A Folding Wonder

Photographers are like cavalrymen - they are always trying to find new items of kit that are smaller, lighter, and more durable. They know that every ounce of weight saved means another mile that can be ridden - in the case of the photographer who backpacks, that extra weight or space saved can mean the difference between art and exhaustion.


This came to mind as I cruised the racks in the storeroom and discovered that we have a new line of folding light stands in stock. The brand is obscure - it appears to be marked as Uamanda - but the disign is brilliant.

It is an all-metal light stand for either studio monoblocks or strobist's speed lights that starts at 50 cm and rises to 216 cm with a broad spread of the tripod legs. The extraordinarily small compass when folded is accomplished by having the legs fold backwards along the central shaft. You could easily depend it upon a shoulder pack, or pop it into a suitcase or small car boot.

Best yet, at $ 85 and just under a kilo this is a snip - come in and get one before they float away on the breeze.