Royce Bair
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Light Weight Stands for Low Level Lighting
🕑 Added 2025-02-01 16:30:49 +0000 UTCThe BESNFOTO C-5188 Carbon Fiber Light Stand, shown above, is the lightest and most compact (when folded) of all the tripod-style stands I have ever used. I LOVE it! I've used it in the field for over two years, and it's held up well under all kinds of abuse. What makes it even more attractive to me is its price: It's almost one-third the cost of the the $200 Manfrotto MS0490C Carbon Fiber Nanopole Stand, which has a very similar design specs and construction (shown below).
The only advantage I see in the Manfrotto Nanopole (above) is the adjustable "leveling leg" you see in the bottom right of the above image. This is useful on uneven terrain. The Manfrotto also has a higher load capacity of 3.3 lb/1.5 kg vs. the Besnfoto's 2.2 lb/1 kg — but I find this capacity more that adequate for lights used in Low Level Lighting (LLL).
My second most-favorite light weight stand is the Besnfoto A-5188 Aluminum Light Stand. This stand looks just like the carbon fiber version, but the center columns are made of aluminum instead of carbon fiber. This only add another 105 grams (less than 0.25 lb) to its weight, but the savings over the carbon fiber version are pretty significant (one-half the price of the carbon)!
5 LIGHT WEIGHT STANDS FOR LLL - listed by weight (lightest to heaviest)
Besnfoto C-5188 Carbon Fiber Light Stand
Price: $78.00
Weight: 1.18 lb / 535 grams
Folded Length: 19.6" / 50cm, 5 sections
Max Height: 94.5" / 7.88 ft / 240cm
Load Capacity: 2.2 lb / 1 kg
PROS: Lightest of all the stands. Tallest of all the stands. Lowest price for a carbon fiber stand, super slim in your hands when folded. Includes a Velcro strap and carabiner clip (for adding weight if necessary).
CONS: Lowest load capacity of the carbon fiber stands, but very adequate for LLL lights
Besnfoto A-5188 Aluminum Light Stand
Price: $42.99
Weight: 1.41 lb / 640 grams
Folded Length: 19.6" / 50cm, 5 sections
Max Height: 86.6" / 7.2 ft / 220cm
Load Capacity: 2.2 lb / 1 kg
PROS: Lowest price of all the light weight stands, super slim in your hands when folded. Includes a Velcro strap and carabiner clip (for adding weight if necessary).
CONS: No carbon fiber componets, but only 105 grams heavier than the carbon fiber version. Lowest load capacity of the stands, but very adequate for LLL lights
Manfrotto MS0490C Carbon Fiber Nanopole Stand
Price: $200.88
Weight: 1.65 lb / 748 grams
Folded Length: 20" / 51cm, 5 sections
Max Height: 77.56" / 6.46 ft / 197cm
Load Capacity: 3.3 lb / 1.5 kg
PROS: Leveling Leg - nice for uneven terrain
CONS: Most expensive of the light weight stands
Neewer ST210R Carbon Fiber Light Stand
Price: $105.99
Weight: 2.0 lb / 907 grams
Folded Length: 20" / 51cm, 5 sections
Max Height: 86.6" / 7.22 ft / 220cm
Load Capacity: 7.7 lb / 3.5 kg
PROS: Highest load capacity, with virtually all carbon fiber construction.
CONS: largest girth when folded (fat in your hands)
Manfrotto 5001B Nano Light Stand
Price: $88.88
Weight: 2.12 lb / 962 grams
Folded Length: 19.3" / 49cm, 5 sections
Max Height: 74.8" / 6.23 ft / 190cm
Load Capacity: 3.3 lb / 1.5 kg
PROS: Solid build, but a somewhat clunky design.
CONS: Heaviest of all the stands due to its thick, all aluminum construction. Shortest of all the stands.
HELPFUL LLL LINKS:
LLL video tutorial - sponsored by PhotoPills
Comments
Jurgen M Lobert
Great product suggestions! If anyone is wondering how to attach the LED lights, I think I found the perfect solution, which is now on all my lights: https://amzn.to/42G6tqQ
