Advice before I buy:

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n30_mkii

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Ok finally going to start ordering today, if I can confirm the following;
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Light Stands - Konig Version

Not sure if there are better alternatives without a huge price hike?

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Umbrella 40" - 2-in-1 Version
Anyone know what the quality of these are like?

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Umbrella 60" - Calumet 2-in-1
Anyone know what the quality of these are like?

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Umbrella Swivell Mount - Undecided
Calumet Version 1 - Comes with a coldshoe
Calumet Version 2 - Nearly Identical to the manfrotto version + correct spigots
Manfrotto 026 - I'm sure I read that another spigot is required in order to attach a cold shoe? But this reads ok?

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Coldshoe Adapter - Undecided
Basic Shoe
Basic shew with securing screw
I need to be able to secure all my Nikon Sb flashes to this.

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Super Clamp - Manfrotto 035 I need to be able to attach the umbrella swivell to it, is the 036 stud what I need? Are there any other alternatives to this? Is this similar with the stud attached? Or this which looks like it will hold an umbrella etc?

So as you can see there are a couple of things I still need a little help with. Also have you seen a better product elsewhere or any of this cheaper elsewhere?
 
I can comment on the light stands I had 2 arrive Friday :D

They are very nice little (only go to 2m tall) stands, the top has a standard screw thread attachment as well as (what I believe to be) the standard top of lighting stand thing. So they can be used without umbrellas just using your stands that came with the Nikon SBs (at least my SB600, SB800 and SB900 all came with a stand with a tripod attachment) - although you won't get much control through them though as there is no way of tilting the head down. The stands also come with their own little carry bag (the zips are naff though one of mine has broken already). IMO they are ideal for strobist style setups.

I can't comment on the other items as I bought clamps and umbrellas (rather than a 2in1, I got a silver reflective and a shoot through) from China through E-Bay - they arrived inside a week.

I'll try and post a few shots in here in a bit.
 
Thanks for your feedback, pictures appreciated. What is your feeling ragrding build quality of the stands? Are they fairly ruged and up to the job?
 
I think they're sturdy enough for speedlights, I wouldn't want to put a decent monoblock on them but for a small battery powered flash they are more than fine.


Top of the stand - Click for Larger Image


Height Adjust - Click for Larger Image


Top of Legs - Click for Larger Image


Leg Construction - Click for Larger Image


Stand in the Bag with umbrella and clamp


N.B. Images taken with my Fuji Compact so please don't expect anything special.
 
Thats great. thanks for the images. Just waiting to hear bck on the other pieces of kit from people.
 
n30_mkii said:
Ok finally going to start ordering today, if I can confirm the following;

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Umbrella 60" - Camulet 2-in-1
Anyone know what the quality of these are like?
Click to expand...

Excellent - thoroughly recommended

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Umbrella Swivell Mount - Undecided
Camulet Version 1 - Comes with a coldshoe
Camulet Version 2 - Nearly Identical to the manfrotto version + correct spigots
Manfrotto 026 - I'm sure I read that another spigot is required in order to attach a cold shoe? But this reads ok?
[/quote]

The Calumet one with the coldshoe hasn't been launched here yet, it's listed on the US site at $17.99:suspect:

I have both the other Calumet and Manfrotto ones, they are near enough identical, the Manfrotto one comes without the spigots though, which adds about £8-15 to the price each

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Coldshoe Adapter - Undecided
Basic Shoe
Basic shew with securing screw
I need to be able to secure all my Nikon Sb flashes to this.
Click to expand...

The coldshoe adapters are made by Sonia in India and also sold by Colinsfoto on Ebay UK. I have PC cord/hotshoe version and whilst it fits it doesn't hold an SB-600 securely, I have mine held on with gaffer tape :bonk:

I ordered some of the Stroboframe-style ones and they arrived yesterday, so I haven't had a chance to try them "in anger" so to speak, but initial impressions are good

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Super Clamp - Manfrotto 035 I need to be able to attach the umbrella swivell to it, is the 036 stud what I need? Are there any other alternatives to this? Is this similar with the stud attached? Or this which looks like it will hold an umbrella etc?
Click to expand...


I'm sure I came across somewhere selling the Manfrotto for £12-odd plus vat on special offer and you can also get a version in ARRI packaging (but with Manfrotto markings) from a seller on Ebay for about the same price as the Calumet.

The stud that is with the Calumet version will mate up with either the Calumet or Manfrotto umbrella adapters.
 
n30_mkii said:
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Umbrella 60" - Camulet 2-in-1
Anyone know what the quality of these are like?
Click to expand...

I have a couple of these and the quality is great, although they are BIG I mean 60" is a 5' diameter brolly. very nice though although I use mine with studio flash heads and do not know how good they will be with small portable battery strobes.
 
EdBray said:
I have a couple of these and the quality is great, although they are BIG I mean 60" is a 5' diameter brolly. very nice though although I use mine with studio flash heads and do not know how good they will be with small portable battery strobes.
Click to expand...

They are a tad on the large size :bonk:

I'm going to take one of mine out on a windy day with the lightest model I can find and do some Mary Poppins type shots :lol:
 
Oh right thats a shame about the new camulet umbrella adapters, they show on their site for £19.99 on the UK site
 
The umbrellas sound good then. Don't think I will have a need for more than two, so one of each I think. Also I guess the Flash Shoe With Setscrew is a better option if the new camulet adapter isn't out
 
Think I will phone calumet tomorrow to see about the new adapter. Anymore advice anyone?
 
A "Magic" softbox from Photomart for around £40 :thumbs:

2926080554_4595f71c29.jpg
 
n30_mkii said:
Umbrella 60" - Calumet 2-in-1
Anyone know what the quality of these are like?
Click to expand...

I have one of these and I think they are a bit too large. I use mine with an SB900 and the power has to be quite high which completely slows down the recharge time of the flash. It'll be difficult to use with speedlites because you can't get too close to your subject unless you want to stand infront of the umbrella... However, they are good quality, it comes packaged well and it comes in a bag to protect the umbrella.

I have the Calumet Swivel Adaptor and it's great, I bought mine off their ebay shop with an offer of a few quid less and it got accepted :) Not only that but they sent me two instead of one!! :thumbs: It fits and holds the umbrella well, the spigots it comes with are good quality too.
 
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