I hope everyone enjoys the video. Just a FYI, it does help me when you use my link in the description. I get a few bucks and it lets Westcott know where you're coming from. Thanks!
When I first saw your video late last year with your long boom arms, I tried to find the same brand you had, but the only brand I could find was Cambo and another brand called chimera. I wasn’t looking to get such a long boomer like your big ones so I actually got the chimera that is almost identical to this new Westcott boom that you’re showing. Regardless of the brands having these boom arms, makes it so much easier to working with all the different athletes which are taller or shorter. Plus, I bring it in and use it for school pictures also. But I want to pick up another one and I am pretty impressed with how much the Westcott is only charging $299 seeing I paid 500 for the other one. Thanks for sharing love the channel.
You bet! The larger boom I'm using is linked in my description also.
Месяц назад
James, excellent review, right to the point and covered all the considerations. After watching I realized everything is a tradeoff and for me and my work the benefits of the small model along with the drawbacks of the larger one....so I just placed my order. If I was anywhere near Columbia I would offer to buy your lunch at Maurice's Piggy Park (!), it draws me like a magnet on the occasion I have a long boring drive on I-20!
Thanks again, James. Well documented video on what to expect. For that price and utility I’m ordering 2 this month. If you could have added a brief view of the small westcott arm broken down for travel, that will help. Unless I missed it 🫣 Thank you sir!
You're welcome. The Westcott arm doesn't break down since it's already smaller than the other when it IS broken down! Feel free to dm me on Instagram if you need any help with Westcott gear.
Nice work James; I’m still using an old Manfrotto super boom (12ft)for the past 25+, a RedWing, and (2) C’s boomed. They handle everything well …except storage and airlines!
Great video James! I bought a Cambo boom about 6 months ago because of your videos and love it! And bought a fantastic Flashpoint roller stand to go with it. I might have to look at adding this too, especially for the price.
Fantastic review as always James. We are using the Cambo in the studio (the short version but with an extension) so we will do a side-by-side comparison when we get our review unit. The one thing that I still want to see in this type of boom is the ability to lock it at any angle, not just for assembly and disassembly (although this is a BIG improvement over the Cambo). The price is very attractive I have to say - I expected it to be higher.
Thanks Iddo! As a long time boom user I don't know if you would really need to lock it at every position if you have your counterweight correctly positioned - especially on a compact version like this one. The larger version when used as a overhead might be the only case I could see...
@@QuantzPhoto Yes, I was talking about the longer versions like you and I have. It happened more than once that people walking in the studio during production moved the light by accident. It would be nice if we could fix it in place especially if you are shooting something stationery that you want to shoot again and again (remember we shoot products not people so for us accuracy and consistency are very important).
@@QuantzPhoto Yes and no. We often do overhead shoots with very large softboxes - this might not be long enough for this - even our setup is not ideal for that although it works most of the time.
Excellent review- after seeing you use your larger boom I placed an order immediately and will never go back to the c-stand options. BUT the size does limit the larger boom - this westcot smaller option seams to hit that sweet spot. I’m ordering one for sure 👍
I've been using an Avenger D600 for a decade now as my main boom arm but these look way better in terms of ease of use. My only concern would be how they work with an internally monted softbox where the light is inside the softbox, do you find that the mechanism ends up being problematic in that case? I never understood why people use those awful little grip arms that come with c-stands. I remember way back when I got my first c-stand the first time I tried to use the arm my first thought was: "You have got to be kidding me". I bought the D600 a week later. ;)
I have a similar one for years now. It has a "junior" light stand mount, though. I tried using an adapter from junior to "baby" and it's too wobbly. The junior connection is great. I would be afraid that the baby connection (5/8" spigot) is not strong enough. My version doesn't have the friction adjustment in the connection of the last rod to the light/modifier on the parallelogram side and that sucks - I'm using a superclamp to arrest it.. Yes, the lightstand on wheels combined with this type of boom is ideal.
James, thank you for the wonderful review. I'm newer to the photo scene, can you explain why you wouldn't want to put a 5 ft octa box on the smaller boom? Is it not as simple as adding more counterweight? Thank you very much for your time and effort put into this.
It should (our Cambo can easily hold very large modifiers). What you need to keep in mind is balance. You need a serious counterweight for front-heavy loads and you must have a very secure and robust stand - we use a big Avenger stand with a crank - lifting this thing with a large modifier on it can be very dangerous on your own.
@@2541dhoward If you have room in your studio something along the lines of an Avenger Wind Up is a must if you are using long booms - just make sure you add enough weight on the stand if you are using a long heavy setup. Sadly I can't see something along these lines useful for users like James - it's just too big and heavy for travel.
So do you not use the Cambo RD-1201 Redwing Standard Light Boom anymore? This new Westcott boom reminds me of the c-stand and arm on it. I don't see a use for it since I have my Cambo Boom.
That C stand is a grip arm, not a light boom! Gave me an ulcer just watching it! They do make proper boom arms for stands with counter weights, etc. But still nowhere as nice as this Easy Boom!
Tbh not sure about Westcott’s grip gear quality, especially their internal parts. Not possible to extrapolate broadly but anecdotally one of their tilting bracket grip accessories got stuck. The handle no longer loosens the bracket and spins freely. Disappointing quality and thus far, haven’t had a similar experience even with lower priced brands. For grip that’s holding gear potentially costing 10-100x more and overhead, there’s some apprehension
