Are all C-Stands created Equal?

[@OrenArieli]

Nicely reviewed. I haven't seen too many head-to-head comparison videos of c-stands, which is ironic considering how crucial they are to film making,

[@bigme75201]

I've had about a dozen old Mole Richardson stands since the mid 90's and I purchased them used so they were at least 10 years old if not 20 years old back then and they are some of the best strength to weight C-stands in my studio. I don't know if they are still being made but if you come across a Mole stand it will serve you well.

[@NOMcreative]

I once worked in a studio where everything including stands and lights was from the 70s. (With the exception of the medium format Hassleblad digital back.) They mostly used Matthews and Bogen if I recall. Good stuff back then.

[@callemdavies8992]

Very helpful, cheers!

[@lorelorediaz]

Thank you for helping me to decide what c-stand to buy!

[@NOMcreative]

Glad I could help!

[@FriedFx]

This was exactly what I was looking for to help me determine which brand to buy. Thanks!!

[@NOMcreative]

Glad I could help!

[@frubo_ssg]

Besides an Avenger I have some Neewer in use which I bought as sets of 3 and my opinion: Great value for the money you pay! Having an turtle base is also very helpful plus.

[@NOMcreative]

All of my stands are turtle bases because I drive a small vehicle, and that extra bit of compactness is a life saver!

[@frubo_ssg]

@@NOMcreative same as me :) Good thing: The Neewer do have a turtle base :) What kind of productions you do?

[@NOMcreative]

It varies. Anything from photobooth at ComicCon, which is actually @tripleclickphoto, to music videos, to corporate commercials, to editorial photography, to family photos. I shoot a ton of weddings but I don't bring c-stands to those.

I got the chinise one and have no trouble... we use 140 octaboxes, some silk. Maybe the "quality" is important when you are gonna be very demanding, but for most of the small photographers and videographers is enough. The prices in the equipment label "pro video or photo" are just insane sometimes. I dont´t regret my buy.

[@NOMcreative]

Glad it works for you!

[@huyked]

Though price changes so much, it would have been nice to know.

[@D_L_J_83]

Not a bad review. You didn't compare were the locking mechanisms of the grip heads, and the arms. Right now all I'm seeing are them just being used as a straight up stand. I personally own Avengers, love the feel however I like how easy it is to really tighten and unlock the Kupo grip heads, and that they always line up - where I always have to manually line up the grip head pieces on the Avengers.

[@NOMcreative]

That's interesting! I'll have to update that for a future video

[@CINEMATIK]

GREAT COMPARISON! thank you for the video.

[@NOMcreative]

Glad I could help! I actually just got a new stand I'll be uploading a video for later this week.

[@D_L_J_83]

Hello! Is the Matthews stand in the video a turtle base or sliding leg? It’s much lighter than the others.

[@NOMcreative]

Great question, but I borrowed a few brands for this video and don't remember since I mostly own Avenger personally. Sorry!

[@its_algasi_1022]

hi NOM , wish you have a good day and thanks for your video , could you please help me wich stand i must have for cooking overhead videos ?, i will you use a godox sl60w light . thanks

[@NOMcreative]

For hanging stuff overhead, you need a good stand, but also a boom arm and some sandbags. I'm sure that light is fine!

[@rickymcc9072]

Thanks, a useful and clear look in subjective detail at a potentially boring, but near essential item. I liked, subscribed, then went on to buy two Manfrotto Avenger C-stands. I'd been considering for some time. On compact stands I'd had prior experience with Manfrotto's and bought several different models. Also used different cheapo Chinese stands (some dreadful, some ok). I was very tempted by Amazon's cheaper Chinese C- stands or branded Chinese Newer models. All looked pretty solid vs my 'travel-friendly' stands. Then I remembered the mantra about 'quality persisting, long after the cost was forgotten' so went and bought a couple of Avengers with removable turtle bases. They are a tad shorter (useful) than some others (eg spring damped Newers) more expensive, but in the context of owning for life, totally worth it. Absolutely no regrets. I will likely buy more in time too. On mass (spec sheets I have read), Avengers seem a similar weight to Matthews and lighter than some Chinese 'no name' examples available le in UK. Anyway, once I reflected that the total cost of an Avenger set was modest vs some of my high-end lenses, then it became a much easy choice.

[@NOMcreative]

I'm so glad I could help! When you're putting the life of your flashes (and potentially models) in the hands of a simple C-Stand, I figured it was worth looking into.

[@josephmiller528]

Great straightforward video. Thank you! Very helpful!

[@ahmedvincent8026]

Pro tip: you can watch movies on instaflixxer. Been using them for watching all kinds of movies lately.

[@nathanielcruz4364]

@Ahmed Vincent yup, been watching on InstaFlixxer for since december myself =)

[@isaacgael2523]

@Ahmed Vincent Yup, I have been using instaflixxer for since december myself :D

[@eds280]

thank you fot the info!!. what model is the avenger you show on this video?

[@NOMcreative]

Search for "Avenger Turtle Base C-Stand (9.8', Black)". I have 3 different model numbers of Avengers stands, based on when they were purchased.

[@eds280]

@@NOMcreative thank you so much!!

[@oleschreiterdopac696]

I personally don’t like the knobs on the avenger stands. To me they feel pretty painful to use next to the matthews stand. But I guess you are talking sturdiness of the matthews I suppose you are using the wrong stand.

[@Lucky-ui7dh]

this helped me so much. ty

[@AndreyXart]

Thanks man !

[@CraigHollabaugh]

Thanks for the video but I couldn't make it beyond 4 mins, background music was too annoying.

[@mymediaberlin]

Thanks👌

[@oktawiangornik1284]

Buy Avenger. It´s the best. I have 8 of them :D

[@NOMcreative]

That's the brand I personally own. ;)

[@maclowry3051]

avenger is trash, buy American

[@donaldvosburgh8337]

Is GVM the Chinese brand?

[@NOMcreative]

No, I actually had to go look it up. The bad stand is Eachshot.

[@donaldvosburgh8337]

@@NOMcreative B&H sells GVM brand. They look very much like Neewer or the "Chinese" knock-off. BUT, GVM is getting pretty good reviews. GVM 330's in particular. They also have GVM 660's, which are massive overkill for stills. Mostly for very heavy stuff. But thanks for replying. I may look into the GVM 330 line.

[@NOMcreative]

@@donaldvosburgh8337 I have some GVM lights and I'm happy with them. All the same are similar designs. Really comes down to construction quality.

[@sh3rlock88]

Do you guys know, Kupo, neewer both are chinese company, too? XD

[@1001Hobbies]

The Neewer is a cheap "Chinese" stand itself. Seems weird to compare it to another cheap Chinese stand.

[@NOMcreative]

I'm talking about a brand I have never heard of, and a week later when I went to check the listing it no longer existed. THIS is what I mean. Like truly knock off.

[@1001Hobbies]

@@NOMcreative - Oh, ok. A "fly-by-night" company is what you meant. Neewer has some products that are certainly worth while, but being a Chinese company they certainly have many short comings. With that in mind I have a couple Neewer adjustable clamps that attach to light stands and hold things like foam board to flag light. I also have a couple small LED lights of theirs (CN-160 & CN-216) that I still hang onto. A Pro Videographer friend of mine has a few Neewer C-stands and he told me they get the job done.

[@fotogfitzfoto412]

As at today, Manfrotto is out of stock of all Avenger C stands. Is that because they are made in China, I wonder?

[@NOMcreative]

Not going to speculate, but I know there is a huge supply shortage on steel, microchips, etc. My stands are made in Italy.

[@RobbieSkaff]

American Grip

[@chris-thereelgenius]

Krupp stands

[@svvancouver3307]

Aren’t they all made in China...especially Neewer

[@NOMcreative]

Pretty sure Matthews and Avenger are made in the US. But regardless of where things are made, some brands have quality standards, some brands don't. I don't even remember the brand of stand I received because I had never heard of it and Google showed no search results. THAT is what I mean by knockoff.

[@frubo_ssg]

@@NOMcreative Avenger is also produced by Manfrotto in Italy - mostly ;)

[@jacoblee2751]

norms or american only

[@MrAndrewClaycomb]

I think Mathews is also totally acceptable to see roll off a grip truck. Seeing any of these other brands would be a huge red flag.

[@Robert-ug5hx]

I belive all of those are china made except the mathews is American made

[@GeneStLouis-vc6gj]

Avenger stands are made in Italy. Kupo is manufactured in China, but the company itself is in Taiwan and produces very high-quality products.