how to have AF assist and radio trigger?

I'm a newbie to flash. Therefore need some help here. I have a 5D and 60D, 580ex and 430 ex. I've tested triggering 580 ex and 430 ex with 60D builtin wireless trigger, or trigger the 430 ex with on-camera 580ex, as I understand this is optical trigger. However I noticed that the range or the placement is limited for the optical slave.

I wonder if I get a radio trigger, and in the meantime using either 430 or 580 on 5D for AF assist in the case of dark environment where AF doesn't work, how shall I set it up? I guess that I need to connect the radio trigger to 5D via PC port, since the hot shoe will be taken by the external flash ? Does radio triggers normally support PC port connection? Is there a way I can disable external flash firing flash, but only IR for AF assist? I don't see it in 5D menu.
How about for 60D? I know it doesn't have PC port, so that means I can't use external flash and radio trigger at the same time on hot shoe?

Sorry for so many questions.

thanks a lot!

IIRC AF Assist will not work unless the flash is on the camera. I am not sure if that applies to the Pocket Wizard Flexes since they are used in EFF Mode but I would bet that they would not work since they on camera menus do not work when a flesh is in a Mini on top of the camera. or at least on my 40D.

genjurok wrote in post #12982138
I'm a newbie to flash. Therefore need some help here. I have a 5D and 60D, 580ex and 430 ex. I've tested triggering 580 ex and 430 ex with 60D builtin wireless trigger, or trigger the 430 ex with on-camera 580ex, as I understand this is optical trigger. However I noticed that the range or the placement is limited for the optical slave.

Aim the sensor on the front of the Slave flash at the master. Then rotate the head and aim it at your subject. I agree that using the Canon Wireless System can be limiting in certain situations.

Yes, but that's a broad question. Some will work right out of the box, and with others, you'll need to buy an adapter or cable.

Yes, read your manual. It's under the Custom Functions.

You can buy a hot shoe adapter that has a PC port on the side. Then you can mount the flash on top of the adapter as well.

Blackey Cole wrote in post #12983309
IIRC AF Assist will not work unless the flash is on the camera. I am not sure if that applies to the Pocket Wizard Flexes since they are used in EFF Mode but I would bet that they would not work since they on camera menus do not work when a flesh is in a Mini on top of the camera. or at least on my 40D.

Using the Pixel Knight triggers, I was able to use the AF assist on off-camera slaves. With these triggers, the flash thinks it's still on the camera, so AF assist still works. I'm not sure what other triggers can do this, though.

Thanks to everyone for the help! Appreciate it

klr.b wrote in post #12983559
Using the Pixel Knight triggers, I was able to use the AF assist on off-camera slaves. With these triggers, the flash thinks it's still on the camera, so AF assist still works. I'm not sure what other triggers can do this, though.

Actually I was thinking about getting the Pixel knight tr-332 radio trigger for e-ttl and HSS too.

Interesting! Did you find that the AF assist from off-camera slaves work properly or accurately? How does it work, is it the same way as on-camera external flash, when you half press shutter, the IR AF assist beam is fired, from the off-camera slave in this case?

Thanks a lot!

I got the Pixel radio trigger a few weeks back. I've used it on the 7D on every studio session since, and the AF works just fine, with a Cybersync setup.

genjurok wrote in post #12983856
Actually I was thinking about getting the Pixel knight tr-332 radio trigger for e-ttl and HSS too.

Interesting! Did you find that the AF assist from off-camera slaves work properly or accurately? How does it work, is it the same way as on-camera external flash, when you half press shutter, the IR AF assist beam is fired, from the off-camera slave in this case?

Thanks a lot!

It actually surprised me when it went off because no one really talked about that feature. Yes, it works the same way. The only thing is with the AF Assist, the flash is meant to be mounted on top of the camera. This lines up the AF points on your camera with the AF beams. So there's a chance that the points won't align if you use it off camera. It worked for me, though.