Rloren

Just purchased my first DSLR, Nikon D3300. It's winter and haven't gone out that much with it. Have been reading a lot on back button focus. Here are my questions:
-- Can I set it up and use it on any mode?..Auto, manual, aperture priority...The three I will probably use most.
-- I understand how to zero in on one subject, but if I want to spin around and take a long shot (landscape), do I focus in the middle of the frame and use the aperture to adjust for depth of field?
-- Would there ever be any reason not to use BB Focus all the time?
Thanks...

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

-- Yes, any mode.
-- Shooting a landscape, you can focus anywhere you want, and yes, aperture will control DoF. I always keep the focusing spot in the center of the frame. That's an advantage of BBF. You focus where you want and then reframe, if necessary.

bbrowner Loc: Chapel Hill, NC

Some time ago I learned about back-button focusing (on my Nikon D7100.) I tried it. I'll never go back!

Barry

DaveMM Loc: Port Elizabeth, South Africa

I usually use BBF, and I like the control it gives. When I am taking casual shots, however, such as grab shots of the family at Christmas, I switch to autofocus using the centre focus point only. It speeds up this type of shooting.

The only disadvantage to doing this is, as BBF is not always selected, I occassionally forget to press the BBF button when it is selected.

big-guy Loc: Peterborough Ontario Canada

Almost any mode, I think you will find that Program mode switches to the shutter button to focus although the BBF may still be engaged but redundant.

Your second question is dependent on the mode you are shooting in and how you have the focusing screen set up.

After years of using BBF, the only time I switch to SBF is when I hand the camera to someone else to take a pic. (just can't be bothered to explain the process) Then I simply switch to Program mode, hand the camera over and switch back to manual (my 99.9% of the time mode) when I get the camera back.

DaveMM Loc: Port Elizabeth, South Africa

Thanks for the idea. I just tried it on my Canon T2i; I have to switch it to Auto, however, for the BBF to switch off. Still, that's fine for the other person taking the shot.

Thomas902 Loc: Washington DC

Rloren BBF is ubiquitous on the commercial side of the image equation and for rather compelling reasons...
First and foremost it allows you the best of both worlds (spot and continuous focus) with highest degree of granularity.

To enable it on your D3300 press the "i" button; Select Multi-Selector; Chose AF; Select AF-C
Why AF-C? Because this allows you to place the focus sensor on your subject, release the BBF and then move the camera to recompose
Keep in mind that the rear multi-selector is used to select the AF sensor which the D3300 tracks.
Or if shooting a moving subject i.e. sports, wildlife etc simply hold the BBF down and the AF system will continuously track your subject.

So what are the limitation? With some of Nikon's older bodies BBF will not activate VR which may cause a slight delay (shutter lag) as VR servos spin up on shutter release... However since this would only be an issue for shooting fast moving subjects it really doesn't matter since you will definitely NOT be using VR since shutter speeds required to "freeze" action are far above what VR brings to the table (if this doesn't makes sense in time it ultimately will) Another major detractor is in AF-C there is no "beep" to confirm initial focus lock (as there is in AF-S) Case in point; I shoot in a very dark studio (black walls, ceiling etc) where the only illumination is from the modeling lights in my monoblock heads... Under these conditions ground glass conformation is virtually impossible (digital cameras are no match for the crystal clear ground glass on film cameras which did not have AF or it was not nearly as reliable...)

Best advice? Invest the time to come up the curve on BBF. There are a wealth of YouTube videos on how to effectively deploy this feature and trust me, once you become one with your kit in BBF mode (decoupling Shutter Release and Auto Focus from a single control) you will likely never return to the camera's default settings.

Hope this helps Rloren... Or is at least food for thought...
I wish you well on your journey...

Edit: For other Nikon users who may be reviewing this post here is how to configure other Nikon's for BBF

Nikon D300, D3 & D3x

Custom Settings: (Pencil Icon)
(a) Autofocus
A5 (AF-activation)
Select AF-ON only

Nikon D610, D7100 & D7200
Custom Settings Menu: (Pencil Icon)
(F) Controls
F4 (Assign AE-L/AF-L button)
Choose AF-ON only

Nikon D7000
Custom Settings Menu: (Pencil Icon)
(F) Controls
F5 (Assign AE-L/AF-L button)
Choose AF-ON only

Thanks!

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

You probably need to in your thinking how the camera focuses - with the half-shutter press or another button, and how the camera determines exposure - which is what Auto, Manual and Aperture priority refers to. And to this, add continuous and single servo - which describes what happens when you hold the shutter button down - continuous shooting or one shot for each press. And if you don't have a headache already, what the camera does if the image is not in focus - it could either not take the picture if it can't find something in focus, or it will let you take the picture regardless.

BB focus will work in continuous mode (AF/C) or single servo (AF/S). If you want to track something that is moving, select AF/C and hold the button down that you have assigned to focus (usually the AE/L button on the back), and the camera will continuous focus. If you want to focus and recompose, then you can still use AF/C, placing the sensor over the area that you want to focus on, press to focus then release to keep the focus from changing, and press the shutter to take the pic.

As far as landscape and depth of field is concerned, you might want to download a depth of field app for your phone. It will prove to be invaluable when trying to figure out what your aperture needs to be for the DoF you want. You'll have to figure out a way to translate what the table says to an actual focus point in your scene, but you can use a variety of physical objects of known size to give you a decent ballpark distance.

twinhearts Loc: Southwestern Michigan

I have a Nikon D3100. I have found that it works in every mode except auto. I have to use the shutter button, when I switch to auto. Unless there is a way to do it that I have not figured out yet.

Rloren

Thank you all for your input...

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Once set, BBF is for ALL modes, all the time.
Once I found out years ago my camera would do it, I set it and never went back.

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

I don't understand what you saying the disadvantage is, once you've set it up, that is how the camera works, it is always selected!

OnDSnap Loc: NE New Jersey

Steve Perry and Back Button Focus
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzqQskGoURE

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

Not to change your opinion but, I use my back button for center weighted exposure metering. I rely on my normal shutter button and have never missed a shot. A lot of times when shooting birds they are against a blue sky and the next time they have trees behind them, the meter can be fooled with a clear blue sky, so, when they are in the sky I push the back button and my meter goes to center metering, result, a well balanced exposure. There are many options when it comes to assigning that back button on your camera, for me it works great. Like I said, my regular shutter button works very well thank you.

mborn Loc: Massachusetts