JR1 Loc: Tavistock, Devon, UK

I will add to this when the clamps and brollies arrive but the stands are the main subject.

Over the years I have always thought, wrongly that more expensive was better, and yet my cheap, Tesco high street stores toasters, kettles and microwaves have ALL outlasted Swan, Morphy Richards and the like.

So when I wanted two lighting stands I saw Konig at £10 each or £19 on Amazon with free delivery.

Shying away from the £8 Ebay specials I bought two, what I have I to lose at that price even if they are carp.

Ordered Monday they arrived today, wednesday, First class signed for. The delivery box was slight "overkill" size wise.

Before opening the box I remembered I had an old tent bag I could use to carry them in, imagine my shock when I did open the box to also fins a zipped carry bag with each!

I have planned on these lasting three months with regular use, now I know I am wrong.

As the photographs will show they are, for the price, amazing.

Open they stand at 7', and are in fact amazingly stable at that height, though I would weight the base anyway.

NO rivets here, all BOLTS, so if you need to they cane be repaired. The locks on the height adjustrments are flip locks, I can live with that though I perfer the old type screw ins as in the photo of the leg lock.

I will add more when the accessories arrive but for anyone looking to buy stands for lighting these are an exceedingly good purchase.

berchman Loc: South Central PA

These stands are not available from Amazon U.S.A.

JR1 Loc: Tavistock, Devon, UK

Shame but anyone from the UK can get them

JR1 Loc: Tavistock, Devon, UK

Check these out US

CowboyStudio Set

Notice the similarity

On Amazon US

bobmartin

Been using these for ages.. they do well what they are designed to do and are exceptional value for money..

I am PJ

Hi JR,
Good stuff but it should be in general chit chat not the main discussion.
Take care dude

JR1 Loc: Tavistock, Devon, UK

Thanks for pointing me in the right direction, appreciated

I am PJ

I notice you have a nice Equinox in the photo. What mount is it on?

JR1 Loc: Tavistock, Devon, UK

Ah...

That and the PST are on EQ6 Skywatcher EQ6 legs and the great, william optics AltAz mount

http://i928.photobucket.com/albums/ad121/jser1/altaz.jpg

http://i928.photobucket.com/albums/ad121/jser1/scope.jpg

Just for infor

The Skywatcher range at

http://www.opticalvision.co.uk/astronomical_telescopes/sky-watcher/refractors

when you look at the reviews on the ewebsite and in astronomical magazines it was ME, my son and Patrick Moore that did the review, he is a friend of mine.

JR1 Loc: Tavistock, Devon, UK

Back to the stand

The other parts arrived yesterday.

The bracket was purchased from Ebay though the suplier does have their own site

http://www.bessel.co.uk/

http://i928.photobucket.com/albums/ad121/jser1/bracketb.jpg

http://i928.photobucket.com/albums/ad121/jser1/bracketa.jpg

It cost £10 including postage and comes exceedingly well wrapped.

The umbrellars again Ebay, and i thought this time I WILL deliberately buy cheap just to see were £4 each including postage.

So, the totap price of the whole stand to turn your flashgun into a studio flash is just £24.

As with ALL stands I would never use them without weighting the base, you done want a flash worth hundreds toppling over, other than that, the quality of the stands, and the mount are exceptional for the cost, making me wonder why, other than the "name" anyone would buy a branded make.

I would rather have three, a silver, white and shoot through brolly fof a total of £12, than one branded make, the stands even if the clips go, can easily be replaced with a hose clip for £1 from an ironmungers and for £4 if the brolly lasts say a year it has cost less than 33p a month!

So if you are considering whether studio kits are right for you and want to try something cheap first OR want a pack away PROPER studeo outfit, after all that is why you pad all that for that GOOD flashgun you bought wasn't it, then for just £60 you have TWO studio lights.

http://i928.photobucket.com/albums/ad121/jser1/brolly.jpg

Shown here with a slave Metz 44 AF1 flash

I am PJ

Thanks for that. It was the mount that threw me. I have an eq6 set up but the mount is the neq6 pro, the equatorial thingy with lots of stuff I should know. With our fickle weather it doesn't get out much and I forget what I learned last March....;)
Fingers crossed it may get on outing tonight. Sky's look pretty clear here. Off to read Patricks "stars and planets" book now.
Can't believe you know him, what a legend!

JR1 Loc: Tavistock, Devon, UK

We have spent many a wekend over the years staying with Patrick.

Our other site is

http://www.sirpatrickmoore.net/

My sons Simon and Stephen ate in the front of the middle picture

JR1 Loc: Tavistock, Devon, UK

Concluding this review.

If anyone out there is looking to start a studeo setup then my advice is these standes.

Add to them the ishoot wireless flash transmitters from Ebay, amazing value at just £24 for THREE receivers and a transmitter, £8 for two brollies and £19 for two clamps and that is it.

Under £80 for the complete setup.

And remember as the flashes are not camera mounted you can buy ANY flash, even £10 ones off Ebay, old, new, they are not mounted on the camera just being triggered by the camera.

I use my sons Nikon flash for my Canon and vice versa.

John Singh Loc: Atlanta, Ga.

Jeremy,
I would not touch Cowboy Studio with a 10Ft pole. The case being, couple of weeks ago I bought a back drop stand for $52.00 + $ 17.25 for shipping. It came with both stands broken and in pieces. Upon contacting them, they wanted pictures. The quality of those stands was very poor, I canceled the order. Another $17.25 for shipping back to them. I wasted so much time. A $52 item cost me $34.50, lot of hassle and peace of mind, in the end nothing to show for. No apologies from them. Tell all your friends to stay away from COWBOY STUDIO. Thanks
Jonh Singh

JR1 Loc: Tavistock, Devon, UK

Well I have had NO problems and I speak from experience.

You are being "total" in your comments and this is unwarranted.

There are people who would not touch Renault, Ford, Datsun, Canon or Nikon all from bad experience.

By all means state your reasons but do not assume everyone has had a bad experience.

These are in DAILY use, for the price they are exceedingly good.

I can go out today and spend £100 on each stand, I do not chose to, when or IF I have a bad experience to add I will, so far My Renault and the stands and Metz guns are all perfect .

Average Amazon reviews 5* out of 6, and lets face it for that price even f they last a year who cares, you have a years guarantee anyway, or at least we do in the UK !