Senior Member Registered: July, 2008 Location: t'North Posts: 166 | Review Date: July 13, 2018 | Recommended | Price: $70.00
| Rating: 7 |
Pros: | All metal construction, Really tall | Cons: | Rattly, not great air cushion system | | As a relative newb to strobist work I bought this as an upgrade for a pair of cheap generic 2m tall photo stands I had been using. Really like Bowens umbrellas so figured their stands would be as good. Did compare to Manfrotto 1004, which is probably just as tall but much heavier and pricier
Mainly I wanted something strong for outdoor umbrella use and something capable of going really tall for occasional shots that benefit from that - but didnt want to spend >GBP100 on the hefty Manfrotto 1004 - lovely though that one is at 3kg its not something I want to carry about
Mostly the BW6611 is decent enough, possibly over priced given it is of comparatively cheap Chinese manufacture. Certainly tall at over 10ft / 3m with decently wide leg footprint and quite stable outdoors at full height with a 115cm umbrella - so long as you sand bag
The BW6611 is hopefully strong with all metal bracketry and a 6kg weight limit. The legs and braces are rivetted which looks like a potential weak point, but we shall see, not seen any negative reviews about that to be fair. The air cushion system works after a fashion, but put it up high with an umbrella and flash and it wobbles its way down quite alarmingly - do that empty and it just swooshes down gently (with a sound almost like a Star Trek door)
If I was buying again I might go for a cheaper non cushioned model or stump up the extra for a Manfrotto - but I prefer the anonymous looks of the Bowen over the flashly looks of Manfrotto
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