flash for new camera

i have the canon rebel xt dslr. the built in flash jus isn't doin it for me. i have heard the better flashes are 'strobes'. thoughts and suggestions where to buy on this pls. all help greatly appreciated. main lighting problems are on indoor events, i.e. high school graduations.

thank you!
tanya

Is this for professional or personal use?

both, but mostly professional

Depending on what you want to spend there is a list a mile long. What is your budget?

i was thinkin along the $500 area, give or take, naturally. which is better or what is the difference between the 'strobe' vs. the speedlites? on the canon site i was looking at the speedlite 480eg and the speedlite 580ex. any comments on these? or is there somewhere else i need to look and research?

i was thinkin along the $500 area, give or take, naturally. which is better or what is the difference between the 'strobe' vs. the speedlites? on the canon site i was looking at the speedlite 480eg and the speedlite 580ex. any comments on these? or is there somewhere else i need to look and research?

I've got the 580EX and It's excellent - worth every penny :wink:

I own the 420ex & the 580ex. The 420 is used as a slave the 580 is the master & the flash of choice when needed.

I bought the 580 first. The 580 was $340 US including shipping and I spent $190 US including shipping on the 420. I got both from Amazon.

I love the flash, it has tons of power yet I am still using it blindly since I haven't read the manual. And even so I still get great results. One thing I will say, you NEED a diffuser of some sort for the flash.