Love the C12
By Portrait Photography
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2026-03-09
I recently used the Cheetah Stand C12 light stands during a portrait session at Baytowne Wharf, and they absolutely impressed me.
Our model was standing on a 3-foot pedestal, which meant my lighting needed to reach higher than usual while still staying stable in an outdoor environment. The C12 handled it beautifully.
The height range made it easy to position my light exactly where I needed it for flattering portrait lighting without feeling like the stand was pushed to its limits. Even with the model elevated, I could keep the light slightly above eye level and angled perfectly for that classic portrait look.
What really stood out was the stability and ease of setup. Anyone who shoots on location knows time matters. The auto-locking design made setup incredibly fast, and I didn’t have to fight with knobs or worry about sections slipping while adjusting height.
At Baytowne Wharf there’s always a bit of foot traffic and breeze coming through the open areas, but the stand remained solid and dependable throughout the shoot.
For portrait photographers who:
• Shoot on location
• Need quick setup and breakdown
• Work with elevated posing like pedestals or stools
• Want reliable, professional light positioning
…the Cheetah Stand C12 is a fantastic piece of gear.
It allowed me to focus on directing the model and capturing the image instead of worrying about my lighting support. That alone makes it worth it.
Highly recommend these stands for portrait and fashion photographers who need mobility, speed, and stability.
Rickety Stand, Not Well Packed Or Versatile
By Tom
Rated 1 out of 5
Date: 2025-11-07
Legs Cannot Be "tightened Down." Granted, I Am Looking For A Sturdy Mic Stand To Raise A Stereo Pair Of Mics (not That Heavy, But Expensive!) For Choral Recordings Where The Stand Is In The Main Aisle. This Stand Is NOT Made For (and Granted, Not Advertised For) That Application! (Yes, That's Partly My Fault, But I Am Looking For A "sturdier" Light Stand Than The One I Have, And This Is Not It!) This Stand Is Really Meant To Support **only** Lights (not Mics, And Certainly Not Cameras), For Photographers / Videographers Who Are Constantly Moving Their Lights Around, As I Learned Later On A YouTube Video.
It's Really Rickety, Loose, Shaky, And **noisy**. I Would Not Even Trust This Stand With A Large Soft Box Or Heavy Light, Especially Extended, Or In A Venue In Which Moving A Stand Should Not Cause Undue Noise. I Don't Know, Maybe It's OK If You're Careful, Have "roadworthy" Lights, And Set It Up Away From The General Public, But It Just Seems Flimsy To Me. I Pinched My Finger In The Strange Leg Mechanism Trying To Figure Out How To Use It... Ouch!
This Stand Does Not Allow "inversion" Of The Spreader Like Other Stands Do In Order To Save A Little Space (granted, "inversion" Is Not The Best/safest Practice Anyway, But In A Location With Limited Space And Need To Avoid A Tripping Hazard, You Have Little Choice, And Such "inversion" Versatility Is A Must). The Legs Just Seem Really Loose And Cannot Even Be Tightened Down! If You Pick Up The Stand, The Legs Collapse, Even With The Thumb Screw Lock Fully Tightened Down! It Is Not Even Packed In The Factory Box With Any Padding, So Maybe They Deem It "durable" Enough. I Can Imagine Using This Stand Indoors In A Studio, Or Even Outdoors With Lights That Wouldn't Be Damaged If They Fall, But I Didn't Feel A Sense Of Security With This Stand At All. Maybe My Unit Was Defective?
No Instructions Were Included.
I Also Feel Very Frustrated That I Paid Extra For Shipping To Get It On Time For My Event (not B&H's Fault, Just Very Disappointed With The Product), For Which I Likely Can't Get A Shipping Refund, And It Just Won't Work At All For My Needs, But Maybe It Will For Someone.
Will I Trust My Schoeps Mic Pair On This Stand Where People May Bump Into It? Absolutely Not.
