Topic: Uncle! Mic stand

[twoodruff]

I have a clunker old one that takes up like 3 rows, it seems, I want something that will go 7-8 feet and not fall if I put two sets of mics on it. The challenge is to tell me which one that is, ready go!

[achalsey]

I assume you're looking for better than budget types, so I'd say the standard Manfrotto, 3 section, air cushioned, run of the mill stand might be a decent place to start. 

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/609051-REG/Manfrotto_1005BAC_1005BAC_Alu_Ranker_Light.html

I've got the budget Impact brand knockoff and it works great.  The most I've held on mine at one time is (all active) 2 sets AKG, two sets of Schoeps, a pair of neumanns and a pair of busmans.

http://i.imgur.com/vi8BSWL.jpg 

[F.O.Bean]

Trey, what about the Calumet MF6045 you traded me? It doesn't have a huge footprint

[pdxdanmusic]

I like a savage.
Here is a ten foot
http://www.adorama.com/SALSB10AC.html
and the 13 foot
http://www.adorama.com/SALSB13AC.html

[adrianf74]

I currently run the exact SLS-10A stand as pictured here - it cost me about $10 less in Toronto, Canada.  It's a medium duty light stand and flies up to 10'.  I find once I hit about 8', I start to get some very slight wavering at the top if there's a significant wind:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/253067-REG/Impact_LS10AB_Air_Cushioned_Light_Stand.html

I'm personally contemplating picking up the following heavy duty light stand for the next festy season (even though it costs close to $30 more here than at B&H):

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/253066-REG/Impact_LS_13HB_Heavy_Duty_Light_Stand.html

Those would be my votes.

[twoodruff]

I assume you're looking for better than budget types, so I'd say the standard Manfrotto, 3 section, air cushioned, run of the mill stand might be a decent place to start. 

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/609051-REG/Manfrotto_1005BAC_1005BAC_Alu_Ranker_Light.html

I've got the budget Impact brand knockoff and it works great.  The most I've held on mine at one time is (all active) 2 sets AKG, two sets of Schoeps, a pair of neumanns and a pair of busmans.

http://i.imgur.com/vi8BSWL.jpg

whats the footprint of that manfrotto?

[achalsey]

I assume you're looking for better than budget types, so I'd say the standard Manfrotto, 3 section, air cushioned, run of the mill stand might be a decent place to start. 

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/609051-REG/Manfrotto_1005BAC_1005BAC_Alu_Ranker_Light.html

I've got the budget Impact brand knockoff and it works great.  The most I've held on mine at one time is (all active) 2 sets AKG, two sets of Schoeps, a pair of neumanns and a pair of busmans.

http://i.imgur.com/vi8BSWL.jpg

whats the footprint of that manfrotto?

A little over 3 feet (1.05m according to the specs).

[acidjack]

The Manfrotto stand achalsey suggested, or any of their line, are outstanding.  I also own an Impact knockoff and have owned other knockoffs. The Impact broke, which has also been the case with other knockoff products I've bought such as the Impact tripod base and the knockoff Windtech C-clamp. Of course, at whatever % of the price, maybe replacing the thing once in awhile is OK. Down south I used a Revel light stand that was dirt cheap, over 10ft and worked great with a not-too-bad footprint.

For theater taping I'd consider the Manfrotto tripod base and the Manfrotto 7' arm... it's not that stable, but in a theater, you can tape/lash it to a seat. You can always extend the height more with another extension pole like the Lowell.  I do that when I need a really light footprint.

The Manfrotto I have can hold just nasty amounts of stuff including dual sets of LDs run M/S and Blumlein plus another pair. 

[thunderbolt]

If you're looking for something to use in a theater setting, I really like my 8-foot Lowel Uni-TO stand:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/284734-REG/Lowel_UN_55_Uni_TO_Light_Stand.html

I chopped the legs so that it would fit more easily in a theater aisle, and in doing so I sacrificed probably close to a foot of height, but  it's super compact and goes as high as I usually need it to.  It's a very well-built stand and will last a lifetime or two.

[F.O.Bean]

I have a half and full Lowel poles and they are extremely well made. I would bet the same for their stands

[RemotelyLocated]

I have the 13' Flashpoint, http://www.adorama.com/LTSP12.html

Nicely made and although the description doesn't say so, yes it's air cushioned. At $40 you can afford to butcher it if necessary. As-is, knocked down it's a good 3 ft. long however.

[thunderbolt]

Here's a couple of shots to give you a sense of how compact the Lowel stand is:

[F.O.Bean]

Damn that's nice bro! My 6' FOB stand is 18" long folded up And my main Calumet stand is 31" open and 36" folded up

[2manyrocks]

Boltman, are those collars metal or plastic on your Lowel stand?

[thunderbolt]

The knobs and collars are high-density, very high quality plastic.  Not at all like cheaper stands I have.  At first glance they look like metal.

[2manyrocks]

Much appreciated. 

[RemotelyLocated]

I like how that Lowel flattens out at the bottom and leaves the triangle smaller. Brilliant idea.

[DigiGal]

The knobs and collars are high-density, very high quality plastic.  Not at all like cheaper stands I have.  At first glance they look like metal.

Unless they've changed them recently the clamps on the similar Lowel Omni Stands were made of metal. 

Pictured here is a broken one that I replaced.

[thunderbolt]

Ah, OK, I stand corrected!  It's hard to tell.  Thanks DG.  I love my stand even more now!

[Hypnocracy]

Lowel is a great company for the reason DigiGal points out...unlike the cheap stands on eBay...you CAN get parts should you go gorilla on them

The knobs and collars are high-density, very high quality plastic.  Not at all like cheaper stands I have.  At first glance they look like metal.

Unless they've changed them recently the clamps on the similar Lowel Omni Stands were made of metal. 

Pictured here is a broken one that I replaced.

.

[dointhatrag]

Has anyone had a issue with the yellow colored clamps? They kinda stick out and draw attention. I am looking for a stand like this I can shove down my pants or hide in a coat. But still get 6 feet tall or so.

[thunderbolt]

If you have to go ultra- you might want to get a monopod and strap/gaff tape it into position.

[F.O.Bean]

Has anyone had a issue with the yellow colored clamps? They kinda stick out and draw attention. I am looking for a stand like this I can shove down my pants or hide in a coat. But still get 6 feet tall or so.

I have a M affront to 001B FOB stand that folds TINY!!! you may want to try that

[stevetoney]

Not much to add except don't forget alot of stands have a design the allows the footprint to be smaller than the max footprint when the legs extend out the widest possible.  Both of my stands have a clamp that slides on the center pole.  The lower you slide it the wider the legs span out.  So if I don't have as much space or if want to keep the footprint smaller, I don't slide the center clamp down as far.

[F.O.Bean]

Not much to add except don't forget alot of stands have a design the allows the footprint to be smaller than the max footprint when the legs extend out the widest possible.  Both of my stands have a clamp that slides on the center pole.  The lower you slide it the wider the legs span out.  So if I don't have as much space or if want to keep the footprint smaller, I don't slide the center clamp down as far.

For some reason, I cant picture that? But I havent seen your stand in a couple months