What flash should I buy

I purchased the 580EX a couple of months ago and have been very pleased with it. It may be $400, but it was money well spent.

<< Not having wireless ETTL is also a drawback, I find that really handy. The Metz units are another good option, i'm told, but also without wireless ettl.>>

To be correct, "Metz...without wireless compatibility to Canon wireless, but they are compatible with Metz wireless"

A further benefit of Metz is that simply by changing the module foot on the flash, you can make the flash compatible with a different brand of camera, so it becomes compatible with other cameras you may own now or in the future...which the Canon flash absolutely is unable to do!

Wilt, can you give us a little more info on the Metz wireless system? Is it a simple optical slave system?

Tim, I don't use the Bogen wireless system, but got this info from the website www.bogenimaging.us
SCA 3083 DIGITAL SLAVE ADAPTER / Cat. No: MZ 53083

Slave unit for "TTL" or "A" cordless control.
The SCA 3083 digital slave adapter is a small multi-talented device. All current SCA-compatible metz models (of the SCA 3002 and SCA 3000 system and hand held flash units of the SCA 300 adapter system in conjunction with cable SCA 3000C) can be used for off-camera flash photography. The SCA 3083 can even be combined with cameras having no flash connecting facility - irrespective of whether they are analog or digital models. (Also see 34 CS-2 digital). Sole precondition: They must feature a built-in flash.

The slave trigger function, in particular, provides for individual creativity with specific light effects. The "SCA 3083 digital" enables the user to select any of the slave modes 1, 2 or 3, depending on the given camera. Moreover, cordless TTL flash control is possible.

1. Slave trigger function without preflash suppression:
In conjunction with the SCA 3083 digital slave adapter, all current models of the SCA 3002, SCA 3000 and SCA 300 adapter system can be used, the latter in interaction with handle-mount flashguns plus an SCA 3000C connecting cable. The given Metz flash is then operated as a slave flash unit in automatic or manual flash mode. It is triggered by any light pulse from any flash unit on the camera (be it integrated or external).

2. Slave trigger function with preflash suppression:
In conjunction with the SCA 3083 digital slave adapter, all current models of the SCA 3002, SCA 3000 and SCA 300 adapter system can be used, the latter in interaction with handle-mount flashguns plus an SCA 3000C connecting cable. The given Metz flash is then operated as a slave flash unit in automatic or manual flash mode. It is triggered by the main flash from any flash unit on the camera, be it integrated or external. Preflashes are ignored.

3. Slave trigger function with extended preflash suppression:
Functions 2 and 3 were developed for digital cameras without a flash connecting facility whose preflash function cannot be suppressed. Depending on the given camera model, the preflash is ignored by the SCA 3083 digital slave adapter.

4. Cordless flash:
Especially convenient as a result of the pratice-proven cordless TTL or automatic flash control (Metz Remote System)

In this instance, no settings are required on the flash units that are being used. A controller flash unit on the camera (e.g. 54 MZ-3, 70 MZ-5, 70 MZ-4) triggers cordless one or more external slaves (e.g. 54 MZ-3, 70 MZ-5, 70 MZ-4). With this form of off-camera flash a kind of light mediator has to be interposed. This function is fullfilled by the SCA 3083 digital slave adapter which evaluates the signals from the controller for the slave. The slave is then fired at the right moment and with the precise amount of light.

I only have the 580ex, i have tried nothing else but that so im not much help, BUT in saying that it's the best flash out there and i have had no complaints with it yet. I use natural light as much as i can, but for fill and inside shots (Where natural light isn't possible) it's served me well

Del

i'm quite happy with my quantum q-flashes