tomcat

OK. I have tried BBF on my D500 for a couple of weeks and have given up. I am left-handed and use my left eye for the viewfinder. Apparently there is some subtle movement that I make when I press my thumb on the AF-on button to keep it out of my right eye and it causes enough slight camera movement, making my images less sharp. I verified this again this am with about 10 shots with BBF and 10 without BBF, using shutter release. Several of the BBF shots were oof, whereas all of the shutter release shots were in focus. I am using AF-C and group focus, so I can't blame it on a missed focus. I have not tried AF-C versus AF-S with BBF because I saw in an earlier posting that it only works in AF-C mode, plus I use this D500 for sports shots, so I'm not interested in AF-S anyway. So I gave it the old college try, but I'm going back to shutter release for the focus. I think that for right-eyed shooters, this BBF is a great option, but for sports shooting, I cannot afford oof images. I tried using my right eye, and it was a pure stupid-silly exercise for me to try to do---it was like throwing a baseball with your opposite hand.

Anyone know if Nikon has a "left-handed" camera body in the works?

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

Seriously doubtful from any maker.
I too am left handed and have adapted.
I can't use left-handed scissors in my left hand.
I bowl left-handed but play horseshoes with my right.
Golf right but can bat either way and use a glove on my left, throwing with my right.
(No wonder my mom called me "Goofy")
Exakta used to make cameras with advance lever and shutter on the left side, leaving your right hand to do the delicate job of focusing.

tomcat

Oh man, we could fill up 2 pages with being LH in a RH world

rook2c4 Loc: Philadelphia, PA USA

Left-handed people tend to be more versatile with their right hand than right-handed people are with their left hand. This comes from the constant need to adapt to things designed for right-handed usage.

I'm left-handed, but I think I'd have some difficulty operating a left-handed camera. It would feel unfamiliar and awkward to me.

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

Me too.
I'm learning to play the Scottish tenor drum.
My left hand is not learning as fast as my right.

Steve Perry Loc: Sylvania, Ohio

The cool thing about BBAF is that you can get all the benefits without using the actual back button. I go over this in my Nikon AF book, but the short version is just to assign AF to something else.

In this case, I'd say try putting AF on your Pv button (you can do so via customs setting F1). Make sure you leave AF off the shutter release - basically the same setup. Then, just press the Pv button with your middle finger when you want to focus, use your index finger for releasing the shutter.

Also, you can assign the AF-On button for something other than AF in this scenario so you're not accidentally hitting the button when you don't want to.

This tends to be a good solution for left-eye shooters, but it's also a nice solution if you want to use your thumb for moving the AF point and focus at the same time. I may even switch to this method eventually, but it's tough since I'm kind of known for BBAF!

jdubu Loc: San Jose, CA

I am not familiar with the D500, but am also left-handed and left eyed using Canon cameras with BBF. I don't experience the results you are having, using the 3rd button in from the right side that is closest to my right eye. Either single press to lock focus or constant push for continuous. I do subtly have my head rotated slightly to allow my thumb clearance to all the buttons and controls since I try to make adjustments while looking through the viewfinder. Re-assigning the button is also a possibility.

I think the benefits of living in a right-handed world makes us more adaptable to our environment. I play a lot of volleyball and can spike with my right almost as well as my left (adapted because most setters set for a right hand hitter without thinking) I throw left handed but bat right and play table tennis left or right. I only draw, paint and do calligraphy left handed though.

Adapting to right handed tools does make using left handed tools awkward to impossible. I can use right handed scissors but left handed scissors are useless.

tomcat

That's correct. I had forgotten about this option. I'm glad you mentioned this, I tried out the Fn1 button and that seems to work much better. Out of 5 shots, I didn't miss a single focus. Thanks, Steve!!

Happy Trails to me, until we meet again.......RR

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

Just program a different button for BBF!

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

Absolutely. I remember left handed scissors in grade school (a long time ago when Dinosaurs walked the Earth). Could not manage the coordination to use them. l

tomcat

I did, thanks

jcboy3

No, but Canon announced a Canon EOS 7D L Left-Handed DSLR Camera in 2013.

https://www.the-digital-picture.com/Canon-Cameras/Canon-EOS-7D-L-Left-Handed-DSLR-Camera.aspx

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

I'm left-handed, but I wouldn't want a special camera. I've learned to operate normal cameras, and I'm not interested in retraining at this point.

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

The date of the article is significant....April 1st.

tomcat

This is sooooo funny