Need Radio Trigger + Focus Assist Beam

I have done so much reading that I have confused myself. Hopefully someone can give me some direction.

I shoot a few weddings and a lot of events. My ideal setup would be to use my 430 on the camera hot shoe, mainly for focus assist in low light, and sometimes for fill light also. The problem is that I also want to trigger my two 580's on stands, preferably in ettl mode.

It is my understanding that the Phottix Strato will do what I want via a pass thru on the hot shoe, but not in ettl. It is apparently cheap and reliable and keeping a few spares won't break the bank.

However, can I use a PW's or Radio Poppers attached to the camera via sync cord and velcro'd to the 430 to achieve my goal of triggering the 580's with ettl and having a focus assist beam for low light? Help!!

Pixel kings have an LED focus assist light but it's quite bright and not as effective as the grid pattern that your 430EX puts out. Take a look at the reviews.

whuband wrote in post #13917231
However, can I use a PW's or Radio Poppers attached to the camera via sync cord and velcro'd to the 430 to achieve my goal of triggering the 580's with ettl and having a focus assist beam for low light? Help!!

Yes, this can be done exactly as you described it here. A bit more unwieldy, but when you need that af assist...

Thanks, Mr Beast.

Why not put one of the 580's on the camera and use it as an ettl master?

nes_matt wrote in post #13923835
Why not put one of the 580's on the camera and use it as an ettl master?

Oh crap! Yeah, sorry about that. I thought it was the same question about having a 430 or 580 on camera and then triggering wireless manual strobes through the pc port. That would work, but I don't think anything transmits ettl info through the pc port...I'd probably be best to have a 580 on the hotshoe, and a 430 and 580 off. Sorry bout that.

Looks like there's another option out now for focus assist: http://www.photoreport​er.com …ght-focus-assist-system/1

It can be mounted on the bottom of the camera or battery pack, so your hot shoe is freed up for the other things you want to do.

Does it look like this will help?

whuband wrote in post #13917231
I also want to trigger my two 580's on stands, preferably in ettl mode.


can I use a PW's or Radio Poppers attached to the camera via sync cord and velcro'd to the 430 to achieve my goal of triggering the 580's with ettl and having a focus assist beam for low light? Help!!

No you can't attach a transmitter to the camera via a PC cord and still get ETTL on the receivers.

Your options are basically -

PocketWizard TT1/5 - with 580exII or ST-E2 as master

Radiopopper PX - 580exI/II or ST-E2 as master

Phottix Odin - Using the flash above the Tx on an on-camera bracket.

Pixel King - Using its inbuilt Assist Light (not sure how good that is) (and no ETTL ratios).

Thanks