Background Supports

[cargo]

Just after a bit of advice on background supports (the cheap type) on the ususal site they sell for around £30
I only snap for fun and normally use velour on wall for backgrounds which as been fine for my level of photograghy. That said my Niece is having a baby shortly and I would like to take some cute baby images. Most people seem to use a small background system they look very much like my spedlight light stands. I was wondering if in fact you can use them to hold speedlights (if I attach the bracket to the top) when not using as background supports ? Does anyone else do this ?


Gaz

 

[simonbarker]

Yes they're fine for light weight support, just don't expect miracles from them.

 

[cargo]

Yes they're fine for light weight support, just don't expect miracles from them.

Thanks Simon.
Do you happen to know wether I could use them as light stands for my speedlights when not using them as background supports ?

Gaz

 

[Phil V]

Thanks Simon.
Do you happen to know wether I could use them as light stands for my speedlights when not using them as background supports ?

Gaz

As always with light stands, it's the modifiers that make the difference. Those stands are plenty good enough for a speedlight, but a speedlight in an 80cm softbox? maybe not. A speedlight and a 47" umbrella in the wind? definitely not.

 

[simonbarker]

What Phil says is pretty much spot on, the only thing I'd add is even a cheap stand will happily support a fair weight at minimum extension but they can be downright dangerous at max extension as they can't handle a lot of weight and will bend all over the shop due to cheap materials and poor design (if the places pumping these out were sensible they'd actually remove one of the risers and they'd probably be fit for purpose then).

So yes is the short answer but only in very undemanding situations. It's also probably worth mentioning you can spend a little bit more and get a more robust backdrop support, search the forum as someone's recommended them repeatedly in the past.

 

[cargo]

Thanks guys.
Very much appreciated.

Gaz