I just purchased a Photoflex Background Crossbar (about $70). There are cheaper versions available, but the main reason I chose this one is that it is not only strong, but it telescopes from minimum width to 12 feet smoothly, rather than being adjustable only in 2-3 section sizes. So it will be easier to fit into different spaces as needed.
I have a couple 10' lightstands to use it with, but one is not as "heavy duty" so I might get another Wescott 10 footer for about 60 bucks so that it will be really sturdy when tugging at muslins and such.
As for tripods, I have a gitzo carbon fiber beauty from my old view camera days. Light, strong, and stable. I have an arca swiss ball head, and it works with the rail for my view camera, and the arca plates on my slrs (chose the arca plate option with these awesome handstraps --think there is a manfrotto/bogen option, too ).
If I were to buy a tripod today, I would likely opt for carbon fiber again, if I could afford it, but I would make sure that the tripod has a center column--mine doesn't, which was fine with my view camera, but height adjustments with the slrs are potentially more frequent, and therefore more of a nuisance with my current tripod. Depending on what kind of photography you do, one with an articulating arm sort of center column might be worth it. |
