Product table

[Leviathan40]

Im going to be building a product table and would like some input on what people features people would like to see in the ideal product table.
Im going to be building it in box section steel, i want it to be fold-able so it take up less space, the main base where the items sits to be recessed so i can insert glass, coloured plexi or a solid material.
Maybe arms either side and underneath to hold flash heads, any other suggestions would be welcome.

 

[Garry Edwards]

I don't want to rain on your parade but...
This is nothing new. I've been into several factories in China where they make shooting tables with all these features, but they don't sell.
And my guess is that the reason why they don't sell is that the people who use shooting tables don't want or need these features. All that's actually needed is a boom arm for very precise positioning of an overhead light and various light stands of different sizes to position lights in different places.
Where glass is used, it's used on stilts to create distance, and the stilts are usually 4 piles of books.
Gels are simply laid in place, as are Colormatt or Colorgloss backgrounds.

 

[HoppyUK]

The unique thing about a product table is you can light it from underneath - the only way to get a pure white background in-camera, or a nice graduate. I used one all the time when shooting film, and I have one now sitting in the garage somewhere.

The smaller/Chinese ones are cheap to buy, but I never use it. Never say never, but I use photoshop instead - easier and better IMHO.

My product table is, erm, a table. I've chopped the legs so I can adjust the height easily, and that's a very handy mod. But TBH I wouldn't thank you for a thumping great thing made from box-steel.

 

[simonbarker]

One that's over 100cm wide and doesn't cost the earth would make a nice change.

 

[Leviathan40]

Thanks for the replies, im going to be making it for myself, just wanted to get peoples input on what would improve on the ones that they have used thats all.