Since I’d like to get into some wireless triggering of flashes, I’m looking for some cheapper flashes I can use and trigger them remotely.

I have a Sigma EF500 DG Super, but it doesn’t get triggered very well. So I’m going to sell it, and pick up something else (maybe an older Canon 54ez, or a Nikon SB-2x) to use along with the Vivitar 285HV flash.

Flashes I’ve been considering are
– Canon 540ez, 430ez, 420ez (the 420ez is slightly less powerful)
– Nikon SB-24,25,26,28
– Minolta 5400xi, 5400HS,  5200i, 4000AF
– Vivitar 285HV

I will add other flashes here as I come across them.

The three main necessary features for a flash to be worthy of my consideration is ability to vary the power of the flash, and be able to be triggered easily, and decent flash output (no wimpy flashes please). With respect to the second requirement, that one can easily be hacked to add a sync port to pretty much any of the older flashes if the hot shoe does not trigger it.

The Nikon flashes are the usual strobists choice. So that makes them hard to come by, and not very cheap due to their popularity. The Vivitar flash is also popular. I haven’t seen any strobist talk about the old Canon flashes, never mind the Minolta flashes.

Speaking about the Minolta flashes, hare is a chart with all the Minolta flashes, and their features.
There is also a collection of Minolta manuals here.