Budget Background system.

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Richard
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I'm looking into getting a small studio setup started, just something small at the moment.

I've seen quite a few backgrounds on here, that have been reviewed and ones for sale etc, so I thought I'd have a look on 'the bay' and i came across this first item:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=360315578608&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

This is a white muslin background from lencarta_direct which claim to be retailers of genuine lencarta gear.

Its 3 metres across and 5 metres in length, made of muslin material which i've seen mentioned quite a lot regarding backgrounds so I guess its the common material.

The other item would be a system of 'hanging' the background, and for that I found:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250624506575&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

It's a 3x3 metre background support, so up to a possible 3 metres in height with a 2 metre train.

This kit is £60.99 howver with £10 PnP - which struck me as a little pricey?



Could you guys please shed some light (no pun intended!) on whether or not these two items would be a suitable starter solution, and if not - possibly point me towards a cheaper/better/correct solution?

Thanks for your help,

Rich
 
If you are looking for a small setup, do you have the room for a 3m width?

The muslim background is essentailly a peice of fabric, you could probably get a peice cheaper at a fabric shop.

The background stand seems ok.

Is it a cloth backgorund that you want - means lots of ironing. I have just picked up a 2x2m popup background with train for £60 in the classifieds here, the tension in the popup mean I don't hav to worry about ironing it, and it is easier thatn lugging about backgorund poles and stands.

What kind of shots are you looking to take, just white b/ground high key style, or a mix?
 
I had queried the availability of space but i've just moved into a new house and currently my living room (without my sofa suite arriving!) is quite spare and has been painted a lovely 'wicker' colour but im realising that I do actually have quite a lot of room if needed.

The way I visualised it in my head (oh dear!) was that if it was just going to be a small affair then I could fold the background over a third or so to make it 2m in width, this is assuming the fabric is held on to the poles by clamps and I could just fold it before hanging it.

I'm idealy looking for a mix of shots - mostly single but some little groups, I noted on that first link that they do Black muslin sheets too and other colours, so I liked the versatility of the stands and cloth system.

The ironing doesnt really bother me, if kept folded nicely you would have little ironing to do before you wanted to use it wouldnt you? im no expert on ironing thankfully!

Interesting idea about the muslin just being a fabric, is there perhaps a fabric that would need ironed less but cost slightly more? that may be useful.

Rich

Rich
 
Vinyl is an alternative, easier to keep clean as well.

Do you have a curtain pole in your living room? If it is in the right place and has good fixings in the wall could you just use that?

You can fold the backdrop, but if you don't need the 3m width, then a 2m width will be cheaper. I used an old duvet cover that I cut open one end and split down the sides, which gave me about 2m x 4m of fabric. It didn't look great, but did the job. Hence the popup background.

I also used a brown blanket for a background which worked well.
 
Or if it didn't look too odd when not in use, you could mount a couple of curtain pole holders from Ikea into the wall (about £2 a pair) and get an ikea curtain pole (again £2-3) as a budget backdrop holder.
 
I had thought of the curtain poles actually but theyre situated in a random part of the room and i'd appreciate being able to make the setup at least semi-portable if I had to since I usually take a lot of pictures in my missus's place when im there, and I doubt she would be keen on me erecting some curtain poles in her house :p

I'll take a look into the Vinyl, and just see what else is on ebay before commiting to the muslin.


I can't see much else in the way of stands on ebay for this sort of thing, somehow £60 seems a little dear to me for whats there, maybe i'm just being tight, haha

Rich
 
I used an ikea curtain pole and the tall lamps out the living room to support mine. As long as I was only shooting the kids stood up, not grown ups standing it is fine, cos there only about 5 and half feet tall. You could get a couple of cheap £12 tripods (asda) and then just gaffa tape on an extension pole. As long as they were not taking too much weight. You would also have to work out something the stop the pole falling off.
 
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