OCF and AF Assist Beam

Hi guys,

so if I have a flash mounted on top of my camera, the AF assist beam would work as expected in helping with focus accuracy but what if I was holding the flash in my hand or something like that and triggered it with with a cable or a trigger? Or does it only work when mounted in the camera's hot shoe?

I *think* it will work when connected with an OCF cable, as well, but not when triggered wirelessly. I'm certainly not an authority on this, though

If you have an ETTL cable, its the same as having it in the hotshoe. The flash and camera dont know there is a cord in the middle. WIth a simple sync cord or a wireless setup its a different issue.

gonzogolf wrote in post #15769083
If you have an ETTL cable, its the same as having it in the hotshoe. The flash and camera dont know there is a cord in the middle. WIth a simple sync cord or a wireless setup its a different issue.

Well how would that work if I'm hand holding the flash and constantly changing the distance from the subject?

pixel_junkie wrote in post #15769098
Well how would that work if I'm hand holding the flash and constantly changing the distance from the subject?

The same way it works when you or the subject move with flash on the camera. PreFlash.

pixel_junkie wrote in post #15769098
Well how would that work if I'm hand holding the flash and constantly changing the distance from the subject?

As Bobby said. The same way it would work in the hotshoe. Its just casting some near IR light at the subject to give the camera some help in focusing. The bigger problem is if you arent aiming the flash at the subject while handholding it, it still functions the same, but provides no help.

Cool, thanks guys.

I remember trying it and having some success at close distance to the subject. Ideally, the projected beam should line up with the AF sensors, but even when the speedlite is on the hotshoe, there is still the problem of parallax.