Everything you ever needed to know about C-Stands

C-Stands have been a staple support system in the photography and film industries for longer than many of us can remember, but there’s more to this seemingly simple tool than one might assume at first glance.

This video from Jay P. Morgan of The Slanted Lens shows us everything there is to know about these humble yet very versatile light stands.

In typical Jay P. style, we’re shown the anatomy of the C-Stand, the advantages they offer over typical light stands you might be used to using, and some tips and tricks on how to use them most effectively.

One great feature of the C-Stand is something Jay P. calls the “Rocky Mountain Leg”, an adjustable leg that allows you to raise and lower the it, letting you place the stand on uneven ground.

This is certainly a big advantage for location photographers that may often be shooting on location where the ground can be very uneven.  Personally, though, I feel the weight of C-Stands usually makes them far too cumbersome for location work.

For those of you who, like me, shoot on location with regular lightweight light stands, you can always modify your own to get a similar effect.

One feature that can’t be easily replicated with more common light stands is the ability to nest them or have them stand very close to each other.

Usually to get things this close together, I have to put multiple clamps on a single stand, which can cause some instability with increased weight and a higher centre of gravity.

So, what do you think?  Are you won over by the C-Stands?  Do you already use them regularly?  Or will you stick to the regular style light stands?  Let us know in the comments.