Today, we will be taking a look at an affordable boom arm we have been using for the past few months – the Westcott Easy Boom, together with the optional new 28” extension arm.
About Westcott
Westcott (formerly F.J. Westcott Co.) is one of the oldest manufacturers of lighting equipment and accessories in the world, with roots going all the way to 1899 (it was founded as a school supply company before moving to photographic and video lighting solutions).
Today, the company, based in Ohio, designs and produces a range of products aimed at both professionals and enthusiasts, including LEDs, strobes, umbrellas, reflectors, light-shaping tools, and various accessories.
We have been using the company’s Scrim Jim Cine Kit (which we bought with our own money) for some time, and today, we will be looking at Westcott’s Easy Boom with its new extension arm.
In the box
In the box, you will find the main part of the Easy Boom, locking knob, the User manual, the Steel Locking Pin part, 39.5″ Safety Wire, Weight Plate Clamp, a Refillable Weight Bag, and the 28” (or 14”) extension part.
The main parts of the 28″ Easy Boom Kit (there are also cable holders)
Design
The Easy Boom has a main front part, a counterweight option in the back (either the plate or the Refillable Weight Bag), and the 14” or, in our case, the new 28” extension. Assembly is quick, and no tools are required. You will need to provide the counterweight, but that should be readily available in most sports stores.
Once you place it on a secure stand (the heavier the better, this is not a toy) and lock it in place using the special threaded pin on the top, you can mount your light head. As we will discuss later, this pin is a highly welcome safety feature as it locks the boom in place when you attach and detach the head.
An assembled Westcott Easy Boom with weights
For years, the Dutch company Cambo had a series of booms called Redwing with standard and mini versions, that has a range of accessories and lengths. We have been using the more compact mini version with a 30” extension, which is possibly the closest option from Cambo compared to the Westcott Easy Boom in terms of size.
Here are some important measurements of both the Easy Boom and our Cambo units:
- Total length – 168cm~ (Cambo mini with 30” extension – 178cm).
- From the stand to the light – 110cm (Cambo mini with 30” extension – 120cm).
- Disassembled (main part) – around 95cm (both units).
While both booms look more or less similar, removing the extension arm on the Easy Boom is super simple and done without tools, using a very well-made lock. On the Cambo, removing the extension requires tools and is not something that you would like to do if you don’t have to.
One of the most dangerous aspects of using a boom like the Cambo Redwing is when you need to remove the light head, causing the front extension to shoot upwards due to the counterweight in the back. This is dangerous for a single operator to do and should preferably be done with an assistant.
Angle markings on the boom handle
With the Easy Boom, this issue is resolved with the special pin that can lock the arm in a 90-degree position so it will not shoot up when you remove the light head – a very important safety feature. Sadly, there is still no way of locking the head in any position you want, which could have been even more useful to prevent the position of the light from being changed by accident.
Originally, the Cambo didn’t have a fitness weight option, only weight bags, but now you can order it with a fitness weight. We made our own DIY version that works better than both the Cambo and Westcott holders, as it accepts plates on both sides, increasing stability when the boom is removed (alternatively, you can just remove the plates before moving the boom).
The Cambo system does have different head extensions, ranging all the way from 12” to 48” (as mentioned, we have the 30”). It would be nice to have these options for the Easy Boom as well. There is also a much larger Cambo boom that is designed for huge studios and large productions.
The boom’s weight holder
Usage
We have used the Easy Boom on several productions and shoots, both for video and stills, and it worked very well. It’s easy to control the angle of the light even with heavy modifiers, and it feels very secure when in use.
The 28” extension is typically enough to place a light behind the subject, with the stand out of the shot. This, of course, depends on the modifier used, the stand, and the composition. In some situations, we would have liked to have a slightly longer boom.
One small drawback with the boom: Westcott didn’t include a built-in connecting point for the security cable. You can sort of get around this, but it would be nice to have one built in.
Two other notes. The first is that this type of boom arm, especially when paired with a heavy light modifier, needs to be used with a heavy-duty light stand, preferably one with a wide base and wheels. This is not a boom you would want to use with a portable stand or C-stand.
A second, related point is lifting the boom once you have your light and modifier in place. To do this safely, we highly recommend having a second person to assist you.
Alternatively, and this is something we recommend if you can afford it and have the room in your studio (as this is not portable), is to use a light stand with a crank. We use one from Avenger for our Cambo boom arm, and we are seriously considering getting another one for the Easy Boom. Despite the cost, it makes the use of the boom so much easier and safer.
The Westcott-Easy-Boom in a real-world shoot (lighting the background behind the model)
Conclusion
The Easy Boom has proved to be an indispensable tool in our studio in recent months, both for stills and video work. It allows us to position the light in angles and places which would be difficult otherwise, and is very simple to set up and manipulate.
No less important is the safety aspect. The Easy Boom locking option allows you to remove and replace a light head without the fear of the arm flying up in the air, something that we experienced many times with other booms.
All in all, the Westcott Easy Boom is a fantastic product with almost no downsides, and compared to the immediate competition from Cambo, it has practically only advantages, including a much more affordable price tag.
The Westcott-Easy-Boom center part – easy assembly
Pricing
Talking about the price tag, the Westcott Easy Boom sells for $330, and the version with the 28” extension sells for $350. As a comparison, the Cambo Redwing miniLight Boom sells for over $700, and the 30” extension for an extra $157. The Avenger Wind Up stand sells for around $900.
We want to give a special shout-out to our colleague and friend, photographer James Quantz Jr., who developed with Westcott the Westcott Pro Light Mods series with 3 different sizes for different size reflectors (you can see it in action in our video above its very cool and works great with gels and RGB COBs):
- Westcott Pro Light Mods Mini 5″ – $33.
- Westcott Pro Light Mods Mini 7″ – $35.
- Westcott Pro Light Mods Mini 11″ – $38.
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Iddo Genuth 
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