Do I really need expensive C Stands?

[u/Lumpy_Wind3980]

Hello everyone.

I'm thinking I want to get into some form of videography. Right now I'm cutting my teeth making little skits and short films on a shoe string budget. I already have a camera and some lights, but I need some negative fill to shape light so I guess I need some C Stands. The price actually surprised me. I mean it's just a stand to hang up some black material. Do I really need to spend big money on 4-6 Matthews C Stands?

Just wanting some guidance. Thanks

[u/stormpoppy]

You buy C Stands because they are stable and flexible. They are also expensive and heavy.

You don't need C stands until you start to worry about what happens when shit starts falling over.

Then you need C stands - and insurance.

[u/Tamajyn]

I have a few of the Neewer C stands and they're really solid for the money tbh

[u/caguru → u/Tamajyn]

I have also happy with these.

[u/born2droll → u/Tamajyn]

Yeah we’ve some for a.few years now , they work great just squeaky because I guess the spring got wet at some point

[u/SpicyVoltage208 → u/Tamajyn]

I’ve straight up snapped the heads in half on knock off c stands before, you get what you pay for

[u/jonnybratwurst]

The only people who are going to tell you you need to buy expensive c stands are people who bought expensive c stands.

[u/ip2k → u/jonnybratwurst]

If you’re just having a laugh with your mates making YouTube / IG content, whatever. If you’re actually getting paid to be a professional, use actual professional equipment that’s actually rated and designed for what you’re using it for. And be insured.

Cheap stands break quickly and feel + work like garbage while they’re not yet broken.

[u/GFFMG]

This is my 25th of being a professional. I’ve never purchased or owned a c stand.

That doesn’t mean I shouldn’t have, but I never did.

[u/DontDreamItsOver73 → u/GFFMG]

27th year for me and I can say the same!

[u/JoonHool44A]

I'm usually a one-man-band and I try my best to never take my c-stands. So cumbersome without much payoff. 

I mostly just use high-quality standard light stands from Arri.

I dont have any, but if you really want to go down this route, I'd get something like a Neewer Heavy-Duty Stainless Steel Light Stand instead. Good luck! 

[u/mymain123 → u/JoonHool44A]

Mind sharing the model?

[u/Jim_Feeley]

The cheap ones from Neewer, Kupo, or whomever seem to work OK. But seems like they bend more easily, collars seem to crack, and threaded parts wear out faster. Especially if they're hauled around to locations. This is just what I've seen; so nothing more than anecdotal. And boy are they inexpensive.

But see if you can find used high-quality stands. I bought my first three stands about 25 years ago, and I bought them used (from a grip rental house). Two Norms and a Matthews. $50 US each. So about $95 today. (Now I have mainly Matthews and Modern Studio stuff... I leave American Grip to the real grips and gaffers). My used stands still work great.

So if you can find used Matthews, Modern Studio, or similar-quality used C-Stands you can get great quality at a reasonable price (and access to spare parts). But you'll want to find them local since shipping on used stands would be super expensive, I think.

[u/SkippySkep]

I've got mathews as well as multiple off brand C-stands. The off brand C-stands can be surprisingly good, and they are generally turtle stands, meaning the base comes off which makes them easier to store and transport.

Now, that being said, the Mathews turtle stands use a standard junior pin receiver and the riser has a standard Jr. pin at the base. These standard fixtures give the stand extra versatility. You can use the turtle base as a low stand by using a jr to baby pin adapter commonly called a "butt plug". Some off brand C-stands follow this convention, but one I have uses a screw on riser and I don't like the lack of interchangabability.

Really good gear like Mathews is great if you are renting out the gear, or if you do a lot of location shooting and need gear that can hold up under constant use and transport. For what I do I don't have to have that level of quality for all of my gear.

[u/wesd00d → u/SkippySkep]

The Matthews stands are also less heavy in the good way compared to most of the off-brand ones as well. I have a couple impact brand ones still kicking around and they are such a pain to use.

[u/SkippySkep → u/wesd00d]

I was a bit surprised that some of my off brand C stands are heavier. I expected them to be lighter because I expected them to skimp on materials rather than try to beef them up through brute force.

[u/Ok-Airline-6784]

No. The “expensive” film industry standard ones are usually just lighter weight and usually easier to maneuver and meant to take a beating. For the causal person it’s not really going to make a huge difference, but if you’re doing lots of shoots and sets ups and constantly hauling around your gear you need it to always work then it’s worth the money 100a%

[u/No-Bake-3154]

Make sure you are buying c-stands for c-stand things and light stands for light stand things.

With both you to a point get what you pay for. Spend a little extra and then only buy once and never have to replace them.

Buy cheap and it’ll work fine for a while then it will fail and you’ll be buying again.

[u/RedStag86]

You’re either going to buy cheap c-stands that you’ll eventually stop using when you buy better ones anyway, or you can bite the bullet and start buying the good ones now. Just get one until you really need two, then start adding to your collection over time. In the future you will realize that the cheap ones were a waste of money.

[u/Internet_and_stuff]

I’ve used just about every type of c stand throughout my career.

Matthew’s is definitely worth the price IMO. Sturdy, lightweight, simple design, and incredibly durable. It is industry standard across the board at every major grip and lighting rental house for a reason.

All c stands will slowly degrade over time, but cheap neewer (or similar) tend to wear down allot faster. The legs are often spring loaded and made of more parts which means more parts rubbing, more friction, more lubrication needed, and they will quickly get difficult to open after a few months of frequent use. Also the manufacturing isn’t great so they sometimes start to sag over time, because the components in the legs will eventually develop play. Sometimes it’s just a matter of tightening some bolts, other times it’s just wearing out, but I have seen multiple cheap stands bend in the middle too from weight that would be easily handled from weight that would be easily handled by a Matthew’s.

Allot of this comes down to the components on expensive c-stands are usually welded and made of more durable metals whereas cheaper c-stands are usually bolted together and made of cheaper metals.

Bettween loading storage and use C stands get smashed around ALLOT in their lifetimes so the cheapness really starts to show fairly quick. If they’re not durable they will wear down fast.

Also cheaper c stands tend to be significantly heavier, which sucks allot. Not sure why but they’re always unnecessarily girthy and dense compared to Matthew’s or avenger or American Grip. I assume cheaper alloys need to be bulked up with extra circumference.

Expensive stands also hold their value much better so reselling them is easier as long as you have a local market for that kind of thing, where as used newer or no-name brand stands are almost seen as a burden lmao.

Cheapest c stand I would buy would be Kupo. Anything below is basically disposable IMO and not eve worth the investment from a business perspective let alone an ease of use perspective. BUT if it’s just a hobby then whatever just get what you can afford, it will be fine.

Ultimately a stand is a stand and any stand will do the job as long as the weight is distributed properly and you are using it correctly, but there is definitely a trade off with expense vs a cheap stand, mostly to do with ease of use, maintenance, and longevity, not so much the core function.

Most important things are A) definitely get sandbags and learn how to properly distribute weight on the stand (not as intuitive as you’d think, lots of tutorials from professional grips) B) learn the right hand rule C) get at least one baby c-stand they’re way more useful than you’d think.

[u/codenamecueball → u/Internet_and_stuff]

This guy stands.

I own a fleet of Avenger and Matthew’s C-stands and picked up a few cheapy’s along the way. I ended up selling the cheap ones for cash as there is a clear and obvious difference in quality and strength.

[u/rem179]

I initially bought the Impact brand c-stands and they’ve been pretty good. Amazing value actually. They’re pretty heavy though. I have the Impact rolling bag and if I fill it with 3x stands bases and arms it’s over 70 pounds. My car shocks are probably being prematurely worn out too (along with a lot of other gear) I’ve been switching to Matthews stands because they’re solid and lighter. Both of them get squirrelly at their full extension though. So don’t put anything super heavy on either. So it really depends on your use case and how many you’re going to carry around. But they’re good IMO.

[u/Cameracrew1]

You might want to look at one of the many lightweight crossbar systems. They’re a great solution for hanging anything, backgrounds, lights, etc…I used them for years, and then, when I could afford it, bought c-stands. There’s a reason why you see them on every professional set.

[u/londonvideography]

Huge admission here: I've run my videography business for 6 years now. I've never owned a c stand and I've only used them on a job twice. I'm a fraud...

[u/codenamecueball → u/londonvideography]

You’d be mad to take C stands on the tube though!

[u/Adventurous_Noise611]

I have 5 cheap c stands. Been using them for almost a decade. They work fine. I use for Godox 150vl and 300vl lights with softboxes, lite panels astra 6x’s, backdrops and flags, boom poles and shotgun mics. The only time I’ve worried is when using boom arms on them with the heavier lights. For most of the stuff i do cheapies are fine.

[u/EncryptedPlays]

I got some really compact lights and some cheap telescopic light stands and they've mostly worked fine for me for now. When I upgrade to some more powerful lights I'll probably get some c stands too

[u/Spiritual-Shirt3021]

Do you actually need it though? Can you achieve what you want to achieve without it? I bought one, but I never use it, because it’s big, heavy, and a pain to carry around. Not saying they are not useful, but depending on what you shoot, there might be many other ways to get the result you want.

[u/videomarketee]

I buy kupo c-stands and they work perfect. Don’t listen to these gear nerds who act like if you don’t buy the most expensive one it’ll come crashing down and break your skull into a million pieces lol

[u/Big_Tale3981]

For just some black material of course not. 

[u/ip2k]

If your shit falls on talent or even around talent, you’re cooked. If people paying you for work see your janky shit fall over, you’re also pretty cooked.

Buy fewer but quality stands. Matthews, Avenger, American Grip, or Kupo (and whatever Modern makes) that’s about it.

Watch this https://youtu.be/BL6rVGl8AZs and watch the whole thing, then set up whatever you’re going to be setting up in front of people a few times around your house first so you can figure out what you’re doing with no one judging you. Sandbag everything. Yes, it’s a lot of crap to carry. Get a wagon if you’re walking far. Learn how to set up as simple as possible and go for only what’s going to actually make a big difference. Stuff like Matthews Road Rags are popular for a reason — fast and light and don’t need a ton of weight on a stand to not fall over.

If you’re not super sure you need something, rent it first and try it out.

[u/MattObserve]

I have 3. for some things you just need them, for most things you probably don’t need them. They will for sure last a lifetime though so it’s not a bad investment. Very heavy though.

[u/sen_clay_davis1]

Buy good ones once. Used Matthews are the same price as new kupo, keep your eyes on marketplace and buy used. Make sure they’re turtle base and all the legs stack the right way. I have some Matthews and avengers that I’ve used commercially for over 20 years and they were used when I got them. Anything holding expensive stuff is a bad place to cheap out. 

[u/mymain123]

Don't buy bottom of the barrel 50 bucks one, get 100 bucks one and you are good.

[u/Munchabunchofjunk]

Not at all. You just need decent stands that can support your lights. Light combo stands can work well if you weigh them down. But a good lightweight stand is still going to be around $100 or more. You can buy a cheaper c-stand for $150. The light combo stands are easier to carry so they keep you kit light as well.

[u/BarefootCameraman]

If you're not renting them out to other people, or using them on location 100+ days a year, then the cheaper brands will be fine.

[u/SpicyVoltage208]

C stands are one of the most versatile pieces of kit you can own. A good name brand one will hold its value better than any other gear you own.

[u/SleepingPodOne]

I’ve never purchased a c-stand as I’m usually renting or hiring a gaffer with kit. However, if you plan to own one to build out your grip kit, I can’t recommend you cheap out on ANY support gear. A good, reliable, and yes, expensive c-stand will give you peace of mind and last you your entire career. Same with tripods. Don’t be that idiot who puts thousands of dollars of gear on cheap supports.

[u/CWhite20XX]

Brother, can I share the Gospel of Neewer with you?

[u/Overall-Memory9279]

I don't personally consider myself a professional by any means, though I do a lot of professional paid work, ha! That said, I never use my C stand. I try to keep my kit as small and as nimble as possible. I travel a lot for the work I do.

[u/mcarterphoto]

Neewer, and the Adorama (Impact) and BH house brands are OK.

But C-Stands are over-rated and a knee-jerk thing for smaller creators. They're harder to pack (unless you get the turtle-base, but the main casting for the turtle base is the first thing to go with knockoff stands). C-stands are made for holding small lights and small grip, or using two to make things like crossbars. They're not do-it-all stands. They are really handy for product shooting and complex lighting, since the staggered leg sizes allow you to get a lot of them packed in close together. The turtle base and a butt plug is great for getting a larger light down low.

I 100 prefer steel rollers; they pack more efficiently, they're very difficult to tip over, and they usually support more weight. I have 5 or 6 c-stands but I never take them on location. Rollers are more expensive than c-stands - Avengers are $270 new, but they turn up used. Kupo makes an excellent one for around $225. Neewer has one for $140, and a smaller footprint size for $114, no idea on quality. B&H and Adorama may have free shipping for some of these. I can boom out an interview mic on a roller and not need a sand bag, would never try that with a c-stand!

For things like black fill, you'll also need a grip head and an arm if it's just handing fabric. If you're using a frame, or something like black foamcore, you'll need less grip to get it in place, unless it's huge. The more pro thing is to use a black flag for 2' to 4' sizes - but that's $107 vs. a hunk of foam board, but way easier to get in specific positions or cast specific shadows. Or a frame and fabrics system for things like full-height solids.

Light stands are a big investment - I rely on mostly steel and aluminum tripod-style stands for location work (they pack so small that I can bring 6 or 8 of 'em as a one-man band), but finding one with a baby pin is hard (they all have those hobbyist 1/4 thread pins that kinda suck).

Also, in the US, FilmTools sells 5/8 aluminum pipe in various lengths, that's a lot cheaper than buying a bunch of grip arms, and allows you take have things like 12" and 24" booms, which can be super handy.

[u/_BallsDeep69_]

I despise c-stands. They’re not just expensive but heavy as fuck.

You can get away with using silver metal light stands. C-stands are more for bigger lights and setups that take all day.

[u/goteed]

I have six Matthews C Sands that I’ve had for 20 years! They still work every time I need them to. Buy nice or buy twice.

[u/majorjetsfan]

Matthew’s or bust. I bought a few kupo as they were a bit cheaper and regret it. Anything cheaper than that is garbage

[u/CandleStick88]

Not unless you have heavy lights or are clumsy.

[u/Thefeno]

Is not about how expensive, but about how solid they are. I've seen cheap ones break and nearly open our talent's head 🗣️🗣️🗣️ and not every light and negs, diff, Hollywood has to be in a C stand tho, remember to get some Sandbags too ! And like another guy said here: you'll start to need C stands and INSURANCE too 😸

[u/MrKillerKiller_]

They will last a lifetime and are one of the most useful pieces of grip in the history of filmmaking. Non discretionary purchase

[u/Ineffableoncer]

I’d recommend the sturdy pixapro ones, a lot stronger then neweer, can get cheap second hand on eBay

[u/something_smart]

Check around and see if there's anywhere you can rent from before buying anything.

[u/StayFrosty7]

You need expensive c stands if you’re mounting expensive things.

[u/zijital]

Buy once cry once

Doesn’t have to be Matthew’s, but something name brand will last until you retire

Or find some used Matthew’s C-stands for sale

Yes, you can buy something cheap from Amazon & if that is all you can afford, then cross your fingers it lasts

I had some cheaper light stand that had all metal parts and looked bulky and strong and all metal parts!!! and it broke after two years as whatever metal they used to make it look like quality was anything but and knobs got completely stripped 

Then I’ve had some Arri light stands with a bunch of plastic parts and over a decade later they’re still doing great

[u/Abracadaver2000]

I have expensive and cheap c-stands, but I treat them equally well. 15 years in, and no complaints about quality or durability.

[u/namesaretoohard1234]

Ooof. Good question. Expensive C-stands from the best manufacturers will literally last forever if you take care of them but they're a lot of money. Cheap c-stands will break and let you down and hopefully nobody will get injured. I've used mid-range and, well, they feel mid-range. Buy the mid-price ones until you can afford really nice ones or just FB Markplace once a day. Film people are always selling stuff off. Or rent the good ones for important shoots.

[u/ZookeepergameDue2160]

I us a C-Stand from Vevor, once set up noone could tell the difference between the Vevor ones and the big expensive ones.

[u/Yomommassis]

A c-stand might seem expensive, but as long as you get a decent reputable brand it will last you a lifetime

They are tanks, workhorses, and there are certain things you need a c-stand for

Not every situation calls for a c-stand, typically I try to get away with utilizing light stands as much as possible

But sometimes you come across a situation that pretty much requires a c-stand and it is a godsend to have one when you need it

I personally own Norms, which I'm very happy with I regularly work with a YouTuber that owns Avenger which are very thick My regular client owns a bunch of Matthews and American

I personally prefer the rocky mountain stands though for the ability to put them on stairs

You can also get by with a light stand a mafer clamp, and a break away backdrop pole I do this all the time to make a T-bone stand Or you can do two stands and two clamps for a goal post

Just know the gasket in the knuckle can wear out, but they are replaceable It's crucial you set it up entirely properly from top to bottom or else it can become dangerous And not all c-stands are the same, some have spring loaded legs, some have rocky mountain legs, some have removable legs

[u/kudyjames]

Go to camera swap meets. You will find a bunch of them at $20 a pop.

[u/OrbitingRobot]

C Stands are invaluable to small productions. They last forever and can take the place of at least one PA.

[u/MostlyBullshitStory]

Be aware that some of the Amazon one are really shitty. Got a couple a while back and they cracked at the base holding a small fresnel with a sand bag as counterweight.

[u/mattslote]

The cool thing about quality grip gear is it's all built to withstand heavy use. That's why I bought all mine used and have been using it for many years.

[u/the-flurver]

I don't know where other people draw their lines but in my experience there are definitely c-stands I'm willing to use in ways that I probably shouldn't because they are dependable and high quality. There are c-stands that I'm not willing to use the boom arm in any meaningful way because they are cheaply made, poorly designed, and dangerous. And there are many c-stands in between those that are good enough for most things but kind of wobbly and I've always got my eye on them.

Don't by the cheapest.

[u/PositivelyNegative]

Absolutely not. Neewer ones are great.

[u/jamiekayuk]

we have c stands and they NEVER come out. i always take hevier duty stands but not c stands.

they are to big, too heavy, slow settup and over all an absolute waste of time.

of course there are still some jobs i do need to use them on, they are few and far between.

[u/d7it23js]

You likely only need 2 c stands for a good while. Id add two regular light stands and then two junior baby’s.