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Customers most agreed on the following attributes:
from Radford, VA on 6/27/2008
I love this product. I use it as a background support at several different heights. The cross bar is secure and holds many different weights of cloth. This system is easy to set up and break down and stores very easily. The last shoot I used it at required the background to be moved up and down and with this product that was so smooth and easy.
[1 of 1 customers found this review helpful]
from Huntsville, AL on 5/31/2008
Before buying this JTL Background Support I read all of the reviews I could find. Some of the reviews concerned me, however, I am glad that I purchased this support.
The support bar comes in 4 sections, configurable in 2, 3, or 4 sections. I have used the support bar with 3 sections on my 10' x 12' muslin. The support bar assembles quickly by inserting each rod and then turning 90?. If I had to knock this product it would be in the support bar area. I haven't tried seamless paper yet but can see that the bar may sag a little under the additional weight of paper.
The support stands are great and quick to setup. They are air cushion stands so that if you have them extended with weight on them, they won't come crashing down on your head. They seemed to provide very stable support in my situation where I had small children tugging and pulling on the background.
As for the carry bag, I would have to rate it above average. It looks like it is made from Cordura Nylon and the outside seems to be very durable. While the inside pockets may not last as long as the exterior bag, everything is well organized for easy storage. It comes with a carry handle, snaps on the outside to hold things together, and interior pockets for all pieces. The zippers seem OK but time will tell.
Overall, I would recommend this product to anyone wanting a sturdy background support. Since this is my first and I haven't seen a "Pro" model, I would have to say that this support is definitely worth the price. The only thing that would be better is if it was made in the USA!
from Tulsa, Oklahoma on 5/28/2008
I use this for backdrop and they are sturdy and do not sag when used to the full expanse. I find seting up rather simple with very little problem in adjusting to full height. I am very pleased that I got this and for the price that I paid.
from Idaho on 5/21/2008
I bought this support as a lightweight compact portable studio item. The stands are very substantial and look like they will hold up well. it is easy to assemble, and the bag it comes with is very handy.
The only worry I have is that, at 12 feet, the support bar does sag quite a bit, but they are hardy and lock together. It holds a 107' roll of paper just fine.
from Annandale, NJ on 5/8/2008
I use this type of stand on my job and was shocked these were as good or better than the pro stuff we use. Even the bag is solidly built.
I am very pleased and can't wait to use it again.
My only issue was the top lock permitted some slippage, but seems fine under the weight of a 10x12 muslin.
from Columbus, Ohio on 3/24/2008
If you plan on using the triple bar attachment, be sure to buy extra bars. The two extra segments(bars) are useless other than extensions. They have no holes for mounting on the ends. [...]
from Brunei on 3/10/2008
Its very heavyduty item. Beg color is different from the picture. I received light grey color. But yet still awesome. Easy to assemble and dissemble less than 3 minutes. Overall I'm saying this is rock..
from barlett tn. on 2/22/2008
i don`t have to use the wall for background
[1 of 1 customers found this review helpful]
from Middletown, DE on 1/21/2008
This is a very nice setup. The carrying case is also much nicer than I expected.
from Sayville, NY on 1/21/2008
Great price for a very good product. Previous reviews made me wonder about the overall value - I wasn't disappointed at all. One user said that he couldn't use only 2 cross members (had to use either 3 or 4) - I had no problem connecting just 2. Another user commented about the travel bag being too flimsy - again, absolutely no problem here.
[1 of 1 customers found this review helpful]
from Bloomsburg, PA on 10/6/2007
Works great. Very convenient storage/travel bag.
I have used inddors and out to set up backgrounds and found it easy to use with drape backgrounds. I haven't used it with seamless background paper yet but it looks like it will be fine with that, too.
I especially like that I can adjust the width by selecting either one or two center sections. I haven't figured out how to use just the two end sections for a very narrow space. It might require an adapter or fiting to do that but it would be useful to have (for me, anyway).
Also, outdoors it will require sandbags or weights in windy conditions.
from Ponce, Puerto Rico on 9/27/2007
It has three bars that you could decide to use just single, double or the three of them.
[1 of 1 customers found this review helpful]
from Louisiana on 9/27/2007
Very sturdy and durable frame! It's also very large! Great for what I wanted (which was some studio type stuff).
from Houston, TX on 9/26/2007
excellent product.. Lightweight and easy to store.
from Akron, Ohio on 9/26/2007
More satisfied than I had even hoped to be. This is a professional piece of equipment. The packaging for transporting was far better than I had expected. Would recommend to anyone needing a unit like this.
from Milwaukee, WI on 9/26/2007
The product was better than I expected for the price I paid.
from Chicago Area on 7/27/2007
I need portability, this kit has it. I love the bag that comes included. It has compartments for the stands and hold down straps for the rods. Everything fits nice into the bag and easy to carry. Easy to assemble and take down. I have the 12' wide model, but I used only 3 of the 4 rods for my 10' wide backdrops. The stands have an air coushion feel as they do not just drop when the leg clamps are loosened. The leg clamps spin around when not engaged, but this is a tiny issue. There are no instructions, but simple to figure out, set it up in your home before you go out on location and you should have no problems. It apperars to be well constucted and I would buy this again. .
from Chicago,IL on 7/10/2007
Easy to take up and down
from Orange County, CA on 4/14/2007
This is my first background support purchase ever. It is easy to set-up, feels sturdy, and the carrying case is very convenient, enabling this to be a portable support system ideal for studio or on location lighting. I would certainly recommend this to someone looking for a background support.
I've already tried this with a 10'x24' Belle Drape muslin background and it worked flawlessly.
from Robbins, IL on 3/26/2007
This is my first time purchasing background support equipment. I love it. It fits well in small spaces. I used it on my first shoot and it was perfect. It was very easy for me to set it up the first.
from Bowie, MD on 3/26/2007
This is a great background set-up. Just like almost anything else in the photography business, you get what you pay for. This is indeed one very good value-for-money product that you just don't find very often in this hobby/business. Cheap is always CHEAP! Bite the bullet, buy this quality product!
I find this product well constructed and easy to set up. Also the carrying bag is also well made. This is the perfect item I was lookig for to do my on location shoots. I also bought two muslin drapes 10'X 20' muslin drapes with go will well with this support system. I now basicly have a mobile studio.
from Southeast on 2/12/2007
Overall, the wide background support system by JTL is well built, easy to setup, has strong lockdowns, and good air cushioning. The cross poles have slots with wing nuts to secure the poles to the stands. The case is well designed with individual pockets to separate the cross pieces and stands. The stands and poles have a very smooth finish, and don't have any loose joints or sharp edges to contend with. The poles are sectioned to allow use with 10ft width backdrops also.
The only caveat is the twist lock method to put the cross poles together. It is a tiny bit loose and can come apart with movement but I just place a bit of gaffers tape around each joint and that is solved.
from Minnesota on 2/6/2007
Very satisfied, would buy it again.
Storage/carrying case is as well made
as the stand. Great product!
from Maryland on 2/5/2007
I was quite surprised at the quality of this stand for the price. It sets up quickly and doesn't sag even at 12-feet, with muslin hanging from it. The cross-bar breaks down into 4 interlocking sections, but you must use at least two - which means your stand's overall width cannot be less than about 8 feet, PLUS some extra width for the footprint of the upright sections' spread-out tripod feet. The hardware all seems sturdy, the overall weight is very manageable, and the provided case is really quite nice. I've seen similar soft-sided cases selling for half the price of this entire product, so it feels like a very good purchase to me. At this price, I highly recommend it.
from Houston, Texas on 2/5/2007
The JBL background support stands are a quality made product. They are nicely finished & have no sharp edges to catch on backgrounds, or cut your hands on. They are made of a heavy guage metal that will last. A no-nonsense product !
from Kaneville, IL on 2/5/2007
I have found the back drop support system to be of excellent quality. They are good for setting up a backdrop and doing portraits almost anywhere. Thay are very sturdy and stable and the bag they come with make transporting to a site easy.