Monostand and horizontal camera mounts for studio?

[sarah_gracew]

I am an Architecture student working in the IT office of the architecture building at my university and was just put in charge by my boss to help figure out what/where to buy photography equipment for our new photo studio to shoot our project models. We're pretty sure we want one of the 8' monostands along with a horizontal arm attachment for overhead shots. My question is where is the best place to buy these from? We are on a budget also, so may not be able to get the top of the line ones.


Thank you!

 

[tirediron]

Where are you and what is your budget?

 

[gsgary]

Ive got this one Heavyweight Boom-arm - General Purpose Lighting Stands - Lencarta

 

[sarah_gracew]

Central Alabama and he hasn't given me a number yet. But he cringed a little at the price of the Manfroto stands.

 

[KmH]

There really is no getting around the fact a quality camera stand is going to run you $1000 or more. It is hard to beat Amazon's prices and you can often get good used gear. But the one place that has it all is the best photography store on the planet - B&H Photo Video in NYC - www.bhphotovideo.com
For 35 mm amd medium format - Manfrotto 806 Mini Salon 190 Camera Stand with Counter-Balanced Cross Arm (Black)

Manfrotto is medium quality gear.

Quality camera stands, like Linhof or Foba, start at $5000 and go up from there.

 

[gsgary]

Central Alabama and he hasn't given me a number yet. But he cringed a little at the price of the Manfroto stands.

Photography is not cheap

 

[sovietdoc]

Central Alabama and he hasn't given me a number yet. But he cringed a little at the price of the Manfroto stands.

Photography is not cheap

Unfortunately.

 

[table1349]

Shoot your boss the price on this one. It meets all of your needs and see what he says. Goes to nine and a half feet tall.

Foba DSS-Omega Stand F-AROBO B&H Photo Video


Come back and tell us how you like the replacement boss, while this one is in therapy. Like it has already been said, photography isn't cheap.

 

[Helen B]

I use a Manfrotto Super Salon - ie a modestly priced studio stand (in comparison to others), with either a Bencher/Majestic or a Sinar head. It's very easy to use - you can position large and heavy cameras easily and precisely, and it does make overhead shots easy (especially if you use live view with a tethered camera). I do see them for sale used occasionally, usually quite cheap but 'buyer collects'.

How much height, how long an arm and how heavy a camera do you require? How big are the models? If you can't find a decent studio stand within your budget, could you fabricate a gantry from stuff you already have - like zip-up scaffold - and get an old Majestic tripod to use the head and geared center column?

 

[table1349]

Finding one that goes to 8' or above tends to make it more expensive. I agree with Helen though, you might look around for used. That is how I acquired mine. I do not even know who the manufacture was, the thing is that old. It only goes to 6 or so' but that works for my needs and was only a couple hundred dollars.

 

[sarah_gracew]

Thank you all for your help! That definitely helps give a little direction while we're shopping.