What size scrim jim

R

ReelFilmGeek

Well-known member
Looking into getting a scrim jim but I'm always working on small crew sets or even one man shows. So because of this I am wondering what size I should buy. I know a 42x42 might be slightly to small so that leaves me with do I get the 42x72 or 72x72. Also is the 72x72 manageable on one c stand or not?
 
I use Chimeras, not Scrim Jims, BUT I have several 48x48 frames and 72x72 frames. I like the 72x72 frames the most, because they give you more coverage. But they can be tougher to manage if it's windy outside, so that's something to think about, too. You want/need to use two stands on the 72x72 outside. You could get away with just one stand inside depending on how you are flying it(I have once or twice when flying them completely vertical), but two is better and safer.
 
Oh Thanks OldCorpse, I might just jump on that deal. Now if only it came with 1/2 or 1/4 white diffusion instead of 3/4.
 
I've used Scrim Jim's since the year they came out, great system.

I've done a small on a boom arm, with the arm supporting it, but it takes sandbags and no wind - you can't do a medium as an overhead on one stand. I think a 42" square popup diffuser is better for that use, much lighter weight and cheap, same size, packs small.

And I wouldn't use c-stands anyway - get Beefy babies or Combos. The same $$ or a few bucks more for twice the stand. C-stands are for tiny lights and little flags, not for supporting big panels. The first beefy you buy, you'll never go back to c-stands which have become the sort of newbie-knee-jerk stand.

Get a medium frame and a small, which gives you enough to also do a large when needed. Watch ebay for people selling used, it's great to have a bunch of pieces. Adorama seems to always be clearing out rags, too.

For clamps, skip the overpriced westscott clamps and get a couple manfrotto super clamps and long steel studs.

For fabrics, check with your local fabric store -many keep a list of sewing ladies in the neighborhood. Find a lady who can do household drapes and curtains, buy a bulk roll of soft velcro, and have her make things like solid black, unbleached muslin and white reflectors. Just give her a "real" westcott to copy for size and assembly. I have a large strip light that's black with a center strip of ripstop, it's a killer rag to have. And I did a doubled layer of white mesh, sort of like a 1/4 china but a little more diffuse, it's nice when you want the light to look "real" but tone it down where it's useable and shadows open a bit.
 
ReelFilmGeek said:
Looking into getting a scrim jim but I'm always working on small crew sets or even one man shows. So because of this I am wondering what size I should buy. I know a 42x42 might be slightly to small so that leaves me with do I get the 42x72 or 72x72. Also is the 72x72 manageable on one c stand or not?
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For me it's not the size of the crew, it's the size of the set. I keep getting involved in small cramped sets, and find even the 42" x 42" size to be too big sometimes. But I can almost always make it work.

I'm just saying, it depends on what you need. For me, it's the small ones. For you... only you know.
 
Bruce Watson said:
For me it's not the size of the crew, it's the size of the set. I keep getting involved in small cramped sets, and find even the 42" x 42" size to be too big sometimes. But I can almost always make it work.

I'm just saying, it depends on what you need. For me, it's the small ones. For you... only you know.
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Well, If you are looking for small size, there is this amazing little super cheapo solution: Alzo Easy Frame Reflector Diffuser 40" x 40"

Now, obviously, it's not as sturdy as a Scrim Jim, it's on the flimsy side for $77, but it has one nice thing - it can be handheld with an extension arm, as well as attached to a lightstand - comes with some rags. Here's the quote:
  • Use it as a FREE STANDING REFLECTOR (white, silver or gold)
  • Use it as a HAND HELD OVERHEAD DIFFUSER
  • Use it as a HAND HELD REFLECTOR (white, silver or gold)
  • It can be attached to a light stand as well
  • The Easy Frame assembles in 30 seconds
  • The Easy Frame is held together with internal shock cord
    (No parts to lose)
  • The handle allows for adjustment to any angle
  • Fabric panels have elastic straps and Velcro corners
    for tight attachment to the frame corners
  • Included nylon bag holds all of the parts
  • Frame Dimensions = 40" x 40"
  • Handle Length = 38"
  • Assembled weight = 3lbs
It can totally be used handheld, and is super convenient especially indoor, in small spaces. I have it and I keep thinking about buying another one - you can get like 3 of them for the price of one Scrim Jim.
 
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This seems pretty useful and you can have other screams made like 1/4 silk which I find extremely useful.
How small does it fold up to? Th picture makes it still look pretty big for traveling
 
It isn't super compact. I have one and can get it in my large suitcase. When I get home from Christmas at the inlaws I can measure it for you. It's pretty useful as a general purpose bit to have around.
 
Folded down, it's about 40" long, by 7" wide (it's actually narrow on one end and then flares somewhat wider on the other), and about 2" deep. Certainly, folds down much smaller than a Scrim Jim and is super light - just throw it onto the back seat of your car and you're done. Assembles really fast - they claim 30 seconds, and that's not unrealistic (see the video on their site). I would personally like some more options with rags, like f.ex. some nets and more diffusers of different grades, because a few of these could be super useful on a small set - I suppose it would be very simple to have them sown, so it's just a question of scoring the fabric somewhere that's economical which is always the problem. In any case a very useful bit of kit to have, IMHO.
 
Michael Carter said:
At that price, I'd take a good look at the 42" westscott square popups, they have reflectors and diffusors. They're flexible so you can squeeze 'em into small spaces or corners, pack very small & flat cost less.
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Well, the Westcotts are not cheaper, they're more expensive: $77 vs $99, so about 30% more expensive - here at B&H:

Westcott Illuminator Reflector Kit 42"

But really, they are not the same thing at all - they're ordinary floppies, which you can get a ton of from all over the place for much cheaper, no reason to stick to the Westcotts. Here we are talking about stiff frame (with the additional holding pole in the case of the Alzo Easy Frame Reflector) which is more directly comparable to the Small Scrim Jim 42" x 42" which costs $218 at B&H. The Alzo is a couple of inches smaller 40" x 40", but otherwise exactly the same idea (plus the holding pole) for $77 - so you can get almost 3 of the Alzos for one Westcott. Floppy reflectors are a whole different kettle of fish, and like I said the Westcotts are actually more expensive, but there are a ton of alternatives if that's what you are looking for. A bit apples and oranges, if you ask me.
 
Having used the medium Scrim Jim (72" x 42"), I have to admit, I'm not a fan. I have two serious problems, somewhat related. It's just a bear to set up - takes a long time, because the pieces have to be assembled "just so"... in that sense, the Alzo design is superior, because it has a bungee cord inside the frame, so it snaps together in no time, you can't misplace a piece, you don't have to look at which piece fits to which piece, you can do it blindfolded; I wish the SC frame at least had a couple of hinges, so that you can minimize on the number of pieces to keep track of and fitting. Second, the fabric attachment is a slog - you have velcro running all along the frame... which means you have to attach it all around, taking precious time - here the Alzo is also superior, but on the upside for SC, I guess perhaps the fabric is more strongly attached. The other problem, related to how long it takes to put together, is that at least my particular SC has the pieces fitting really, really poorly. The middle extension bars fit well and quickly, but the corners are a bear - or more accurately, one corner fits in well and quickly, but 3 corners are a nightmare... I had to pound on it to get it to go in, finally got it in - hate the process... I hope it gets easier with time. Knowing what I know of the SC, I would not buy it again - and certainly am not going to spring for other sizes. There's got to be better solutions out there, though probably for more money. YMMV.
 
OldCorpse said:
Having used the medium Scrim Jim (72" x 42"), I have to admit, I'm not a fan. I have two serious problems, somewhat related. It's just a bear to set up - takes a long time, because the pieces have to be assembled "just so"... in that sense, the Alzo design is superior, because it has a bungee cord inside the frame, so it snaps together in no time, you can't misplace a piece, you don't have to look at which piece fits to which piece, you can do it blindfolded; I wish the SC frame at least had a couple of hinges, so that you can minimize on the number of pieces to keep track of and fitting. Second, the fabric attachment is a slog - you have velcro running all along the frame... which means you have to attach it all around, taking precious time - here the Alzo is also superior, but on the upside for SC, I guess perhaps the fabric is more strongly attached. The other problem, related to how long it takes to put together, is that at least my particular SC has the pieces fitting really, really poorly. The middle extension bars fit well and quickly, but the corners are a bear - or more accurately, one corner fits in well and quickly, but 3 corners are a nightmare... I had to pound on it to get it to go in, finally got it in - hate the process... I hope it gets easier with time. Knowing what I know of the SC, I would not buy it again - and certainly am not going to spring for other sizes. There's got to be better solutions out there, though probably for more money. YMMV.
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I've use Scrim Jims forever - I did take some pliers and fine tune a couple of the tighter open-ends, but I can snap them together in no time. Some of mine are so old I've re-riveted and re-glued the velcro.

The secret to getting the fabric on quickly? Just do the corners first and pull them tight. If it's windy, go ahead and pull the sides out to the velcro. I find them way faster than grommet & loop rags.

I really, really like how small it packs for the variety you get - I usually have a large, medium and small going on the same set, or two larges and a small, or three mediums, etc... this sort of thing is really based on what one likes though, but they've been workhorses for me for years.
 
Bruce Watson said:
I'm not. I was just answering the OP's question about Scrim Jim size.
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Cool, I understand. But since the Westcott Scrim Jim is a modular system, if he buys the medium (72" x 42"), he'll also have the small size (42" x 42") and all he'd need to add would be the rags for the small, which as Michael Carter suggests you can get made for more reasonable cost than buying from Westcott. So if he buys the medium, he should be covered for the small with only a bit more extra cost of having rags made. I suggested the Alzo only because it is slightly smaller and way cheaper and an interesting option (I find it useful in small spaces) - didn't mean to offend anyone, apologize if I did.
 
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