Using Speedlite AF Assist without emitting flash >Possible on Canon 420/430/550/580?

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Hi all,

Is it possible to use the AF assist lamp on Canon Speedlites 420ex, 430ex, 550ex, 580ex and Metz/Sigma equivalents without emiting any flash whatsoever? i.e. Purely using the AF assist ability to aid focusing?

Is it a Speedlite model feature/limitation or is it an in body limitation? if the latter, which bodies will allow for this to work?

Cheers
 
with the canon flashes you can do this in the speedlite menu on the camera, for other brands not so sure - maybe a custom function on the flash itself?

can't remember how the exact menu item is described but you'll know it when you see it.
 
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its a cfn either in the manual (which is available online for each flashgun) or scroll through the flash cfn menu from the camera

not sure the 420 has an af assist light
 
At a guess, you should be able to set the 580EXII to be a master unit in a multi slave unit and turn the flash off (see page 39 of this manual http://www.eosdoc.com/manuals/?q=580EXII*). It will still emit preflash info, but that's before the shutter comes up. Is that good enough?
 
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