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PostPosted: Mon Nov 16, 2009 12:05 pm 
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Hi all,

I'm looking to purchase a backdrop with support stands. I prefer durability and stability (steel construction) over lightweight (aluminum construction). Where do you suggest I purchase this package?

I found studio-98 from Kitchener sell this type of package on Ebay. Any comments/suggestions are greatly appreciated.

http://cgi.ebay.ca/HEAVY-PHOTO-B-W-BACK ... 2ea92a92de


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PostPosted: Tue Nov 17, 2009 11:09 am 
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What is your budget? What sort of space do you have(height/width of room)? Manfrotto autopoles are really nice an heavy duty but are pricey. Then the manfrotto telescoping background support pole is great. I don't have enough space for the autopoles in my studio but I purchased basic light stands as supports with the manfrotto pole and it works great.


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PostPosted: Tue Nov 17, 2009 11:11 am 
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Cost me 140 total for the stands and pole at Vistek.


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PostPosted: Tue Nov 17, 2009 11:13 am 
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My budget is around 200 to 250 before taxes. Need the backdrop to accommodate 9 feet by 10 feet of space.

I saw the Manfrotto ones, and yes they are a bit pricy but if they are heavy duty it's probably worth the price.

Is there a good store that you guys usually shop for this item?


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PostPosted: Tue Nov 17, 2009 11:17 am 
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The Ebay one looks pretty solid. Makes a huge diff with a solid stand. I've got to upgrade my background stands eventually myself.

I bought a strip light from those guys before. Good quick turn around.


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PostPosted: Tue Nov 17, 2009 1:14 pm 
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For stands and supports i find going in to stores is the best way to get exactly what you want as you can test the durability right then and there. Vistek is my store of choice for this stuff. The downtown location on queen street is the one I frequent. Their third floor is the professional equipment ad they have some good sales staff to help you up there.


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PostPosted: Tue Nov 17, 2009 2:31 pm 
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s.poborsa wrote:
For stands and supports i find going in to stores is the best way to get exactly what you want as you can test the durability right then and there. Vistek is my store of choice for this stuff. The downtown location on queen street is the one I frequent. Their third floor is the professional equipment ad they have some good sales staff to help you up there.


+1 on that. I learned my lesson the hard way. That's how I ended up with a wobbly support stands. The ebay description said "heavy duty"... ehhh, not so much. At least the one poopooegg posted is all steel with cast iron parts. Guess you pay for what you get.


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PostPosted: Tue Nov 17, 2009 3:55 pm 
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Carlton wrote:
s.poborsa wrote:
For stands and supports i find going in to stores is the best way to get exactly what you want as you can test the durability right then and there. Vistek is my store of choice for this stuff. The downtown location on queen street is the one I frequent. Their third floor is the professional equipment ad they have some good sales staff to help you up there.


+1 on that. I learned my lesson the hard way. That's how I ended up with a wobbly support stands. The ebay description said "heavy duty"... ehhh, not so much. At least the one poopooegg posted is all steel with cast iron parts. Guess you pay for what you get.


I agree with opinion on heavy duty ebay/amvona, have them and will have to replace them. I would strongly suggest buying brand and model that has been proven to work, this way you may pay more now but will not have to replace them. Some stands may look very solid when you look at them, but after using them you may realize that the craftsmanship just doesn't cut it, hence the suggestion of proven brand/model.


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PostPosted: Tue Nov 17, 2009 5:25 pm 
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s.poborsa wrote:
Cost me 140 total for the stands and pole at Vistek.


If you don't mind me asking which ones did you pick up?


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PostPosted: Wed Nov 18, 2009 12:45 am 
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Some previous discussion on background supports:

http://tpmg.ca/forum/viewtopic.php?t=10632&highlight=


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PostPosted: Wed Nov 18, 2009 3:12 am 
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I used to own the Manfrotto set from Vistek, the premium you pay over the other brands is for the easy of set up and take down. Very easy and quick. I usually can get my studio set up within 30 minutes if I move everything and do everything myself solo.

If you have two people, the background stand sets up within 1 minute. Construction is great. And as Vistek sales will tell you, spare parts are easy to buy if something breaks or gets lost.


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PostPosted: Wed Nov 18, 2009 3:12 am 
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I used to own the Manfrotto set from Vistek, the premium you pay over the other brands is for the easy of set up and take down. Very easy and quick. I usually can get my studio set up within 30 minutes if I move everything and do everything myself solo.

If you have two people, the background stand sets up within 1 minute. Construction is great. And as Vistek sales will tell you, spare parts are easy to buy if something breaks or gets lost.


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PostPosted: Wed Nov 18, 2009 9:42 am 
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thanks everyone for your inputs, it looks like either the manfrotto set or the one on ebay now.


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PostPosted: Wed Nov 18, 2009 1:15 pm 
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Just so everyone knows what i got:
2x - http://www.vistek.ca/store/ProPhotoLigh ... -10ft.aspx

plus

1x - http://www.vistek.ca/store/ProPhotoLigh ... tions.aspx

this set is the exact same as buying the all manfrotto one but at half the cost. i also talked them down in price as i bought a set of D-lites... :P and im good at bargaining :P

recomendation of sales associate at toronto queen street vistek is Henry in the pro area. always gives me the best deal.


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PostPosted: Wed Nov 18, 2009 1:42 pm 
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s.poborsa wrote:
Just so everyone knows what i got:
2x - http://www.vistek.ca/store/ProPhotoLigh ... -10ft.aspx


That stand only has a max support weight of 6.6lbs. Don't you find it a bit unstable when you load it up with a roll of 9' seamless? I have a couple Impact stands from BH that are rated for about 4kg and when I load up a monolight with a large softbox/beautydish etc I find it kind of flimsy. They're fine with a light load like a speedlight and an umbrella rig. They're also air cushioned so you don't accidentally pinch yourself when closing them down.

I'm looking for a couple inexpensive heavy duty stands to replace my background stands and one additional stand for a monolight. Hence the reason I'm curious about the ones from ebay. :)


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PostPosted: Wed Nov 18, 2009 1:58 pm 
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they are fine with a 9 ft background on them as they generally are nicely tightened up. the manfrotto support pole distribute the weight nicely.

if you really want the best set up you can get the: http://www.vistek.ca/store/ProPhotoLigh ... ft9in.aspx

these will give you more then enough strength and stability but are a bit bigger and harder to assemble/disassemble and pack away.


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PostPosted: Wed Nov 18, 2009 2:48 pm 
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s.poborsa wrote:
they are fine with a 9 ft background on them as they generally are nicely tightened up. the manfrotto support pole distribute the weight nicely.

if you really want the best set up you can get the: http://www.vistek.ca/store/ProPhotoLigh ... ft9in.aspx

these will give you more then enough strength and stability but are a bit bigger and harder to assemble/disassemble and pack away.


Thanks. I may pop into Vistek and give them a look over.


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PostPosted: Wed Nov 18, 2009 4:03 pm 
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Great stands for a great price.


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PostPosted: Wed Nov 18, 2009 11:39 pm 
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s.poborsa wrote:
Great stands for a great price.


I have those ebay stands. They are quite good. The backdrops are good too. The only issue is they are cotton and can get wrinkly.


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PostPosted: Sat Nov 21, 2009 9:57 am 
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s.poborsa wrote:
they are fine with a 9 ft background on them ...


What backgrounds do you folks typically buy? I know there is 5' and 9' variations in a multitude of colours. Which specific ones have you picked up?

I have one of the 32.99 Vistek stands and I like it for strobes and lighter stuff - they are not air cushioned though. I know someone with the heavier duty Vistek 13' stands (69.99) and it looks to be very sturdy.


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PostPosted: Sun Nov 22, 2009 12:34 am 
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Jamesy wrote:
What backgrounds do you folks typically buy? I know there is 5' and 9' variations in a multitude of colours. Which specific ones have you picked up?


For portraits, the 5' ones are great. For full body, I use the 9' ones. I've got white, black and graphite gray. Gray is the most versatile colour. You can colour it with gels, distance yourself and lighting and it becomes black etc.


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PostPosted: Mon Dec 28, 2009 12:57 pm 
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How does manfrotto 272 crossbar attach to light stand?
272 is on sale at Henry's now.. and I already have 2 light stands..
just wondering what other hardware do I need attach stand and crossbar together? any close up pics?

thanks.


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PostPosted: Mon Dec 28, 2009 1:18 pm 
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Not sure how the 272 attaches to a lightstand but if it's got slotted holes on either end, then they sit on the spigots at the end of your lightstands. If your spigots are too short to extend right through the hole of the crossbar, then you will need to buy spigot extensions.


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PostPosted: Mon Dec 28, 2009 9:25 pm 
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Hi All,

I just picked up this one from Henry's....

http://www.henrys.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ItemsDisplay?storeId=10001&catalogId=10001&departmentId=11051&categoryId=11003&itemID=82150

they seem very sturdy.

does anyone have any experience with this set?


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PostPosted: Mon Dec 28, 2009 10:11 pm 
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Carlton wrote:
Not sure how the 272 attaches to a lightstand but if it's got slotted holes on either end, then they sit on the spigots at the end of your lightstands. If your spigots are too short to extend right through the hole of the crossbar, then you will need to buy spigot extensions.

Carlton, you are correct - the 272B horizontal bar sits on the spigots and screws tight onto them. It is a three section micro adjustable extention pole that goes from roughly 3' to 10'.


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PostPosted: Tue Dec 29, 2009 12:10 am 
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stavy wrote:


A couple of months ago I picked up this:

http://www.henrys.com/webapp/wcs/stores ... emID=82152

From a fellow TPMG member. Based off the product image the stands look the same, although that says 3 section and the one I have is 4 section. They've been great for me.


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PostPosted: Mon Apr 09, 2012 10:41 am 
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Sorry to revive an old thread but I am currently looking into this myself and I am wondering if anyone has seen any good deals of late in backgrounds sets. I'm setting up my own little home studio, lighting is all set really although I mistakenly got a giant softbox rather than a medium sized one :-) As such I'm in the market for a background set next and would appreciate the advice. Thanks!


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PostPosted: Mon Apr 09, 2012 11:03 am 
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I have a Manfrotto bkgnd kit which is a bit pricey but there are numerous inexpensive eBay options too. You could always consider the 5x7' collapsible backgrounds that they sell at B&H - they come in grey, white, black, etc... They are highly versatile and quicker than the full on background kits, although a bkgnd kit can do larger areas.


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PostPosted: Mon Apr 09, 2012 11:18 am 
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What kind of space and budget do you have?


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PostPosted: Mon Apr 09, 2012 11:21 am 
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Space wise I've got a size able living room I've been using with the lights along with my basement man cave downstairs which I occasionally utilize (5m *7m). In terms of budget I can spend up to about $300.


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