Studio backdrops are a great way to transform a space. There are all different sorts of backdrops but I wanted a backdrop that folds up easily and doesn’t require lugging around a bulky backdrop stand. I also own some paper roll backdrops and it is so tough bringing out of the studio. What I like about this backdrop is that compact when stored, but unfolds to be the perfect size backdrop for shooting portraits. This is a review of the Impact Super Collapsible Background.
This is a review of the Impact Reversible Muslin Background. When I’m shooting portraits in the studio or on location, I sometimes want to use a backdrop that is not a seamless paper. Why? Seamless can be too uniform in color and also difficult to transport. I have always wondered what it would be like to shoot some portraits on a muslin background with subtle color variations, so I decided to grab one of these made by Impact and try it out.
This is a review of the Impact Two Monolight Softbox Kit. If you’re interested in learning studio photography and have looked at purchasing some gear, you know that once you start purchasing lights, light stands and modifiers, it can get expensive very quickly. Fortunately, there are some inexpensive options available out there, but are they worth it? While I don’t consider myself a master in the studio, I do have quite a bit of experience with different types of lighting equipment and, with a little use, can tell if I’d use something on a regular basis or not. Want to know what I thought of this Impact kit? Read on…
2x 300 W/S Monolights
2x 24×32″ Softboxes
2x Reflectors
2x Sync Cords
2x Stands
If you are into product photography, or perhaps sell items on a regular basis on sites such as ebay, it makes sense to have a lighting studio kit that can produce consistent, high quality results. The Impact Desktop Studio Shooting Table Two Light Kit is an out-of-the-box solution that enables you to quickly and easily start capturing quality product photos.
This is another well-built kit by Impact that provides good value for the money and is a worthy alternative to kits selling for significantly more.
SP Desktop Shooting Table
It consists of a frame and sheet of white translucent plexiglass.
Horizontal shooting area: 23.25 x 17″
Curved vertical rise: 23.25 x 14.5″
Includes: 23.25 x 35.5″ plexiglass sheet
As you know from reading this website, Impact makes a number of excellent products that offer quite a bit of bang for your photography buck. The Impact Turtle Base C-Stand & 20 Grip Arm Kit is no exception.
This Impact stand is an impressive piece of gear. It is attractive, very solid, and well made. If a C-Stand fits your studio needs, you should consider this model.
Accepts Wheels: No
Material: Chromed steel and aluminum
Minimum Height: 3.3′ (1.0 m)
Maximum Height: 5.9′ (1.8 m)
Closed Length; 3.3′ (1.0 m)
Footprint Diameter: 39.3″ (1.0 m)
Riser: 20″ (51 cm), 2 section
Grip Arm; Bar length: 20″ (51 cm)
Grip head: 2.5″ (6.35 cm)
Maximum Load: 22 lbs (10 kg) used as a stand
Attachment Size: 5/8″ (16 mm) male stud
Weight Kit: 18 lb (8.2 kg)
Stand alone: 17 lb (7.7 kg)
- Fold-away, twist and release locking legs
- Durable finish resists all weather conditions
- Innovative design on the C-Stand base allows individual legs to be set at any angle, and can be positioned in locations not possible with classic stands
- Ergonomic T-shaped handles are captive – they do not come off of the stand when unscrewed, preventing loss
- Each riser section has an external rubber gasket, which protects your equipment and fingers from sudden drops in stand elevation
Depending on the angle of the riser, this unit will position a beauty dish or softbox between 6-7 feet. It also acts as an excellent short boom/stand combination for a hair light.
This chromed steel stand and steel/aluminum grips are not only classy looking, they are well-suited for the task of handling professional lighting heads and light modifiers. This unit easily balanced my Bowens Gemini 500W head, reflector, and Photo Wizard control, which weighed about 8 lbs. Throughout the grip’s range of motion – even at 90 degrees – this Impact stand proved to be extremely sturdy. I put a significant amount of pressure on the grip arm with my hand and it didn’t budge an inch. As long as you align the riser with the upper leg, this unit is simply not going to move. With a larger softbox attached, I would likely add a 10 – 15 lb sand bag for extra stability.
The handles are very large and easy to grip. Locking them required very short turns and very little pressure. The base of the unit has a ring, which, once pulled, allows the legs to fold together for compact storage. Tightening the nearby handle ensures that the legs remain locked.
- Turtle Base C-Stand – 5.9′ (Chrome)
- Grip Head for Lights and Accessories – 2.5″ Diameter (Chrome)
- Extension Grip Arm 20″ (Chrome)
- 1 Year Manufacturer’s Warranty
This stand is extremely well made and stylish as well. It is a solid piece of gear that will probably last longer than the rest of your photo gear combined.
At $154.95, this stand offers a good value for your photography dollar. Oddly enough, I found that Impact also makes another variation of this stand which extends to nearly 11 feet, includes a 40 inch arm, weighs 5 lbs more, but costs less – $128.95. The reason for this price difference is not apparent from the specifications. Perhaps Impact judged that a slightly smaller and lighter C-Stand should carry a premium price tag.
It is tough to suggest any improvements apart from some optional wheels, which might be useful for hard core studio photographers, who need to move their gear quickly with minimal effort.
Impact has made a solid C-stand and grip combination which compares favorably to those made by the name brand manufacturers. The only caveat I would add is that the Impact Turtle Base C-Stand Kit – 10.75′ may be a better value if you need the extra height and weight isn’t a concern.
This Impact stand can go toe-to-toe with any made by Kupo, Avenger, Matthews, and other studio equipment companies.
You can find the Impact Turtle Base C-Stand & 20 Grip Arm Kit at B&H Photo for $154.95.
Imagine that instead of setting up for weeks’ worth of fashion photography, complete with models, hundreds of outfits, hair stylists, and makeup artists, you create a virtual catalogue based on computer generated models, photos of body parts, and photographs of clothing items and accessories that customers can interact with. No glamorous models. No famous photographers. No make-up artists. No hair stylists. No expensive studios. Sound surreal? It is already a reality – a virtual one – but a reality nonetheless. Looklet is a company that has developed and delivered the technology that makes this scenario possible.
Ever since my days of working in an engineering software company, I have been keenly interested in seeing how fast CAD and imaging innovations would develop and how far they would progress. First came 2D wireframe modeling, which rapidly progressed to 3D surface and solid models. Eventually, integrated CAD modeling software enabled mechanical engineers to provide detailed “walk throughs” of ships, buildings, and car designs. The process of “rendering” further enabled engineers to create much more realistic looks for their designs. The associated rendering software, which blended realistic surfaces, textures, shading, and light reflections on the engineering models, required very expensive computer software and servers – often costing upwards of $150,000 or more. The rendering process could easily take a few days before the software completed its magic. And while impressive in their day, the resultant animated “walk throughs” of the objects could be rather slow and amateurish compared to the simplest of today’s video games.
Creative studio photography can be both challenging and rewarding. In the beginning, when we just start taking the first baby steps to improve our photography skills, we always start out by utilizing available light. It does not take very long for most people to figure out that it can be extremely difficult to create beautiful photographs in low light environments, especially indoors. Naturally, we start looking for answers on how to get around the low light problem and we end up buying faster lenses and better cameras. Only to find out later that even better and more expensive camera gear cannot properly capture a badly-lit scene. The last resort then becomes flash photography – a subject that scares the heck out of many photographers out there.
Do you need to take photos of small objects or products, maybe in order to sell something on E-Bay or Craigslist? You could make a white walled box out of paper or sheets, but doing so can be a bit of a hassle. What if you had a pre-assembled light shed that is easy to set up and quick to take down? The Impact Two-Light Digital Light Shed Kit is a ready to go kit to help you take product shots easier. Let’s take a look at it and its capabilities in more detail.
What’s Included:
1. Impact’s Extra Large Digital Light Shed is a high-quality, translucent cloth material housing for photographing small and medium products that can be lit with daylight, HMI, electronic flash, fluorescent, quartz and tungsten light sources.
Every photographer knows that a background can make or break a photo and for that reason a clean, non-busy background is desirable for many photos. Having a light, portable and inexpensive system is helpful for both portraits as well as product photography and the Impact Background System Kit with 10′x12′ Black and White Muslins may fill that need for you. The kit for this quick review of how it handles has been kindly provided by B&H Photo.
What’s Included:
a.Impact Background Support System – 12′Wide
The Impact 12′ Background Support System will support seamless paper up to 11′ in width, as well as accommodate the 12′ width of any brand of muslin background. Total weight distributed across the length of the crossbar should not exceed 20 lb.
This is a review of the Impact Flourescent Cool Light Two Fixture Kit. When most people think of studio lighting, they think of flash or strobe lighting. There is another option, though. Continuous light sources are a great alternative. They allow you to see exactly how the light is going to fall on your subject, you can see the ratio of light to shadow, and they are much easier to use if you’re using multiple lights and don’t have a lot of studio experience. Additionally, you can use them to light video. I was very excited to test out these Impact fluorescent lights in my studio to see if they’d be something I could add to my lighting arsenal.
Input Voltage – 120VAC
Lamps – 5 (per head)
Ballast – In each bulb of choice
Reflector size – 18.5″
Mounting – Standard 5/8″
