Best on camera flash with AF Assist?

I do a lot of nightlife work and am looking for a flash with a solid AF Assist due to the low light conditions. I currently shoot with a 580EXII on camera but will soon be using it for my main off-camera. I'm looking for a semi cheap flash for my fill light on-camera, but with a great AF Assist.

Could anyone help?

I can strongly suggest the Metz 58 AF-2.

http://www.metz.de …/product-information.html

You can always check the available on line reviews too...

A used 550EX sells for <$200 and can be used as an on-camera Master, giving full E-TTL and HSS for wide-aperture, razor-thin DoF portraits.

The ST-E2 would also be an option. ~$150. Lighter and smaller than using a 550EX or 580EX as Master, but couldn't give fill light either. I'd normally recommend the Yongnuo ST-E2 knock-off from ebay for $104 shipped, since it has better angular coverage/range and uses AA, but the Canon OEM does a better job with AF Assist, although it uses a funky battery.

You could also use your 7D's pop-up as a fill light and wireless/optical Master for the off-camera 580EX as Slave. But check to see if the 580EX still give Focus Assist in Slave mode.

clarence wrote in post #12762088
[...]check to see if the 580EX still give Focus Assist in Slave mode.

In slave mode, the flash only fires when told (at the power it is told to fire via e-ttl). It does not perform any other functions (like focus assist).

CiM_Photography wrote in post #12762403
In slave mode, the flash only fires when told (at the power it is told to fire via e-ttl). It does not perform any other functions (like focus assist).

Yep, that's consistent with what Chuck says on his site... in Slave mode, the AF Assist light is only used as a "ready" indicator:
http://super.nova.org/​DPR/Canon/580exFAQ/

Hmm. Well I bought a wireless transmitter/receiver (http://www.phottix.com …reless-flash-trigger.html) and planned on putting the flash on top of the transmitter for the fill on-camera. So a cheaper flash unit was my original plan.

There's no way I could use my 7D's pop up for the Assist, just because I believe people would think I had taken the picture while it flashes away to help focus. A flash with an AF Assist is a must.

j2photo wrote in post #12762707
Hmm. Well I bought a wireless transmitter/receiver..​. So a cheaper flash unit was my original plan.

If you're going to use that trigger, it has ETTL pass-through, but the Slave is going to be a simple slave... manual pre-adjust only.

So IMHO it'd be a waste to use your 580EX off-camera with that trigger.

Since you want on-camera fill with focus assist, I'd put the 580EX on-camera on top of your trigger, use it for ETTL fill flash and focus assist.

Then get a cheap manual flash to use off-camera with the trigger receiver.

Something like the Yongnuo YN-460ii ($46)
http://www.amazon.com …60ii-Pentax/dp/B003IZ9XTI

or YN-560 ($66)
http://www.amazon.com …Canon-Nikon/dp/B004GZLFHM

I'm looking to spend between $100-170 for a little more reliable flash. Does anyone know if this Sigma or Bower are any good?

http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …01_EF610_DG_ST_​Flash.html

http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …C_Digital_Shoe_​Mount.html

Thanks for all the help!!