Site Supporter Registered: October, 2008 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 8,092
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: June 26, 2010 | Recommended | Price: $240.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Quality of construction, easy to store and assemble. | | Cons: | None | |
This review is for the Copy Stand III P, which is the portable version. This is another great Pentax accessory and is very useful for macro/copy work. Of all the Pentax gear I own the wood construction of the baseboard/carrying case ranks near the top in quality. The dovetail joints and inside compartment are better made than 99% of today’s wood furniture. The case also has a metal plate indicating it’s an “Asahi Pentax Copy Stand IIIP”, just like the plates used on the super telephoto trunks! There is no way you will see a wooden case of this quality made today, especially by a camera company! The case also has a thick leather carrying handle.
The copy stand IIP comes with its own macro focusing rail and it takes only a minute to assemble the stand. There are two metal tubes that screw together and then into the baseboard. The support arm fits over the top of the tube and you attach the macro rail to the support arm. The best feature is that when you are finished you just dissemble it and it’s easy to store, unlike the regular copy stand. The baseboard is also heavy enough that you do not need a table clamp to secure it. The entire unit weights 5.1kg and the inside has enough room to store a camera body and lens.
I use this copy stand for overhead macro work using a 100mm macro lens and extension tubes. I also have some portable studio lights that are easily adjusted to illuminate the baseboard surface. You can also remove the macro rail and attach a bellows unit if you wish.
This portable version of the copy stand is on the rare & pricy side, but well worth seeking out. I found mine at a local camera store that has a good selection of used Pentax gear.
 | |
