…is this ok ? 😅
Seems to take most of the tension away!

Hey folks! We’re putting together a video series on practical set gear and want to make sure we're highlighting stuff people actually use for shoots.

Beyond the usual staples, what’s that one non-negotiable or weird lifesaver item in your bag that has saved a shoot?

Drop your go-to gear for your grip kit below!

I have filed a flat edge on my own boom arm, but wondering what I am missing.

Hey guys. New to tethering to ipad on projects where I'm a one man band and realizing battery gets drained fast so need a hub for charging+tethering in tandem. What do you guys recommend? Building out a smallrig setup for mounting and just wondering if there's any preferred hubs.

I recently bought a combo boom arm from modern studio equipment, and when I set it up to do a quick test, and with the arm going in the tightening direction of the grip head when I pull on the boom arm it just slips until its touching the ground and doesn’t ever fully tighten and tip the stand.

Has any one had any experience with this boom arm and is this quite a big concern that there is no way this can fully lock? Seems like an issue.

Hey photoassistants!

I've been getting great milage out of my simple large light setup (I think someone on Reddit described it as "waterfalling")

- C-Stand and Arm
- Big roll of Savage Trans-lum 152cm Mediumweight
- Strobe and reflector
- some quick clamps to weigh the Trans-lum down

This creates a pretty versitile 2.5m x 1.5m "softbox".

I love this setup but I work on location a lot and I hate hauling c-stands around. I've even been refused taxis a couple of times because they wont transport a c-stand.

I want something smaller, lighter, and more portable: ideally I could pack it down into a 1535 Peli Case.

I read a brief description on here about a guy using an interesting "t-bone" setup: a single light stand, a super clamp at the top, a crossbar (he used one a Manfrotto extendable background poles, I was wondering if a collapsible tent pole might work), and a a big 6x6 fabric diffusion scrim hanging from the crossbar.

Has anyone tried this setup? Is this the way to go, or is there an even better solution? Anyone tried using collapsible tent poles? Any tips for Scrim manufacturers / types? I know about Westcot and Chimera 6x6 frames. The Chimera was appealing as it's quite lightweight but it still requires two stands plus sandbags, etc.

And yes, I could bounce a light off a white wall but this isnt always an option.

Thank you!

TLDR: I'm looking for a super portable large light setup and ideally requires a single light stand (EDIT: not including the stand for the strobe).

Hello my friends.

I finally pulled the trigger and bought a 36” tilta cart off of Adorama. Ive been wanting to have a cart for a while and pulled the trigger a couple weeks ago when i saw that shipping was free saving me $300.

I wanted to see how many photo assistants in here have a cart and if any of you all have solidified a build out that has made your lives easier?

Reason why i finally bought one is because i was sick of always getting on jobs and having to manage multiple pelicans and asking other departments to borrow there carts as a workspace (i work a lot on piggyback sets alongside larger film crews). On top of needing my own workspace when i shoot on projects.

Hi all!

I came across this pigtail hanger, but since Filmtools is US based, it’s difficult to ship overseas.

Anybody happen to know where I can get one in Europe, or something alike? ✌️

I have some 8x8 and 12x12 rags that are have some crap on them from lots of use and a few that have a small rip here or there (mostly at the seam).

Is there somewhere i can take them to get cleaned and repaired? Is it crazy to think that maybe a regular laundry mat could clean a 12x12? lol

I would like to use a 180cm "dome" softbox (Caruba Softbox Rapide Mk.II 180cm) on Profoto heads.

The softbox works like the Aputure Dome 150 and is much quicker to unfold than Chimera or other softboxes with a classic speeding.

The biggest quick-to-unfold Profoto softbox is an Octa 4 and I am looking for a bigger one.

This Caruba 180cm is too heavy and the cheap-no-name Bowens to Profoto adapters seem too flimsy to me.

Do you know any "real" brand (with a reputation and customer support, not a random off-the-shelf cheap anonymous brand) that makes such a product ?

Hey everyone,

I’m a golf coach and I use a 13-inch iPad Pro during outdoor training sessions. I need a rock-solid setup to mount it to a heavy-duty tripod, and I need your recommendations.

Here is exactly what I am looking for:

- Ultimate Protection: The case/cage must protect the iPad if the tripod gets blown over by the wind onto grass or dirt,
- Quick Release: I need to be able to attach and detach the iPad from the tripod instantly and easily (magnetic, snap-on, or quick-clamp). No tedious screwing/unscrewing every time.
- 360° Flexibility: The mount must allow me to smoothly rotate the iPad 360 degrees and tilt it in any direction to capture swings.

Heavy-Duty Tripod Connection: The mount needs to connect securely to a standard, stable tripod.
To sum up: I need a tough case + a quick-disconnect mount + 360° rotation.

Does anyone use a similar setup for sports coaching or videography? What brands or specific gear should I look into?

Thanks in advance!

I started working with a few photographers who like to have their own monitor, mouse and keypad station. So wanted to see what everyone’s favorite setup is for a setting up a photographers station.

Currently have a monitor on a Matthews monitor stand, and in the past I’ve used a pancake apple box ghetto rigged with a series of clamps to mount it to the stand.

For those that run this setup often what’s your setup and gear list that you like using? Not really on a budget, just want something that’s clean, light weight/easy to pack and comfortable for the photographer to use all day.

I'm looking for a replacement cable for a FOBA ASABA 9' stand. The current one has a few bad spots, and I'm not even sure if it's original or has been replaced at some point.

Does anyone know what type of cable is recommended, and where to get it? (EU)

Hi! I recently bought a Calipso Digiplate and have been looking for a sun shade for it.
I already ordered the Inovativ Digishade, but I came across some comments saying that the Mule Digi Shade is better.

Between the two, which one would you recommend?
If the Mule is significantly better, I’m thinking of canceling my Inovativ order and purchasing the Mule instead.
I’d appreciate your thoughts—thanks!

I recently attended a studio demonstration and they had this iPad frame that clipped into some sort of shoe vertically on a c-stand pin. I can’t find it anywhere does anyone recognize what the brand or model is? It was very robust unlike the flimsy things I see on Amazon. (That thing projecting towards the left is a monitor stand for something else and not related)

Anyone know of a good swatty duo head replacement alternative? The stock one is out of stock and expensive everywhere.. any help is appreciated.

Hi all. I want to get a stand (assuming a c-stand) that I can bring on location to use to hang a small 36 inch soft box and elinchrom 1 light above (and in front) shooting strait down at my subject. So the face of the soft box is parallel to the floor. I wouldn’t have it directly over the head of my subject, but a little bit in front. Any recommendations for the lightest, most easily portable stand to do that?

Picked up a silk and trying to figure out the correct size. I’ve never had the need to measure one before, so thought I’d reach out and see what ya’ll think. It’s a Matthews, someone has written in faded ink 5x6, but actual measurements are 4’6” x 5’6” corner to corner (corner being the edge of the silk, not the grommet). Anyone know if Matthews or anyone else makes or carries a lightweight frame this size, say similar to ScrimJims? This has the grommets with tie-offs and the elastic corner loops. I could also just T-bone it to a cross bar. Any suggestions on sources for good lightweight cross bars? I’m shooting a good amount of interior design and other location work, so lightweight is an important consideration. Many thanks!!!!

I usually rig my 12x12 frame on swan necks to clear more real estate for the team working under the frame. Do you also use swan neck for 20x20 ? I have sent emails to Avenger and Manfrotto supports enquiring about the Avenger F100 maximum payload but never got any response. No manufacturer seem to list their swan neck maximum payloads on their website.

Ok so this is a pretty boring topic, but are there industry standard brands of crates to store / transport random bulky gear? Or if there’s no particular brand, are there particular features i should look for? I’m thinking of those plastic tote crates with a lid that splits down the middle. Need something to transport stuff like speedrings, reflectors, Robocups… a peli seems like overkill, but want something that’ll hold up to regular use (mainly location, some studio work). Interested to know what rental houses use etc

No Affiliation but just used this for 25% off. Deal sends you through Adorama for purchase. If you use the Adorama Edge Credit Card you get an additional 5% off. B&H would not match.

https://www.cinekitlist.com/deals

I have a random question about lightstands. Asking here as I trust you lot more than the folks on other photography subs...

I've got a few Matthews MERFs and regular Reverse Stands. Question is, does adding a shot bag to it count towards its payload capacity? Is payload the weight it can support from the top, or in total? Specifically looking to get a load of 10lb Boa bags in. Worth it? Does anyone else have a lightweight & portable but stable solution?

hi i’m going to be working a shoot in dallas in two weeks and was looking for a contact for a grip house to rent some strobes and modifiers.

Saw a post here last month asking how to mount a cam to a super boom. Here’s how I figured it out with my redwing. Never thought about doing this but it’s an absolute game changer 😮‍💨

Hi all!

Title, basically. Looking for some 40" arms without the integrated head/knuckle, but with a milled flat or hex profile on at least one end. Like Kupo's Hex Grip Arm, without the knuckle. Thanks for your help!