A little help needed!!

I abhor the flash, but it is a necessary evil. I want it to be as simple as possible with the best results of course ;)

I have been looking at a few options and am more confused than ever! I am shooting with the Canon 10D & Canon 20D.

The setup is needed mostly for portraits taken on site. It seems that customers really aren't too happy with me setting up a 1000 watt softbox in the center of their living rooms, hmmm I wonder why? :roll:

I would love a hand held like this -- http://www.photo.net/ezshop/product?product_id=4104 --- which is the Canon 480eg Speedlite BUT I would want to use it as a master and I am not sure that I wuold be able to do that without investing more money, if at all. I was looking at the 580ex & 2 420ex for that option, which would be fine if I could attach the flash to the side of the camera. I am searched out. Anyone know if this is possible -- to attach a 580ex to the side of the camera.

Has anyone ever used or heard of this --- http://secure.mycart.net/catalogs/catalog.asp?prodid=3354218&showprevnext=1

Anyone? Ideas?

It's expensive, but I use a flash bracket from Really Right Stuff. http://www.reallyrightstuff.com/flash/index.html

Of course, you'll need a plate or L-bracket for arca-swiss in order to use this.

There are other flash brackets available, but I don't know if they'll allow you to rotate the flash to where you want it.

I have not used the Gary Fong flash appliance but I have used and would recommend Sto-Fen diffusers. Lumiquest has a mini softbox that attaches to the head of your flash with velcro that might also meet your requirements.
My mobile portrait studio consists of a 24x36 softbox, 36" umbrellas (shoot-through, silver or gold) and an AC slave flash for a hair light. My clients have yet to express any issues about my setup.
I did look at the ST-E2, 580EX and 420EX setup but learned just how limiting the ETTL II flash metering system really is. I shoot in manual mode with my old strobes and trust my Minolta IVF to balance my lighting.

Now that is a neat looking flash bracket
http://www.reallyrightstuff.com/flash/index.html

:shock: My god, Carl, that thing is quite the monster flash bracket.