Impact Tungsten Two-Floodlight Kit with 6' Stands

The outside of this product is constructed well-extremely sturdy. The problem is with the metal sleeve inside the socket, into which your bulb or flash screws into. It is made very cheaply and fastened at two points at the very bottom that broke off immediately when I tried to screw in a flash unit for the first time. If you baby it, yours might last a little bit longer, but as I see it this failure mode is inevitable and it will only be a matter of time. Serious design oversight/flaw.

In Dec. 2020 I bought two of these to use with Impact 9' light stands and Method LED art lightbulbs. Last month one wouldn't turn on. I checked to make sure it wasn't the light or the outlet. When I unscrewed and removed the light I noticed one of the rivets was hanging out of the socket. It had broken off. The stand/socket is used in an art studio, so it had not been moved for about 3 months. The socket is still under warranty so I mailed it back. It was almost as much to do that as buy another one, and the mfr indicated it would be 4 weeks until I get it back. I would buy a different brand but can't find one that has the on/off switch on the cord, which is very handy.

I had considered buying something cheaper (all plastic) from a different merchant. But I'm really glad I spent the extra money on these (I bought a pair). They are very sturdy and well made. They should last for many years. They're also very versatile. I can use the bulb & umbrella combination that best suits my need, unlike some of the other options where the light source and/or diffuser are included. When I started out in photography, I used strobes, which is still a better option (IMHO) for portraits. But for inanimate objects that don't squint, or for video, or for quickie setups with my smartphone camera, continuous light is the way to go, and these make it easy. I had been using clamp-on work lights. But these attach properly to light stands and they accommodate an umbrella, making them a much better option.