EX flashes

[Cathathome]

I have a 580EX that I want to get off camera, but have discovered that Canon's system doesn't play nice with slave gizmos or other non-EX style flashes. Neither do I want to spend $400 CAD on the ST-E2 wireless transmitter.

Upon (re)searching used flashes, I've come across a 380EX for a reasonable price, (less than 1/2 the price of the ST-E2).

Does anyone have any experience with the 380EX? Since it's an older model, there is little information on how it will operate in conjunction with the 580. Would I need a sync cord to do get the two flashes to talk to each other?

Thots?

Edit: never mind - I just found some literature that states that the 380EX cannot be used as a master/slave . Am now looking into the 420EX...