After more testing I returned the Bolt flash.  It worked quite well, but was not real consistent when used with the Radio Poppers.  I replaced it with a 430EX Canon unit to function as a slave.  The Radio Poppers will hopeful work better with it than the Bolt.

The 580EX is working very well.  I have been photographing high school and college basketball, and getting good images with the 40D/580EX combo.  the 18-135 lens is performing well and the autofocus is doing a great job.

These are taken at ISO 800, 1/250 at f5.6

I am using High Speed Sync (580EX)  at a college basketball game tonight.  It is working well at ISO 1600.

I have been working with the wireless flash system and it has taken me a while to get it figured out.  The Canon system operates a bit differently than the Nikon.  So far my impression is that the Nikon system is easier to use when controlling groups of speed lights.

The 580EX arrived today and I have begun testing is.  I also purchased a Bolt flash and have been testing the wireless OCF system.  So far it works fine.  I will have to do further work with the Canon flash system.  But my first impression is that it works well, but is not quite as easy to control the remote flas as it is with the Nikon System.

High ISO action photography.
I am impressed how well the 40D captures action.  AF is not quite as quick as the Nikon D2h, but is is very quick and tracks well.  High ISO noise is not bad also.

ISO 1600 with flash

1/250

Next test will be using High Speed sync to raise the shutter speed to eliminate the Ghosting caused by the players moving.

Here are some of the images from the Canon 40D, 18-135 lens.  Images processed in OneOne PhotoSuite 8
To view a slideshow of images click the link.

Winter Scenes