Avenger A475B - Baby Combi-Boom Aluminum Stand, Black - 7' (2m)

Comments about Avenger A475B - Baby Combi-Boom Aluminum Stand, Black - 7' (2m):

This stand is one of the best deals in audio and lighting. Buy two small Manfrotto parts and you have a killer microphone stand with height up to 13 1/2 feet.

Without the Manfrotto parts mentioned above, you have a very nice light stand. Included is a very well made sand bag (provide your own sand) for balance when using the boom. There is a lot of value. I now have 3 of them for my lighting and microphone needs.

One little knit picky problem is the clamp at the boom elbow. It does what it is supposed to do. It just needs more tightening than the other clamps. Actually, it really is a clever piece of engineering.

Truth be known, I use these more often for mic stands than light stands.

Comments about Avenger A475B - Baby Combi-Boom Aluminum Stand, Black - 7' (2m):

At first I went with the A0040B's but exchanged them after I discovered these. For a little more $ (and 1 extra pound in weight) you get more versatility to convert the stand into a boom. The footprint is also larger and can also shrink down just as much as the A0040B. No brainer for me. The boom is a bit difficult to tighten and I do wish Avenger would make the square shaped legs slightly rounded so they're easier on the hands to grip like Matthews.

Comments about Avenger A475B - Baby Combi-Boom Aluminum Stand, Black - 7' (2m):

I was looking for a boom stand for my Elinchrom Quadra. I looked at the other booms offered by Avenger but they were a bit too much for such a small light setup as Quadra. This stand is perfect for it. :)

Just have to use more sandbags and heavier counterbalance.

Comments about Avenger A475B - Baby Combi-Boom Aluminum Stand, Black - 7' (2m):

Stiff boom arm extension required unscrewing during initial setup but all set after that. Use with a Ezybox 24 and flash with no problems.

Comments about Avenger A475B - Baby Combi-Boom Aluminum Stand, Black - 7' (2m):

Heavy, sturdy, well-built monster! Like the others have said, you really need to crank on the clamp for the boom to stay but I had no trouble with it slipping. You really need an assistant for shooting outdoors but if this is for a studio... perfect!

Comments about Avenger A475B - Baby Combi-Boom Aluminum Stand, Black - 7' (2m):

I am very pleased with this stand. I only wish that there was a knuckle or swivel connector at the end of the boom, so that the light fixture could be swiveled and adjusted to face every direction. This would reduce the amount of room required behind your subject when using the boom to support your rim light.

Since BH was not aware of such a swivel being made by anyone, maybe this is an opportunity for a lighting company to develop a new product.

Comments about Avenger A475B - Baby Combi-Boom Aluminum Stand, Black - 7' (2m):

I previously owned a manfrotto boom kit and wanted the flexibility the combi stand offers. This stand is exactly what I was looking for.

Comments about Avenger A475B - Baby Combi-Boom Aluminum Stand, Black - 7' (2m):

Great functionality and ease of use in my studio.

Comments about Avenger A475B - Baby Combi-Boom Aluminum Stand, Black - 7' (2m):

I use the stand in the studio and in the field, mostly for portraits, with up to medium size monolights or speedlights.

This stand will hold an Alien Bees 1600 or Photogenic Powerlight 1250 monolight with the boom fully extended, but at full extension it doesn't inspire confidence. With the 7' boom extended to 5' the stand is solid with the above lights. Speedlights are no problem.

The stand has a wider base than other 13' standard stands that I use, which I like.

My only complaint, and this is a big complaint for me, is that it is not air cushioned. When you have the boom extended with some 20 pounds of light and counterweights on it, it would be nice to know that the second riser isn't going to just drop if you don't have the think tight enough. It seems like a simple feature to include in a stand like this, if only with the bottom riser. Oh, well, I just make sure I tighten everything down well.

Comments about Avenger A475B - Baby Combi-Boom Aluminum Stand, Black - 7' (2m):

This "rock steady" combination boom/stand is capable of many duties. Need to "self-boom" for mic placement? Get one. Need to get that light over and on your subject? Get one. Need to hold a reflector or backdrop? Get one.
This very sturdy multi-use unit is up to the task!

Comments about Avenger A475B - Baby Combi-Boom Aluminum Stand, Black - 7' (2m):

Nice light weight boom for the money. Good for single head/grid or small bank.

Comments about Avenger A475B - Baby Combi-Boom Aluminum Stand, Black - 7' (2m):

This combi-boom is built like a tank, compared with the much lighter-weight Manfrotto. Spending the extra $40 on this one was definitely a good investment.

The one downside -- and it's a big one -- is that the stand is not air cushioned. Put a light and softbox on one end of the boom and a 20-lb. counterweight on the other end, and you're lifting and lowering a considerable amount of weight, with nothing to help you slow its descent. You've got to keep your grip very firm and use your strength to prevent gravity from bringing the whole thing plummeting down. I learned that the hard way the first time I used it. Also, to swing the boom around, you've got to loosen that same clamp that's used for raising and lowering; it can still come crashing down.

If this stand was air cusioned -- even if it cost $15 more to do it -- it would be worth it.

Comments about Avenger A475B - Baby Combi-Boom Aluminum Stand, Black - 7' (2m):

The Avenger version of the combi-boom is better built than its Manfrotto counterpart. This also makes it heavier and slightly longer, but also more stable, and I have found I can use it with smaller softboxes without using the counterweight if in a hurry and if I don't need to extend the boom by much. Another feature of this stand that I only realized after buying it is that it also makes it a lot easier to get your light sources low towards the floor without resorting to dedicated background stands etc. - just lower the boom and presto! The lazy leg makes this stand a perfect location stand - I don't know why this adjustable leg isn't more commonly found, I wish all my lighting stands had this feature. I will buy a second stand next time I'm placing an order with BH. The perfect location bag for these stands is the Lightware C6150 Stand Sack, one of the few bags that is long enough to accomodate it. The stand sack offers unusuably good value for a Lightware product.

Comments about Avenger A475B - Baby Combi-Boom Aluminum Stand, Black - 7' (2m):

I was looking for a reliable boom set-up that I can feel confident about in holding up a small to medium softbox w/ a hot shoe flash, both on location and at the studio. It might be overkill for a speedlite set-up, but I compared this to the Manfrotto equivalent 420B, as I'm sure a lot of people have. I'm glad I paid the premium for the Avenger. It may weigh a bit more (4lb difference), but for good reason. It holds up a Qbox24 with ease and I have no doubt it will hold up a monolight strobe and small/medium light modifier as well. I also like the fact that it's put together with nuts and bolts (a quality when buying premium), rather than riveted. I like the square tubes Avenger uses for it's legs as well, much stronger than round. I can appreciate those little details.

The only reasons I see to reconsider the Manfrotto version is the overall weight, both in transportation and load. The A475B might be more than you need, but the little extra support can go a long way in the future. The reversible spigot was not a deal breaker, but it would have been a nice option.

Comments about Avenger A475B - Baby Combi-Boom Aluminum Stand, Black - 7' (2m):

I use it for indoor lighting mostly but it should work outdoors very well with it's leveling leg(that is why I bought it, the boom was just a bonus). It is heavy but sturdy with it's wide footprint and goes high enough in the non-boom configuration. The only thing that needs to be addressed is the boom clamp. It does take a lot of force to tighten the boom as it will drop just by pulling down at the end with your hand. It would be nice if the two mating surfaces had mating grooves like the Manfrotto 124 Clamp for 3085 Boom Arm. It is very impotant that a counter weight is used before a light and modifier are mounted. All that said, I do like using this stand and will continue so.

Comments about Avenger A475B - Baby Combi-Boom Aluminum Stand, Black - 7' (2m):

All of its built really well. I am a little disappointed with the knob to tighten down the boom arm. You really have to crank it around. And the boom arm will slip and swing down to the ground if you have enough weight on it. Which could be a good and bad thing I guess. I find it sort of annoying. Its pretty heavy but that's what you get with quality. It will hold up a beauty dish just fine but I wouldn't trust it too much with anything but a small soft-box on the end of it. But if your looking for a stand for lightweight modifiers here is your guy. Works great for hair lights. Also keep in mind that its a 3 section stand and you loose 2 sections of height when using it as a boom. So where the boom starts is just above 6'.

Comments about Avenger A475B - Baby Combi-Boom Aluminum Stand, Black - 7' (2m):

Excellent, sturdy boom/stand. Easily supports (with appropriate counterweight) monobloc + 22 in. beauty dish. Well worth the money. Don't skimp on cheaper alternatives, too much at stake.

Comments about Avenger A475B - Baby Combi-Boom Aluminum Stand, Black - 7' (2m):

Simply put, this is a great combo stand. It holds my 22" beauty dish, Canon 580EXII, PW Plus II transceiver, and Opteka External Battery Pack with ease (all items on the boom). I also have used it with a Lasolite EZYBOX 24" softbox and held it all together with no load issues and/or problems. I've used it on-location, as well as in the studio. The large diameter footprint, sand bag counter balance, and good load weight on the boom (11 lbs.) is an added plus. Construction and build is great, in addition to the large size locking screw knobs throughout the stand. Lastly, it's easy to setup and breakdown with little effort; a quadruple plus!!! The only drawback (which in retrospect is a good thing) is the weight of the stand. Carrying it from location to location could be tiresome. However, it's good to know that it has a heavy foundation to support whatever light modifier and accessories you can throw at it. As with all booms, always bring extra sand bags for extra base support. Overall, an A+ product from this satisfied new user!!!

Comments about Avenger A475B - Baby Combi-Boom Aluminum Stand, Black - 7' (2m):

I use this stand on my 22" beauty dish. It holds the weight on the boom without a hiccup; Strong, sturdy, and securely. I have also used my 24" EZYBOX Softbox on this stand with equal results as the beauty dish. It's a heavy-weighted stand; which is a good thing, too. Lastly, remember that sandbags are your friend for counter-weight. Overall I'm pleased with my purchase.

Comments about Avenger A475B - Baby Combi-Boom Aluminum Stand, Black - 7' (2m):

This is a heavy, sturdy stand that will likely last for years. I wanted something incredibly well made since I'm hanging some expensive gear from that boom! I love that it can be used as a boom or a regular stand. The weight bag is also very well made. I use it with my 5 lb. monolight and small Photoflex softbox with absolutely no problem.