clamp light and give you a baby spud to work with on your c-stand.
 
Excellent stuff guys! Cheezweezl, I am new to grip. Do you have a link to a #2 or #3 grip clip? I get what you're saying in concept, now I just need the tools.

I don't have any access to a rental house. North Florida is a purgatory when it comes to this stuff. But I'd be willing to buy a couple if they aren't too expensive.
 
Found the Cardellini clamps. Nice stuff. $55 a piece is a bit spendy, but it's a solution. Now if I can find the grip clips...

[edit]


Nevermind. Found them at Calumet!

I think I have the answers I need. Thanks a bunch guy. Now I just need to spend some jack on C-Stands.

Any significant difference between the Matthews stands and the Avengers or other brands? Pricing doesn't seem to be all that different.
 
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