Collapsible background recommendation needed

Cistron

Cistron

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Mike
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Hi guys,

I need a background for webinars. Can anyone recommend me a white collapsible background (maybe with black on the flipside)?

No creases is good
Cheap is good

:)

Thanks!
Mike
 
Lastolite hi-lite, white on one side, black on the other, huge sizes and folds down nicely though the larger size is a bit fiddly
 
Thanks for the suggestion.

Has anyone tested anything cheaper? I have this feeling that they are probably all produced in the same Chinese factory and the lastolite stamp just doubles the price.
 
Cistron said:
Thanks for the suggestion.

Has anyone tested anything cheaper? I have this feeling that they are probably all produced in the same Chinese factory and the lastolite stamp just doubles the price.
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Lastolite collapsible backgrounds are manufactured here in the UK, I can assure you of that. :)
 
ive tried some from Amazon which were cheap and they were junk.

buy nice or buy twice :)
 
Hilite's a good choice if you're going to make use of the internal illumination but it's an expensive heavy choice if not and the black side gets marks you can't remove due to the material it's made from.

If cost were the only factor I'd probably just buy something like a Photosel (or whichever brand is on there) as it'll do the job and it's cheap, I've used their black/white with grey train and it worked just fine.
 
Cistron said:
Has anyone tested anything cheaper? I have this feeling that they are probably all produced in the same Chinese factory and the lastolite stamp just doubles the price.
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No they're definitely nicer than many of the Chinese no brands but whether that equates to a real advantage for you I couldn't say.

I'd also have a look at Viewfinder backdrops, they have some non-crease models which sound like the sort of thing you're looking for. Fair warning though I've not used anything recent of theirs so can't say how good they are but in my experience they tend to be on the better end of the Chinese produced stuff.
 
These webinars will be free and not pay for themselves, hence wanting a cheap solution?

I'm using lastolite, great gear. Quality and guaranteed for 3 years.
 
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JennyGW said:
These webinars will be free and not pay for themselves, hence wanting a cheap solution?

I'm using lastolite, great gear. Quality and guaranteed for 3 years.
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Eventually they would play in money, but as with every start-up, you got to control your cash. So I'm not trying to splurge whenever possible.

The Lastolite is a great example of bad marketing. I have no idea what I'm spending my extra money for. These five points (below) don't cut it for me:

Product Features
FC_BLL_010.jpg

Reversible
A different surface on each side giving you more creative options.
FC_BLL_020.png

Lifetime Rim Guarantee
If the rim breaks or comes apart the item will be fixed free of charge.
FC_BLL_030.jpg

Triple Re-Enforced Stitch Line
Over 30 stitches per inch ensures steel rims won't be popping out of the rim tape.
FC_BLL_060.png

Collapses To One Third Of Original Size
In seconds the item closes down to a convenient size for portability and storage.
FC_BLL_630.png

Can be set up in portrait or landscape
Provides ultimate flexibility in setup.
ftr_00596.png

Bag included
For easier storage and transport.
Click to expand...

Thanks for all the input. I'll have to mull this over.
 
material is stretchy so you wont end up with creases after a few months of use. the stitching is tripple lined so the thing wont fall apart on you.

I have tried cheap ones and they fall to bits, as I said buy nice or buy twice :)
 
Cistron said:
Eventually they would play in money, but as with every start-up, you got to control your cash. So I'm not trying to splurge whenever possible.

The Lastolite is a great example of bad marketing. I have no idea what I'm spending my extra money for. These five points (below) don't cut it for me:



Thanks for all the input. I'll have to mull this over.
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If this helps...

These are merely selling features of the collapsible backgrounds - but I can also tell you that these are manufactured here in the UK, go through rigorous and continuous quality control testing for optimum performance, products carry a 2 year manufacturing warranty as well.

Reversible - the product is reversible, so you're essentially getting two backgrounds in one product. ie black / white, black / grey, white / grey etc etc etc...
Lifetime Rim Guarantee - the steel rims which make the product collapsible carry a lifetime guarantee - should they come apart, your product will be either repaired or replaced.
Triple Re-Enforced Stitch Line - Rather than single or even double stitch lines, rim tape which essentially is the glue between the steel and the fabric has been triple stitched for durability
Collapses to one third of it's original size - speaks for itself really - more for portability and storage
Can be set up in portrait or Landscape - again, speaks for itself
Bag included - includes a bag.
 
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Cistron said:
Eventually they would play in money, but as with every start-up, you got to control your cash. So I'm not trying to splurge whenever possible.

The Lastolite is a great example of bad marketing. I have no idea what I'm spending my extra money for. These five points (below) don't cut it for me:
Click to expand...

Their marketing can't be too bad, they just got a lot of votes here. I'd be more concerned about their product :)
 
Cistron said:
Eventually they would play in money, but as with every start-up, you got to control your cash. So I'm not trying to splurge whenever possible.

The Lastolite is a great example of bad marketing. I have no idea what I'm spending my extra money for. These five points (below) don't cut it for me:



Thanks for all the input. I'll have to mull this over.
Click to expand...

Bad maketing?

I'm not sure what else you'd want from a background to be honest... :eek:
 
UaeExile said:
Bad maketing?

I'm not sure what else you'd want from a background to be honest... :eek:
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Yupp. Bad marketing is when the customer has to go hunting for all the great things there are to tell about the product.

For this price, I want it to be an excellent product and I want lots of proof that this is the case. A price of £150 is venturing into grip-stand + vinyl territory.
 
Cistron said:
Yupp. Bad marketing is when the customer has to go hunting for all the great things there are to tell about the product.

For this price, I want it to be an excellent product and I want lots of proof that this is the case. A price of £150 is venturing into grip-stand + vinyl territory.
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Surely that's a different horse for a different course?

From those that have used it, it is an excellent product.
 
If you want cheap buy cheap, you've asked what people use and they've told you :)

I have a cheaper photosel white and black collapsable backdrop, it doesn't pull tight unless it is hung from something like a backdrop support.
I also have a lastolite urban pop up background that cost twice as much as the quality shows.

If I was buying to a cheapish budget I'd go with the photosel, it does what I wanted it to do at a price I was willing to pay.
 
Sir SR said:
Surely that's a different horse for a different course?

From those that have used it, it is an excellent product.
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For end result it does the exact same thing. It's not as practical though - in particularly storage. I will need a stand to hold the collapsible background anyway.

You probably all think I'm bonkers (and/or rude), but I like valuing at all options. However, besides a few forum posts (and some contradict what I heard here) there are barely any reviews out there. Just a bazillion of videos that show how to fold them.
 
I used to have an old lastolite canvas, you had to steam the creases out. They really have improved considerably over the last 20 years or so. The modern pop up ones are very good quality.
 
Cistron said:
You probably all think I'm bonkers (and/or rude), but I like valuing at all options. However, besides a few forum posts (and some contradict what I heard here) there are barely any reviews out there. Just a bazillion of videos that show how to fold them.
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It's not a sexy bit of kit and studio gear is often for a niche market. Plus there's generally two groups of users, the amateurs who don't use it very much and don't have a solid basis for comparison and the pros who just want to get on with the job, neither being a great source of reviews.
 
We were running an event last night with a Lastolite Hi Lite.

Put quite simply, it goes through the mill and comes out again ready to go for the next time. The lit interior avoids the need to worry about marks too much as they are blown on the photo by the illumination, although you do need to account for the cost of the extra lighting. Folds up to virtually nothing, (well a flat bag around a meter across) - a big plus for transportation and storage.

Some people find the fold difficult and yes it can be a right b@llache at the end of a long night if you get it wrong, but the more you use it the easier it becomes, like most things.

Other backgrounds are easy to damage and require more space and are suited to a permanent studio. An infinity curve would be great but not practicable for us.

So the Lastolite would take top marks for portability and ease of set up in seconds. Just shake it out and put in the four rigidity rods and away you go.

It would be my recommendation (from an active user) and would go for the same again if it got lost or damaged.

As has been said....'you pays your money and takes ya' choice', but you do get what you pay for. End of.
 
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Well it seems: buy nice and still don't get nice.

Received delivery of a Lastolite 1.5x1.8m black/white collapsible background about an hour ago.

1) It is full of creases, which shows particularly on the white side.

2) The ring-tension seems low, which means that even when suspended from a bar it won't stay level. This might also be the cause of 1)

3) The fabric is actually translucent ... I'm not sure whether this will pose an issue, but it doesn't exude 'quality'.

4) I can see the ribbons/handles becoming a problem the way they are attached to the fabric. Also 'triple reinforced' seems to equate to 'two seams and something else'.
 
I'm unsure. I've written to Lastolite and waiting for a reply. The message was logged in their system.
 
They happily ignore my questions, so I will probably send this back next week.

Unless someone else has first-hand information on how to deal with the creases - save for buying a steamer.
 
These are cheap. There are a few sizes too. Ok made, and yes a reflector so the white is a shiny material, not fabric, but for under £30....
 
I would (did) just get a cheap 5 or 7 in 1 reflector from eBay or similar. Gives you the option of a basic green screen as well, should you want that in future.

You can get 2 or 2.5 metre ones for a few quid, as Lawrie points out above.

It's a few pieces of fabric, a bit of metal and a couple of zips...
 
Thanks. I'll look into it. Had to return the Lastolite anyways. They eventually replied (on Twitter only), but only addressed part of my question. So ... sod them.
 
Hi Mike,

Sorry to post on your thread.

James, Lawrie,

Thank you for your suggestions on the reflector. I am thinking of getting one of those large reflectors to use as a background, I will also need a light stand but what do you use to hold the reflectors up?

Also where can I get the 2 or 2.5 meter ones, had a quick look on ebay and amazon but the largest I found was 150 x 200cm.

Thank you

Kev
 
sep9001 said:
James, Lawrie,

Thank you for your suggestions on the reflector. I am thinking of getting one of those large reflectors to use as a background, I will also need a light stand but what do you use to hold the reflectors up?

Also where can I get the 2 or 2.5 meter ones, had a quick look on ebay and amazon but the largest I found was 150 x 200cm.
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200cm = 2 metres... I have seen some 2.5 ones around as well, forget where, probably Ebay.

I have a mate who runs a business selling grip kit though, so I just get stuff through him / borrow / steal it off him when I need it. I'm in Australia, so would likely be looking in different places to you anyway.

Couple of light stands and super clamps, or some bulldog clips on the end of a magic arm / those bendy arms, do the job for positioning it.
 
Thanks. Will have another look on ebay.
 
Cistron said:
Thanks. I'll look into it. Had to return the Lastolite anyways. They eventually replied (on Twitter only), but only addressed part of my question. So ... sod them.
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Hi

Have you bought anything? If you have please can you post what you bought and your thoughts on it.

Thanks
 
Nope. I have resorted to my trusty wall for now. That meant I had to reshuffle some of my flat, but no creases there.

Btw. about 2 weeks later Lastolite got back to me and offered a return. No word on how to deal with the creasing though. Told them that I'm sorry they have to work for an employer that can't foresee holiday staff shortages -- they had to deal with a 2 week backlog in support tickets. Either way I had already returned the background to Amazon.
 
Thanks for the reply. Following on from another reply Phil V put on another thread I might just stick to using the wall for now as well.
 
sep9001 said:
Thanks for the reply. Following on from another reply Phil V put on another thread I might just stick to using the wall for now as well.
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I think it's a dilemma for the producer: put enough tension onto the cloth and it might just be crease-free, but that would probably drive up the production cost and customers won't be able to fold the damn thing.

My uncle uses a Walimex version (~€70), which only has a few minor creases along the rim. It has more of a plasticised surface. However, as he _never_ folds his -- it just leans against the wall permanently for his webcam setup --, I cannot tell how it would hold up.
 
Thanks for the link and replies. I will leave it for now and see if I can get away with just using a wall.
 
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