Bill_de Loc: US

That is exactly the biggest misconception I was speaking of. You can always choose to use the back button to lock focus and reframe, instead of using it to engage focusing. Either way you stay in continuous focus mode. Many folks never thought to leave continuous focus on full time before reading of to set up bbf. The only difference is whether you hold the button down to focus or to stop it. If most of your shooting has you continuously focusing why use a button for it. If you are shooting your finger will already be on the shutter button.

If using many of the longer Nikon lenses you can set the buttons on the lens barrel to focus or lock focus. The are placed right where your hand should be resting when shooting with these lenses. I also get the feeling that a lot of folks never move the focus points around the screen while shooting, and just leave it centered and compose in post.

As I have said many times, BBF is good for a lot of reasons. For those who using BBF was a WOW moment, there are other options that might also be a WOW moment, but some BBF advocates never explore or mention them. It's hard to say what is best for an individual until they have tried all the options.

--

Red Sky At Night

New to photography and felt like I had so few keepers I was frustrated. I shoot lots of action mainly of kids and dogs who never stand still. I switched to BBF and loved it immediately. I will never go back. Totally increased my keeper rate.

clemente21

I use the BBF if the subject is moving. Made a big difference. If the subject is still, I like the half-press option because it has that "beep" that lets me know the subject is in focus, while the BBF does not. But that's just my preference. In reality, BBF works both ways.

bbrowner Loc: Chapel Hill, NC

I tried it once and never looked back.

I use it for everything. There was no getting used to it... one experimental try was all that was necessary.

Could not imagine going backwards.

Barry

jayw Loc: Contoocook, NH

I just started using BBF on my Nikon D5300 with Sigma 17-70mm Contemporary lens. The issue I have is that Sigma never fixed the problem of the monitor (review screen) shutting off at the set time (4 secs, etc.). It does shut off after about 60 secs though. Makes no difference whether BBF is engaged or not. The work around is to press the shutter button to close the image. Even with this problem, I still like BBF rather than the traditional way.

DJ Mills Loc: Idaho

I have used it exclusively for several years. It's great for me.

UncleBuck Loc: Malvern, Arkansas

Bultaco Loc: Aiken, SC

I've been using BBf with AFC for years and love it. It's much faster that using the joystick to change focus points, lock focus on subject release button recompose in camera and fire away. I set me D500 for single point with AE button and the Granted for group AF. It works for me.

dcampbell52 Loc: Clearwater Fl

I've been using it for 5 years and I love it. I still get the occasional clunker but usually that is because I either didn't get a good focus, it focused on the wrong spot and I didn't catch it (I generally try to keep my focus on single point and centered in the viewfinder, but sometimes I move it for the shot.. then I forget to move it back.) I still take some bad shots, they those are my fault and not the cameras. It does what it is "told" to do. Generally, I mess up when in a hurry and distracted.

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

The biggest advantage of using BBF is that the shutter is separated from focus. Having focus and shutter in the same button can be kind of inconvenient.
I use BBF for all of my images. If I set my camera properly for BIF I simply focus with the focus bracket I have selected and the camera does the rest, like following focus or focus tracking.
It takes several days to get used to the BBF but once you know that you simply lock focus once activated you just shoot without having to focus again while you do not change the focal length to photograph another subject.
I believe the new cameras have this BBF that is pressed once but with older cameras like mine I have to keep pressing the button for action photography. I am used to it and I find no issues following focus.
For sure it has helped my keep rate.

ttps://backcountrygallery.com/free-back-button-af-guide-for-nikon/

GA shooter Loc: Rising Fawn, GA

I use BBF all the time on my Canon 5D III as it’s easy to find and feel the AF-on button (to which it is programmed) with my right thumb. It’s second nature now. However I recently bought a Fujifilm XT-2 and programmed the AE-L button to BBF as it is in a similar position. The button is smaller and protrudes less and for me harder to feel with my thumb with my eye to the EVF. I find myself constantly visually finding this button which requires taking my eye away from the EVF and missing some shots. On this camera I may go back to using the shutter button half pressed to focus. BBF is just something you have to try a while to see if it’s something you like.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

If you're going to use it on one DSLR, you should use it on all your DSLRs to avoid confusion while shooting. I like it because I can focus exactly where I want to focus. Then I can reframe, if necessary.

twillsol Loc: St. Louis, MO

Works for me too!

newcamman

Using BBF made all the difference for me. I had only had my camera about a month when I was asked to do a family wedding. I remember practicing during the rehearsal the night before and my camera did not know where to focus as people were coming down the aisle. Practically every shot was so bad I couldn't even recognize the people that was shooting. Went home that night and ask Google how to focus my camera better. That's when I learned about back button focusing and I have never switched back.

Tronjo Loc: Canada, BC

Using it all the time, for all types of photography. The only way to know if it is good for you is to try it.