Back Button Focus How to Focus Lock with a Nikon D-800: I am doing something wrong and need help. I BBF and want to lock the focus as I recompose

Jim S Loc: Barrington RI, DC now Hilton Head,

I am doing something wrong and need help.

I BBF and want to lock the focus as I recompose - not working and not sure how to do it. I can not find in the manual or two books I have on the D-800 so HELP!!!

buenaventura43 Loc: Rockland Co. NY

Press the BBF button,don't take out your finger in there while recomposing but the auto focus mode should be in AF-S

Jim S wrote:

I am doing something wrong and need help.

I BBF and want to lock the focus as I recompose - not working and not sure how to do it. I can not find in the manual or two books I have on the D-800 so HELP!!!

tomglass Loc: Yorktown, VA

Jim S wrote:

I am doing something wrong and need help.

I BBF and want to lock the focus as I recompose - not working and not sure how to do it. I can not find in the manual or two books I have on the D-800 so HELP!!!

I have a D7000, but I think it works the same way... once set up properly, press the button to focus, release the button (focus is now locked), compose the shot and trigger the shutter. Take as many shots as you like and it should not refocus - as long as you/subject are not moving.

Dngallagher Loc: Wilmington De.

buenaventura43 wrote:

Press the BBF button,don't take out your finger in there while recomposing but the auto focus mode should be in AF-S

Most will say use AF-C mode because with BBF you control when it focuses anyway, so it can act like AF-C or AF-S based on pressing and holding or pressing and letting up.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Jim S wrote:

I am doing something wrong and need help.

I BBF and want to lock the focus as I recompose - not working and not sure how to do it. I can not find in the manual or two books I have on the D-800 so HELP!!!

BBF should always be used in AF-C mode, and you need make sure that Custom Setting a4 - AF Activation is OFF. This stops the camera from acquiring focus when you half-press the shutter.

For focus tracking, keep your thumb pressed on the AF-ON button, for focus/recompose - just press the AF-ON to acquire, recompose, and don't press the AF-ON button again when you press the shutter release.

avemal Loc: BALTIMORE

The AF-C is the correct way to go.

tradio Loc: Oxford, Ohio

I use AF-C and when you release BBF, its locked.

avemal Loc: BALTIMORE

Even though it is set on AF-C this kicks in when you hold the button down and fire away. I think when you focus and release it is the AF-S is this choice. When you hold it in for action. When focus and release it is for stills.

Foggy Loc: Near Oxford Uk

Jim S wrote:

I am doing something wrong and need help.

I BBF and want to lock the focus as I recompose - not working and not sure how to do it. I can not find in the manual or two books I have on the D-800 so HELP!!!

Just curious, are you using live view? if so the AF-Area mode might be set to Face-priority AF. I was shooting a coastal landscape a few weeks ago and using live view and a longish exposure on a tripod. I use BBF and the camera kept trying to change focus after I had set it. After a lot of head scratching I finally worked out I was using Face-priority AF and the camera (D800E) was trying to find a face in the waves breaking on the shore. I changed to Normal-area AF and no more problems.

BobHartung Loc: Bettendorf, IA

buenaventura43 wrote:

Press the BBF button,don't take out your finger in there while recomposing but the auto focus mode should be in AF-S

:thumbup: :thumbup:

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

buenaventura43 wrote:

Press the BBF button,don't take out your finger in there while recomposing but the auto focus mode should be in AF-S

Not sure what you are saying here.

The whole benefit of BBF is to have the camera focus when you want it to, and not focus when you don't want it to. If you learn the habit of using BBF in AF-C mode, with your thumb, you can make the camera shoot like AF-S (press, focus, release, recompose), or have it focus continuously - (press the AF-On button and hold while tracking). Your camera will not have to ever be switched from AF-S to AF-C, and you will never miss a shot because you were in the wrong AF mode.

Dngallagher Loc: Wilmington De.

BobHartung wrote:

:thumbup: :thumbup:

On a Nikon D7100:

AF-S = Single Servo - focus once for each press of the button, hold the button and it will not refocus. Must release button to have it refocus on additional press.

AF-C = Continuous Servo - focuses when button is pressed and continues focusing as long as button is pressed, let up on button, focus is locked.

I keep mine on AF-C, whenever I choose to press or press & hold the camera focuses.

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

Jim S wrote:

I am doing something wrong and need help.

I BBF and want to lock the focus as I recompose - not working and not sure how to do it. I can not find in the manual or two books I have on the D-800 so HELP!!!

I don't know how to set-up your camera, but I use BB focus too on my MIII. I have set my shutter button to focus-lock, so I can easily toggle between the two.

JD750 Loc: SoCal

buenaventura43 wrote:

Press the BBF button,don't take out your finger in there while recomposing but the auto focus mode should be in AF-S

What?

Apaflo Loc: Anchorage, Alaska

speters wrote:

I don't know how to set-up your camera, but I use BB focus too on my MIII. I have set my shutter button to focus-lock, so I can easily toggle between the two.

Using the back button for focus lock will only work if the shutter button is configured to not activate the AF system.

Otherwise, if you press the back button to get the focus you want and then release that button to "lock" the focus... the instant you try to press the shutter release button it will once again activate the AF system (in either AF-S or AF-C) and the previous "lock" will not be valid when the shutter actually is released.