My next venture - flashes

Hello all,

I think it's time to get into flash photography. I've been looking at the Sigma 530 Super since I can swivel it for bounce flashes and I can use it as a slave later on.

I want a flash primarily for general portraits, indoors and outdoors. But, my goal is to eventually get a softbox and/or umbrella(s) for a small home studio that I'm working on right now. (It's a newly finished 3rd floor loft with plenty of storage space for equipment and 9.5' ceilings ) I figure I can use a single softbox/umbrella left, reflector right, and 530 on camera for fill... this might be an OK setup to start with (right?).

My questions are: Is there any reason not to get the 530? Is there something else I should be looking at getting instead? My budget at the moment is only about $2xx and I likely won't be buying anything camera related for another 3-4 months.

Let me know your thoughts.

PS. my limited stuff is in my signature and add to that two decent tripods.

What is 530?

http://www.sigma-photo.com …ashes_details.a​sp?id=3263

MSRP on that site is $420, but I see 'em online for low $200s.

I have a Sigma EF-530 as a second flash. It works quite well as a backup for my 580EXII and also as an off-camera slave, but my 40D body does not "see" it as a compatible master flash. So if I want to use it as a master, then I have to use all the buttons on the flash body itself. Then it works as a master with my 580EXII as a slave. That written, it can be easily controlled as a slave with my 580EXII telling the Sigma what to do either manually or eTTL.

I see no reason not to get it.