Vinman

I use back button focus. Now when I have my camera set to single Point Continuous mode
do I have to hold the back button in while there is movement or does the camera follow the
subject ? Would I press BB and release and let the camera automatically follow the subject
or hold in until I press shutter ?

BJW

I use the Nikon D500 and have set it on BBfocus. I use it mostly for shooting ice hockey. When I focus on the goalie, i press once to lock on him. When I am shooting moving players I hold the BB as i shoot. Either holding or pressing once works well. But I find it works best when I have the AF set with many focus points acrivated (153)in the viewfinder.

orrie smith Loc: Kansas

When trying to follow the action, hold the back button focus while shooting to continue focusing while the subject is moving. you may want to experiment with multiple focus points rather that single point focus so the camera will have a better chance at tracking the subject.

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

If you shoot in continuous mode you should always hold your button to follow focus, it does not matter how many focus points you have selected.

big-guy Loc: Peterborough Ontario Canada

Just curious, have you tried holding the BB and panning across differing subjects at varying distance points to see if the AF moves as you pan across these different items? Doing this would answer your question without any speculation from others.

peterg Loc: Santa Rosa, CA

Normally, BBF just separates focusing from the shutter button. Single-point continuous focusing should then continuously focus on the object at that single point. Many cameras have other focus modes and focuse areas which can capture and track a subject. BBF works with these modes, too.

oldtigger Loc: Roanoke Virginia-USA

you might want to set "focus tracking with lock on" to "short" to improve response time.

BJW

For those who are just starting to try BBF, one caveat: If you should notice that it's not working the way you had hoped, just make sure your AF/MF button on your lens or camera has not inadvertently been switched to the MF position. If it has, make sure to switch it to AF. Then, you should be good to go.

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

You keep holding it in to keep it focusing. But remember, you must have your camera in the servo mode. Canon calls it AI Servo. Do NOT use AI Focus.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

When using BBF, think of the button as your means of activating the AF by pressing it or stopping AF by releasing the pressure on the button.

BBF allows you to use continuous focusing mode with both moving and stationary subjects. (If not using BBF, there are some time when using continuous focus can get you in trouble, such as if using a "focus & recompose" technique.)

With BBF and moving subjects you should press the button with your thumb to achieve focus and continue to hold pressure on it as long as you want the camera to continue tracking and updating focus, tripping the shutter with your forefinger any time you want to take a shot or series of shots.

With BBF and a stationary subject, you press the button with your thumb to achieve focus and once that's done, if using Continuous AF mode it's up to you if you want to release the button to leave the lens focused at that point. If using Single Shot AF, once focus is achieved the camera will automatically stop AF and lock, regardless whether you are using BBF or not. If you or the subject move while the camera is set to Single Shot AF... or if you zoom many modern zooms that don't maintain focus when the focal length is changed... you need to release pressure and reapply it, to cause the camera to re-focus to the new distance. If you'd instead been using Continuous Focus and maintaining pressure on the button, the camera will automatically and instantly correct for either subject movement or varifocal zooms.

One of the key advantages of BBF is that it allows you to use Continuous Focus mode for almost anything.

It's up to you whether you use Single Point or some multi-point form of AF. Both will work, although in my experience Single Point used right will give more consistently accurate focus. To use Single Point requires the photographer to do more "work", keeping the AF point right where they want the lens to focus. Multi-point AF leaves it partly up to the camera to decide exactly where to focus.... and, in my experience, sometimes it chooses wrong. Many AF systems will simply focus on whatever is closest and covered by an AF point, when you use multi-point. Some of the more sophisticated systems might detect movement and try to stay locked on that... problem is if you are panning and following a moving subject, as far as the camera is concerned everything in front of it is moving. Some other camera's use subject color or shape (such as face detection) to help them stay locked on when using a multi-point mode.... Don't know about your camera, but mine see a significantly longer shutter lag when used this way. Not a good thing!

As a result, I also use Single Point most of the time.... and a couple forms of multi-point that my cameras offer a lot more sparingly. They can be useful when subjects are moving particularly erratically and change directions unexpectedly, making it more difficult to keep a single AF point right on the subject. I just accept that I'll have somewhat more missed focus shots, when I need to use any multi-point mode.

photon56 Loc: North America

On my D810, I would have to hold the BBF button for action shots where the focus is constantly changing. In these cases, I find it easier to use the Shutter Release when focus is ever changing.

peterg Loc: Santa Rosa, CA

I've found it takes time for BBF to become an instinctive habit. Then, switching between BBF and Shutter focusing may make things worse. When you give your camera to someone to snap a pic of your group, it's a pain to have to explain BBF to them. Bottom line: For "serious" pics with my "good" camera, I use BBF. On my cameras that others may use, I opt for the simple shutter-button focus. Both modes work well.

photon56 Loc: North America

I've been in the same situation when someone offers to take our picture. BBF takes time to explain.