enlighten me

[DoWerk]

i currently have a 40D and a (1) 580ex II and my birthday is just around the corner now. So I was originally wanting to just get an off camera cord and just use my single 580 and flashing it a couple of times to light up my object with a semi-long exposure (mostly car photography)

now i am getting all confused and excited about this. i am new to flash photography (obviously) and dont know what would be best for me.
what would be the best way? (for the price) would buying a ST-E2 and setting the camera on a tripod and walking around with the 580 in my hand work best -or- should i bite the bullet and just get another flash.

im trying to learn how all of this works, but im not too used to the terminology of it all and keep thinking of buying things that i dont need

-i have about $500 to spend.
thank you for your time and help!!

[carpenter]

You can get something like this
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/335283-REG/Impact_2212ABH_Air_Cushioned_Black_Stand.html

with this
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/298709-REG/Impact_3117_Umbrella_Bracket.html

and use your ST-E2 and retain ETTL (auto flash setting)
or you can get something like a cybersync TX and RX for about $150 and use your flash in manual.

Either way though, put your flash on the stand and your camera on a tripod or handhold it. I don't use a tripod myself.

With the stand, umbrella bracket and cybersyncs, that would probably leave you enough to pick up a nice used flash (or new 430EXII) and buy another stand and bracket.

[DoWerk]

well i dont a ST-E2. but would buying another flash and using my 580(on camera) to tell the slave flash to fire, be the most cost efficient? or should i just get a trigger for my 580 and use that to fire a couple of times in an exposure while i walk around the car?

[jeromego]

well i dont a ST-E2. but would buying another flash and using my 580(on camera) to tell the slave flash to fire, be the most cost efficient? or should i just get a trigger for my 580 and use that to fire a couple of times in an exposure while i walk around the car?
Personally, the most cost efficient way for me is to use RF triggers like cybersyncs, PW or the cheaper ones like cactus.

[Titus213]

Personally, the most cost efficient way for me is to use RF triggers like cybersyncs, PW or the cheaper ones like cactus.

+1 - Cybersyncs

1 transmitter, 2 receivers - $210
1 430EX II - $250?

That gives you two off camera flash units in manual mode or one flash on camera and one off camera in ETTL mode.

[DoWerk]

awesome! the Cybersyncs seem very doable for me.. but which ones are the ones that i want to buy?
the CSRB or the CSRB+?

[Titus213]

I would recommend the CSRB. The + units are for a yet to be delivered transmitter that will allow you to adjust your AB strobes from the camera.

[jeromego]

awesome! the Cybersyncs seem very doable for me.. but which ones are the ones that i want to buy?
the CSRB or the CSRB+?
you can just buy the CSRB and CST. the CSRB+ were made to be compatible with their upcoming Cyber Commander.

[DoWerk]

thank you guys! very very helpful!

[krb]

Depending on how long of an exposure you are planning to use, you could simply walk around the car hitting the test fire button on the flash and skip all of the other stuff. You'd need to be at a very dark location, of course.