DIY Awesomeness: Level-Headed Light Stand Mod
We love Reuben Krabbe's lazy-leg light stand mod so much we will be more than happy to help pimp his blatant appeal for new followers on Twitter and Facebook.
This mod is designed for a standard light stand. But for those of you who use compact, 5-section light stands, remember that they work differently because of the 180-degree leg-fold design.
Just eyeballing it, my thinking is that the extra holes on the leg -- going further down the leg -- would have to be spaced much tighter than two inches. (Half an inch, maybe?) I'd line it up and check the angles before drilling. Also, you might have to pull the pin and re-insert it to get it to close completely.
What a great mod, Reuben. Lots of tripods do this, but I have never seen it on a light stand.
[UPDATE: Apparently, Avenger makes a lazy-leg stand. Still liking this DIY route, tho.]
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(Via the always excellent DIYPhotography.net, where Udi has lots more light stand DIY stuff.)
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Posted at 3:55 PM.
14 Comments:
The avenger light stands usually have an adjustable leg. See the one nob, I think it's far more adjustable and more user friendly, but they aren't on the budget side of things either.
Watch out with how many holes and how large they are. Each hole adds a stress concentration point to the leg, which can reduce the amount of weight supported by the stand. Most of the weight is supported by the top and the bottom of each leg though, so it might not be too bad.
Why actually use lightstands? I´m a happy user of a Manfrotto 785B "modo" and couldn´t be happier. Grip-operated ballhead, independently adjustable legs (even the full "flat mode" if you need that) and thanks to a handy aftermarket adpater it even takes umbrellas and the lot.
I´m basically working outdoors/on mountains only, perfectly horizontal or clean surfaces are uncommon in what I do. Flexibility is key, that´s why I use small tripods instead of light stands - it paid out so far.
Cheers to the modder anyways, evolution of ideas is always useful!
Nice one, thank for you advice and your time to make
It's a great DIY idea but it makes me want to try it with a C-clamp instead of drilling the extra holes in the light stand. My strobes aren't heavy but the C-clamp would not weaken leg as much as the holes.
Dude, super nice find!
Nice find!
All my Avenger stands have lazy legs, which is an can't-do-without feature on location. I have the greatest respect for people doing mods and accessories, but the energy drive should be towards stuff not commercially available.
This is pretty cool making our light stands more like our tripods but I think it could be done better. I would like to see some sort of quick release clamp created making it pose-able at any length. Maybe I'll have to work on that...
Cool mod. Be careful when using it this way since the rocky leg is pointing uphill not down so theres a greater chance of it falling over. All film grip and lighting gear come with rocky and non rocky legs.
hi David,
Thanks for telling on Reuben Krabbe @strobist.
It is a great mod indeed.
I bet it will get standardized soon enough.
I use camping tent spikes and a little rope. I always thought about making a leg attachment to extend one leg farther.
Grady
Nothing new here. Adjustable legs have been used on lighting and grip stands at least from the 1970s, maybe earlier.
Most film people call them Rocky Mountain legs. Why do still people call them Lazy Legs? Rocky makes more sense that Lazy for a leveling leg.
Film leveling legs extend and make the stand more stable, this looks like it would make the stand less stable! Like he says "use at your own risk"
Matthews, Lowel and many others make leveling leg stands.
For those of us who worry about a leg with holes drilled being weaker one could shove something inside to strengthen the leg. Maybe a dowel or aluminum tube? Then drill thru the filler.
It would seem to be a thicker leg would be stronger, wouldn't it?
Terry Thomas...
the photographer
Atlanta, Georgia USA
www.TerryThomasPhotos.com
Skype: AtlantaTerry
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