Background Stand Backdrop Support System Kit 8ft by 10ft Wide by Fancierstudio TB30

A few years ago I bought the Savage Economy Background Support System because it was recommended in The Digital Photography Book Volume 2 by Scott Kelby. It turned out to be shoddiest piece of kit I have ever purchased. They would jam constantly so that I had to carry some large pliers along with them. They pinched my fingers several times. They did not collapse to portable dimensions (they wouldn't even fit in my car trunk). I grew to HATE them.Recently I saw this kit from Fancier Studio that cost less than my Savage setup, but looked much more useful. It arrived quickly, of course, since fulfillment is by Amazon. First impression: The carrying case is cleverly designed and appears fairly well constructed. The stands were very easy to set up without pinching my fingers; they are spring-loaded to absorb any shock from inadvertent release. There are four horizontal pieces that, when joined, span between the stands. Three of the four fit together easily. One would not fit; the aluminum coupler was just a bit bigger than the others and couldn't be inserted into any of the other pieces (it measured about 31mm in diameter, the others were all 30mm).I emailed Fancier the next day, and they offered to replace the defective piece right away; they just asked for a photo of each end so they could be sure to send the correct piece. Once they received the photos, they emailed back that a replacement would be sent the next day.The three good pieces could be assembled to make a horizontal pole about 7 feet long, so I used this kit for an author portrait the next day. The kit worked very well, as expected. The were very stable, easy to adjust, and projected a professional appearance to the client. These have plastic components where a Manfrotto has aluminum, so they may not be as rugged as the high-priced pro gear, and maybe if they were subjected to daily rigors they might not last as long. But if you won't be subjecting them to much abuse, they should last a long time. If you have used equipment from Ephoto or Cowboy Studio, then you know exactly what I mean. These are nearly identical in design and quality.The new crosspiece came today, and (surprise!) they sent me all four horizontal pieces! Two of them can be coupled with the ones I already have to span over twelve feet. That will be handy for large group shots. The fit is very snug, requiring a bit of finessing during assembly, which also means there is almost no wobble when assembled. That gives me confidence when hanging backgrounds and other gear.I can recommend these for anyone who needs highly portable stands on a budget. And I really appreciate the way Fancier Studio treated me when I had trouble. I will choose them the next time I need lighting gear.

I'm a semi-pro photographer - it's not my every day job but I shoot between 10-20 weddings per year, several of which ask for an informal photo booth. Since really all it consists of is me taking pictures of guests against a fun backdrop with props, I decided to buy an inexpensive backdrop kit rather than sink too much money into something, and I settled on the Fancierstudio kit since it cost less than one of my memory cards.At 8ft high and 10ft across fully extended, you can comfortably fit a small group of people in front of this backdrop (depending on your lens) - all you need is some material to drape or clip to the crossbar. In terms of build quality, it's not terrible by any means but I wouldn't exactly call it heavy duty. If you've purchased cheaper lighting kits before (i.e. Cowboy Studio etc.), you'll know the sort of build quality we're talking about. A little heavier than cheaper light stands, but not by too much. Still, for $40 I wasn't expecting what I would call "studio quality" and so for the price I'm definitely pleased. The carry case has held up so far - no fraying or issues with the zippers which is common with cheaper photography gear. Putting it together is relatively easy - I did it for the first time on-location and had it figured out in no time. It sort of reminds me of an old backyard badminton set I had - it uses the same push-pin and snap system for the bars (probably not a technical term).Overall, this is a very decent kit for the price. If Amazon allowed half star ratings I would probably rate this at 4.5 stars, with half a star taken off for the lighter metal being used, but as it stands and for the price, I'm rating this at five stars. I would recommend purchasing a couple of sandbags to place over the tripod legs, this is just good practice in general for studio gear but even more so with this kit. I'm sure I will eventually be purchasing a sturdier kit, but for now this serves its purpose well and I have no problem recommending it.

I shopped around for a bit before purchasing this background support. I started at the expensive end, and finally decided to go for value over having "the best". I am so far happy with this product. After a couple of practice runs, I am able to assemble the product, including the muslin, in less than ten minutes. It's true that there are no real instructions, but everything is so straightforward that a little bit of staring was all it took to get the gist of it.This backdrop support is not heavy-duty, but it isn't exactly delicate, either. I'm an amateur photographer who visits senior centers to do portraits on some weekends (great practice and everyone gets a kick out of it!), and I'm pretty confident that this product will tolerate being set up and torn down a couple of times a week for however long. I'm mindful of how I handle everything, but I also focus on being quick! It's definitely too light for outdoor use, although I suspect that a few sandbags on the supports will give it a little wind resistance.A bonus is the carrying case. A little rearranging and I'm able to also squeeze my reflector stand into the bag. The bag itself is pretty sturdy feeling, and holds everything securely.I may invest in a professional grade support if I decide to up my work flow, but this one is a great buy! I'm very satisfied with this purchase.