Manfrotto 420CSU - Convertible Boom Stand with Sand Bag - 13.4' (4m)

Comments about Manfrotto 420CSU - Convertible Boom Stand with Sand Bag - 13.4' (4m):

I like the dual use of this stand (i.e. light or boom) and the durability. Although, adding my Einstein and the 47" Octabox (P.C. Buff), the stand had trouble holding the light/box up. After tightening as much as I could, I was worried that the handle would strip or break on the stem connected to the stand. I'm sure there is a better way to fix this issue but the stand is worth it.

Comments about Manfrotto 420CSU - Convertible Boom Stand with Sand Bag - 13.4' (4m):

I'm basically very happy with this stand. It's sturdy and has good extension. I have an AB800 and with that on one end and a 15 pound counter weight on the other it can go out to full extension without getting bendy or anything. It is a bit heavy, so it's not something I think would try and take on location, but for studio work it has been great.
Beware though, this stand is NOT air cushioned, as I found out the hard way, while moving the stand around a bit the top tier for some reason suddenly came crashing down and I came a couple inches away from getting a 15 pound weight to the head.

Comments about Manfrotto 420CSU - Convertible Boom Stand with Sand Bag - 13.4' (4m):

This is a double-duty product-it can serve both as a stand and as a stand with a boom, which makes it a great value. It is especially great to carry on location, as you only have one thing to carry or lose, instead of a stand, boom clamp, boom arm, etc.

It is stronger than it appears in the picture, and the boom arm can hold quite a load-I use my Speedotron brown line M11 heads with a snoot or reflector without worry. I have also used a small softbox on the M11 without a problem.

If you are planing on using it as a boom, I would consider adding a second weight to the stand, down low, for safety reasons. The sandbag (which comes empty, BTW) is meant to counteract the weight on the boom arm. I would also recommend adding the caster/wheel kit if your intended use is as a hairlight, as they need more frequent repositioning than do lights on stands alone in my experience, and the setup can become quite heavy to lift or slide around.