Newbie needs Help!!

[AKPakrat]

I've got $500 to spend on a flash system. My equipment so far is a Rebel xsi, 430exII, 70-200 f2.8, 16-70, and a couple of manfrotto tripods. All of my photo experience has been outdoors, so the inside stuff is new to me!!

[dave_p]

Well, what's your goal? How many lights do you want? If you want to go cheap and don't mind not having a modeling lamp you can use your 430. Check out the Strobist kits over at Midwest Photo Exchange. If you want to go wireless, consider getting a set of CyberSyncs or something similar from the folks that make Alien Bee's. (You'd just need a PC to Hotshoe adapter from flashzebra.com to make the CyberSync's work with your 430.) Going wired will save some money but you lose flexibility. If you want to add a second strobe, the popular contender seems to be the Vivitar 285HV. Have fun. Good luck.