exp. lock and focus assist beam

On my 30D and 580ex II the focus assist beam doesn't seem to fire when in Av mode even tho the focus assist beam is set to emit.
and even with changing the cF. to emit only on external it still doesn't fire. am I missing a cF on the camera or the flash that needs to be set?

and when I tried to use the * to lock exposure it put a little * as long as I held it but the exp. didn't lock. Does the AEL not function when a hotshoe mounted speedlight is attached?

If you're in AI Servo focusing mode the beam won't emit... check that?

The AF Assist Light doesn't light when the camera is in AI Servo mode. You didn't say if this was the case or not.

DisrupTer911 wrote in post #6047295
On my 30D and 580ex II the focus assist beam doesn't seem to fire when in Av mode even tho the focus assist beam is set to emit.
and even with changing the cF. to emit only on external it still doesn't fire. am I missing a cF on the camera or the flash that needs to be set?

and when I tried to use the * to lock exposure it put a little * as long as I held it but the exp. didn't lock. Does the AEL not function when a hotshoe mounted speedlight is attached?

No, it doesn't. When there's an EX (or compatible) flash in the hotshoe, the "*" becomes an FEL button instead of an AEL button.

ahh there we go, AI Servo was the case in this situation. thanks!

ah okay, now i understand the FEL/AEL button when the speedlite is attached

Thanks guys!