cardiff_gareth wrote:
Personal preferance - how mush space have you got and how 'mobile' so you want it Its down to you really

cardiff_gareth wrote:
Which Metz 36 does you have? The later 36-AF4 or the 36 C-2 ?
According the the Metz site the 36-AF4 doesn't have manual outputs so on a wireless trigger I think it'll be firing at full power and that may be a little OTT for some situations.

Look on Ebay for any flashgun, make doesn't matter as its not going on the hotshoe and TTL isn't needed. Only the ability to have manual flash outputs and maybe a PC socket on it is all that is needed. Of course a powerful gun with a high GN is nice but it all depends on what your shooting etc

The umberellas you linked look good

Anvh wrote:
Cactus v4 use cheaper batteries AAA for the receiver which drains the fastest and I like the styling better since it's less high.

Instead of the Vivitar 285, you can look at the Yongnuo YN460-II or the newer and power-fuller Yongnuo YN-560. These are probably the cheapest new flashes you can buy with the such power levels.

For the stands I got Lumopro since the reviews were favourable against the Manfrotto ones while costing less, they are only hard to get in the UK. Couldn't found a shop so fast

As for the umbrella's get the 2in1 type, these are basically shoot-through umbrellas with a cover to make them a normal white umbrella's
White indeed bounce less light as silver but, the shoot through is better since you can place the light source (the umbrella in this case) closer to the subject.
I believe the guy on the strobist blog wrote an article about that.

cardiff_gareth wrote:
Hope you read this in time !

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Nikon-SB-26-Flash-Excellent-Condition-Looks-New-/280528232...

Nikon SB26 - 10 mins to go - currently £26

well recommended for strobists

http://strobist.blogspot.com/2006/05/for-few-dollars-more-nikon-sb-26.html