Off camera flash setup

[MGphotography]

I am wanting to do some off camera flash photography, but i don’t know what to get or how to do it. I have a canon 40D and a 580EX II flash. I am torn on getting 2 430EX II and using my 580 on the camera as the master, or getting a Canon STE2 Speedlite Transmitter (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00004WCFY/ref=ord_cart_shr?_encoding=UTF8&m=A17MC6HOH9AVE6&v=glance)and maybe one 430EX II. I want to get into wedding and on location portrait photography. So what would be the biggest bang for my buck? Any and all advice will be appreciated.

[colormaniac]

Given the only two choices that you stipulate, it shouldn't be hard to decide. 580 EX II can be acting as a master without flashing. Then, the only difference is having how many slave Speedlites. In both cases, there are two. Yet 580 EX II is a master and also a flash. This gives you one more possible light to use.

But I could think of a situation in which the ST-E2 case is desirable. Suppose you are in a wedding, running around taking pictures. Then you probably have to use a bracket for your flash, in order to make your flash farther away from your camera. And sometimes you may even want to have two flashes on the bracket. In these situations, you need either a cord or you can just use an ST-E2.

[gonzogolf]

I'd encourage you to think about what sort of off camera flash photography you want to do. The reason I ask is this: For what you are considering spending for two canon speedlites, you could go a long way toward much better and powerful flashes with the alien bees or the genesis studio lights. I understand the appeal of the canon ettl system because I have it and have used it, but its expensive for little payoff. If you want to stick with smaller battery powered lights you would get much better bang for your buck with a set of radio triggers and some cheaper but more powerful hotshoe flashes like the vivitar 285's.