blackest Loc: Ireland

One problem with gear generally is that you have to carry it if you want to use it.

I fairly recently bought a fairly light weight travel tripod and i was thinking of how to make it more versatile. I also had a rather wobbly light stand which I got to keep when the seller sent a replacement (it was the legs that were a problem so I removed them and have been using as a telescopic boom instead.
I do have a boom for a reflector but it's not so portable to be carrying a light stand a boom and a tripod.

So i came up with a versatile rig.
I bought an arca swiss clamp and plate a boom clamp which is designed to sit on the end of a light stand and a little adapter that normally sits at the top of a light stand this is threaded 1/4 and 5/8ths at either end.

This i screwed to an arca swiss plate, and attached the boom clamp to that with the three sections of the lightstand attached to that and the arca swiss plate attached to the end of the pole. I also have a zhiyun smooth 4 gimbal which i also attached an arca swiss plate.
now i can mount a flash to the end of the pole and position it where i want it i can use it as a simple boom for a reflector as a jib/ slider with the gimbal attached. i find it really works well using the ball head at the 90 degree position. the telescopic section can be used free hand or not at all. I can use it as a mic stand as well.

The tripod weights around 3.5 pounds and the telescopic section with the connectors takes it to a manageable 6 pounds total. There is a carbon fibre version
of the tripod (andoer q-666) available thats around 4 ounces less. The tripod also can be used as a mono pod, it also has 2 positions for the legs so you can spread the legs further out to increase stability.

I've pretty much put this rig together for video on my iphone but its handy for remote flash for my dslr (which i wouldn't risk putting on the pole).

Its cheap lightweight and quick to set up as you need it.

stevesf

I have a vision of it, but would you mind sending a photo, as well?

HOHIMER

No pictures??????????????????????????????????????????????????????

blackest Loc: Ireland

The tripod

Attached Quick release plate

with this screwed to it


Which this sits on (its upside down)

and holds the light stand sections (minus legs)

And this is screwed to the top (for some gear flashes microphones this is optional


I'll do a photo of it all together in a day or two when i get chance.

HOHIMER

Thanks!

Kaib795 Loc: Maryland, USA

Yes, this is a light carry package.

I'm not one for light stuff and all my tripods are either modest or heavy. LOL But wind doesn't effect them. I like that you are moving the flash to a stand. You'll do well there. Are you using line of sight, on board flash, to activate your stand flash? This works but you may find using a on camera transmitter more manageable, handier if your flash has TTL. I use a Godox and it's wonderful to control the flash totally from the camera and the transmitter has a focus assist built into it. I can now get the focus as long as I can see anything in the viewfinder (it will find focus no matter what ... but why shoot if you cannot see anything!). I find that you need a flexible flash head on my stands. One that pivots so I can aim downwards. Your rig will not allow this, say you want to grid the flash and place a spot of light on a sitting persons face. Now it's possible. I like the MagMod system for light modifiers. They sell a grid that fits nicely on the base unit and everything is fairly compact. It's a trade off as for weight. Get light stuff and it may not last. Buy good stuff and you only spend once but it's heavier. I like C stands but do use lighter stands outside just as you have shown but bag them down so they don't blow over, yeah more weight! In the end, when you do go professional, it just helps to have an assistant and carry two of everything in case something breaks or hold a stand in place because you forgot sand bags. The assistant could be a budding photographer who wants to get his or her feet wet. Have fun

blackest Loc: Ireland

hi the arca swiss plate is pretty much for the gimbal it does its own angling and can be controlled by iphone or ipad using bluetooth the zyun play app gives you an on screen joystick to steer the gimbal.

For flash the plate can be removed and there are all manner of things to fit the top of the stand my flash modifiers are either bowens or ellen chrome mount. Or just a simple umbrella. all though thats probably the worst to be using outside. weight can be added. I also have a couple of reflector clamps which can be used with the pole too. The tripod base can be spread out to improve stability with the leg length fully adjustable, beats the standard base of the regular stands maybe almost as useful as a C stand. not forced to use all 3 legs at the same angle.

The main thing i like about this is its light enough to carry to most places. I do have remote flash triggers manual but thats not a problem i can meter with my flash meter to figure out the strength i need. If i'm lucky i might get an assistant to hold the pole with the flash for me, but if not i should be able to set it up as i want it. unfortunately my strobe is mains only but i will see how well my speed lights work at least in the evening, i doubt they will compete with the sun, although the reflector could put some directed light into the scene.

blackest Loc: Ireland

here are some photos of the rig. I need to do a little more filing to ensure the aluminium stud (1/4 - 5/8ths hole) has a more substantial flat to avoid the boom twisting on the arca swiss plate.

set up for remote flash, the legs are set century stand style .

(Download)

this time the top attachment on the boom has been replaced with a clamp quite a tricky set up as a reflector catches wind like a sail.

(Download)

here a gimbal iphone and zoom h1 recorder are attached along with a bungy its a little front heavy im using a kind of l bracket and also have a peak design style strap which helps support the gimbal when hand held the mic is suspended with rubber

(Download)

with the pole set aside the gimbal fits into the ball head arca swiss clamp, the gimbal can be programmed to do take 180 degree panos 3x3 composites and other moves.

(Download)

blackest Loc: Ireland

I just found a youtube video and its got a brilliant way of using the travel tripod as a shoulder rig or stabilizer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgvTFbbWL5w

he is using a Sirui T-005X + C10
It works for mine too, had to pause the video a few times to figure out how he was using it!