580ex II and 7d

is there anyway to fire off the af assist beam in modes other than p?

It should happen automatically if required, just make sure you are in one-shot mode, I don't think it works in AI Focus or AI Servo.

-Scott

ok let me start again just to avoid the confusion
im not looking for any simple quick fix i have tried them all
i have - cleaned the hot shoe mounts, tried a different lens, tried a different flash, changed all the settings, reset all the settings, put the mode on one shot, change the focus point to a single point in the middle. On the 7d for some reason the af assit beam doesn't fire on anything other than p or the custom functions.

Like Swalter said, it should be working as long as you are in one shot and it is turned on.

but it wont, it only works in c or p. Sooo annoying

Try resetting all of custom functions.

i am holding my 7D and 580EXII right now... getting AF assist in manual mode... your talking the red lines?? not the flash burst like the built in flash emits??

custom function 8 set to enable

PS. works in AI Focus and One Shot not in AI Servo

Make sure you are in one-shot - it won't fire in AI-Servo.

i appreciate the help but like i said ive done it all, please read my post above before suggesting things. I do mean the red beam that comes from the flash, on my 50d it used to work as well. I tried my st-e2 and 430ex ii and neither of those produce the assist beam in m mode either. This camera is doing my head in! the wireless doesn't work either, maybe that has something to do with it

that doesn't seem relevant. I think that there is something wrong with my camera so im sending it in