Gaffer & Gear 122 - Avenger C-Stands

Gaffer & Gear 122 - Avenger C-Stands
The pros and cons of Avenger C-Stands, from someone who owns them.
INDEX
00:00 Intro
01:36 Negatives
01:36 Adjustable leg lock-off
02:24 Broken grip head pins
03:24 Legs separate if assembled wrong.
04:51 Build quality (pros)
04:51 Pipe gauge
05:06 Stainless steel
05:24 Lock offs
05:35 Play in the pipes under load
06:26 Things to look out for 2nd hand
07:14 Adjustable legs
07:32 Cleaning
07:46 Detachable base
08:57 The feet
09:12 20” version

[@conrad2nr]

That tip about adding a c-stand upright to a junior receiver for added height is gold!

Totally ! Now there is a way to hit that 6 or 8 meters mark without having to carry a 2 m length folded stand that is impossible to carry in a small car ! But always remember safety rules and use common sense : bags bags bags and even slash cord to keep the tip up steady. Andrew is fantastic.

[@IngoWoelke]

I would love to see a video on your van. Or rather on the issue of loading a car, especially with C-stands.

[@adrinaik93]

A year ago I was looking for purchasing my first C-stand, and after getting a couple cheap ones on Amazon, I cancelled the order and bought one Avenger. Super happy so far with it!, nice, sturdy and shiny.

[@GCGFilmsYT]

Thanks again! This is exactly the kind of info us self-taught folks have trouble finding on KZbin. You’re filling a much needed gap.

[@gonzalogayoso5555]

just bought two mathews black c-stands, but I think advices from this video are very useful for everyone who has c-stands

[@roryonabike5863]

The ultimate KZbin "long term review" :)

[@MoD_Master_Of_Disaster_]

This has to be THE best video on c stands one could come accross on yt

[@richardboniface1176]

If you buy older 2nd hand C-stands you should refer to G & G episode 17. If you take Andrew's advice to polish the stand with steel wool (not a steel scourer) & WD40 you can get tarnished gobos & knuckles back to a much newer looking shiny state. Also his advice on how to clean threads will get your T handles moving much more smoothly. It took me some time & effort but the stands I bought look 10 years younger.

[@Charles-Elie]

I think they're the best piece of gear I own by far hands down. Bonus points for the turtle base that acts as a very low stand for a light with a junior pin to baby pin adapter! Another great review, I learned a few things that might come handy in a few years for maintenance. Thanks!

[@ruslanyanko7991]

Cool videos. Whenever I get an intern I'll make him watch all of your videos twice before he/she touches any of our equipment.

[@reynoldsc]

Again people......this is what the internet was invented for!! If it wasn't bad enough my girlfriend asking why i was watching a video about a 'wind-up stand' a month ago.......now this. All being said i bet that i learn something i didn't know before as Andrew knows 'his onions' 👍🏻👍🏻

[@andreyandreev7048]

Here in US of A, I made a research before making a purchase. Everybody in the industry said to go with Avengers, cause they last forever. Considering I already own Manfrotto photo tripod for over 15 years, choice was obvious. I love my Avengers C stands! They are actually the priciest on American market.

[@Hadrorex]

I will second that! I liken the Avengers C-stands more for location use because they weigh more than my Matthews stands. I want that extra weight insurance. I also keep 4 Avengers in my truck along with 12 25-pound shot-bags always. I use then for camping. My Matthews C-stands are mostly used in the studio. I have over a dozen of each. I also have about a dozen roller stands too. My oldest Matthews is about 35 years old, my newest about 15. My oldest Avenger is about 30 years and my newest is about 5 years. Never had ANY wear out or broken in all those years. I've a couple of Avenger roller Junior Hi-Boys to get me up to 30 feet. Both over 25 years old. Matthews and Avenger/Bogen/Manfrotto are the only ones I buy. Not interested in the lousy Chinese junk.

[@dmnfilms6040]

Avengers or Matthews?

[@Hadrorex]

@@dmnfilms6040 Either! You can't lose. Your lighting gear is only as good as the grip gear holding them up. I'm not gonna risk a 2000-dollar ARRI or Elinchrom light on anything less than a well-bagged Matthews or Avenger stand. Not happening! Just you wait until you get your hands on rollers. Check out a really nice Savage folding roller base that'll take two Junior risers. Savage also has a double riser that expands 5-feet wide. Brilliant! I have two on order!!

[@RayValdezPhotography]

@@Hadrorex i noticed matthews doesnt have the same base design. its seems to be one piece so maybe it lasts longer.

[@666size666]

Next video should be "Methods of straightening long arms." My favorite? Back of the liftgate.

[@gabriel-mckee]

great video; thanks for sharing!

[@D_L_J_83]

I didn't know they were more affordable than the American stands! I just preferred the feeling of them compared to Matthews but they're more exxy now I believe. Can't wait for your review on the Kupo combo stands!

[@tombuck]

Very few things can rival the versatility of a good c stand. 👍

[@lunavisionnorway]

Love your videos!

[@cobralyoner]

great idea to shorten the legs on small C-Stands!

[@Vortex124875]

thanks a lot for your good videos!

[@timphoto83ec]

Brilliant info. Thanks.

[@osoriony]

Great review.

[@tinderbox218]

Workhorse of the set. I've always been a Matthews guy, but I'd be happy with Avengers too, basically the same thing.

[@FolkeFox]

I got the cheapo NEEWER ones cause I'm broke and just starting out, will report back to see how they hold up

[@nickminderman7380]

ME: I just spent 225 on a Kupo 50c and he just pushed that thing over on the ground, EEEEK Gaffer: I'm a Gaffer these are pocket change LOL. Love all of your videos!

[@rayt_visual]

That was great. I didn’t realize the parts were cheap for replacements on Avengers CStands. I own 3 Matthews ones myself for 10years. But I’ll give Avengers my cash the next time. :) as a Cinematographer I don’t need a lot of my own. But still neat.

[@RayValdezPhotography]

did your matthews every wear out??

[@rayt_visual]

@@RayValdezPhotography Not yet. My Matthews CStands are still in great condition. And I've even used the CStands in a bit of rain. But then my Grips would wipe them dry to lessen any water damage. So still performing well. :)

[@108u9]

Have to agree about the way the stands open up. I am a bit “directionally challenged” and was often confused setting it up in a hurry. Didn’t realise that they fall over so much easier when setup incorrectly though 😨 Would like to see a comparison to the newer Kupo c-stands. Maybe a long term review sometime into the future too to see how they’ve held up. A Kupo tilting bracket I had didn’t last long from light use. The tightening handle just gave up

[@gaffergear]

I'm the next week I should get the Kupo stands reviewed

[@michelec.3708]

Thank you for another super helpful video. Sorry to ask you, at 8:33 when you mention about not using the the detacheable c-stand pole upside down as a "dropper", because it is not safe - how about using it horizontally as a boom arm in combination with a pivot clamp (Manfrotto 123) and counter balance? Would you say that is safe or should I avoid ? I thought about it because Avenger make a similar looking design boom ( Avenger mini boom d600 ). Thank you

[@jnsdebraekeleer]

If money wasn't a concern, would you still go for Avenger or rather Matthew's C-stands? How do these two brands compare?

[@flashdaz05]

A few small design differences, but definitely no real discernible differences in build quality. For example, the Matthew’s grip heads have slight teethed/rippled faces to provide ‘more lock down’. The Avenger knuckles have a rubberised handle making it nicer to hold and use. The Avenger grip head also has more receiving holes/options, to accomodate whatever different things you might put into a gobo arm. The Matthew’s in comparison on has 2. It’s not like the Italian made Avenger stuff are ‘rip offs’ of the Matthew’s product. Like how some new Asian made products are. Matthew’s may be the ‘industry standard’ in America, but you’ll probably find more Avenger stands used around the world (Europe obviously). It’s certainly the case here in Australia- most rental houses I’ve dealt with use Avenger products as standard.

[@traviswhite8461]

American Grip > Matthews > Norms > avengers > crap

[@CaravanCamera]

@@traviswhite8461 this is the true standard!

[@cagatota]

I always choose Avenger over other brands, the only two thing a they don’t have or do better from my perspective are matthellinis and the Max Menace arm.

[@Hadrorex]

When I first started shooting portraits money was mighty tight. Even then I bought only the best, Avenger and Matthews. Folks will spend a ton of money on a strobe and entrust a 10 dollar stand to hold it in place. I have over a dozen very expensive studio strobes. Cameras, lenses and lights come and go, but my grip gear always stays. Either one will do you good.

[@EugeneMaynard]

🙏🏾

[@RonK]

very informative, thanks a lot. Wonder what to prefer - the adjustable leg or the detachable stand?

[@gaffergear]

I prefer adjustable, but I have 5 detachable as they fit in a car easier for rental clients

[@dnnyktzn7247]

Thank you for this video. Based on this and other videos I decided to go for some Avenger stands. However now that I've received one I'm doubting if I made the right choice. I ordered one with a detachable base and one with a static base. Would you advice on getting all with a detachable base? And is the detachable base actually the same one as the sliding leg one?

[@gaffergear]

Overall I like sliding leg. I do have 4 detachable legs but that's so I can use the base as a low stand for large lights

[@dnnyktzn7247]

@@gaffergear Thank you for getting back to me. I figured there's a difference between the sliding leg versions and the turtle base. However the one I received now is neither of those two. The base is just attached, and it has no sliding leg. Which seems to me I'm missing either of those advantages. I think I'll send it back and get a turtle base version instead.

[@gaffergear]

@@dnnyktzn7247 oh! I don't own any of those, I can't see the point in them. Sounds to me like you might like the new Kupo C-Stand. It's a clever world first. A detachable base with a sliding leg.

[@xxphactor]

First! LOL I don't like their boom arms...no teeth for a secure grip. I have no complaints about their C-stands.

[@rodrigo8269]

can you make a tutorial on how to clean and do maintenance on stands and camera tripods? Thanks!

[@gaffergear]

Have done an episode on stands

[@dominikwysokinski4554]

Hi. Someone could give a link for that replacement part? I can't find it

[@MotherFailure]

Hey Andrew! What's the oldest piece of gear that you still use (aside from that Avenger C-Stand)?

[@gaffergear]

A 12x12 black that I had made when I was 19. I'm now 47

[@nielsvanderkraan9530]

Hi Andrew, I own a couple of Avenger C stands. On some of them the base is very stiff, opening the first leg can be quite hard. I thought about trying to lubricate with grease. Do you have any thoughts on this? Cheers!

[@gaffergear]

At the bottom of the stand their is a nut that can adjust tension if lube doesn't work, but I would try a sqirt of WD40 first.

[@nielsvanderkraan9530]

@@gaffergear Will try that, thanks!

[@conrad2nr]

How do they compare to the Kupo?

[@CultureTripGuide-HilmarHWerner]

which c-stand-brand would you take if you want to get lights as close as possible to a wall or into a corner? I suppose a type where the legs don't lock, so you can have either two times 90 degrees or 45 between the legs...? thanx in advance for your response!

[@gaffergear]

Exactly, but shot bag it well.

[@CultureTripGuide-HilmarHWerner]

@@gaffergear the c-stand from savage is also an interesting alternative: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qqrce5yclLWKhas , or not?

[@vipvideo4532]

What do you think about the KUPO C-Stands?

[@Hadrorex]

Junk. Don't waste your money.

[@CaptainBontoft]

Hi mate, Love the channel. Sydney based cinematographer here. Just wondering where you get the replacement parts for the adjustable leg lock-off. I have a few that need a birthday!

[@gaffergear]

Technical Art Solutions. (TecArt) Give them a call or email as the parts are not listed on their website

[@CaptainBontoft]

@@gaffergear thanks mate! Appreciate the know-how!

[@avdcam]

Any matthew's opinions?