BBF, d750: I'm still trying to fully understand BBF. If I hold down the BB and recompose, it still holds the focus... right? That's if it's a still subject such as landscape. However...

anneabc

I'm still trying to fully understand BBF. If I hold down the BB and recompose, it still holds the focus... right? That's if it's a still subject such as landscape.
However, if I do the same thing and want to recompose, say a kid is moving and I want to use the rule of thirds, do I hold down the BB and focus and keep holding it down and recompose, and it's still in focus? Do I keep my finger on the BB while pressing the shutter release? Thanks

Shoot Happens

Depends on how you have focus set up. Mine is set on single point continuous focus and if the subject is moving I would hold the BB down while I push the shutter release. If the subject is stationary I would focus on the subject I want in focus and then release the BB; reframe my subject and push the shutter. I use a single focus point which allows me to get tack sharp focus on the eyes of a person or animal and then reposition my camera so the composition is as I want it in the frame.
I hope that helps. Once you get use to BB focus, you will never go back.

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

anneabc wrote:

I'm still trying to fully understand BBF. If I hold down the BB and recompose, it still holds the focus... right? That's if it's a still subject such as landscape.
However, if I do the same thing and want to recompose, say a kid is moving and I want to use the rule of thirds, do I hold down the BB and focus and keep holding it down and recompose, and it's still in focus? Do I keep my finger on the BB while pressing the shutter release? Thanks

You don't have to hold it down, if pushed once, it holds focus at that point. If you keep it pushed down ( especially while shooting continuous) it will keep track focus and adjust to your subject!!

DOOK Loc: Maclean, Australia

Shoot Happens wrote:

Depends on how you have focus set up. Mine is set... (show quote)

I do the same. If I'm following a BIF or a speedboat, I keep the back button pressed all the time. I rarely have to recompose, but when I do, I lock the focus, then release the button & recompose. With BBF, use AF-C, otherwise there is no point in using it. BBF is easy to use & once you get the hang of it, you will use nothing else.

orrie smith Loc: Kansas

anneabc wrote:

I'm still trying to fully understand BBF. If I hold down the BB and recompose, it still holds the focus... right? That's if it's a still subject such as landscape.
However, if I do the same thing and want to recompose, say a kid is moving and I want to use the rule of thirds, do I hold down the BB and focus and keep holding it down and recompose, and it's still in focus? Do I keep my finger on the BB while pressing the shutter release? Thanks

if you are focusing on an inanimate object, push the back button focus until you achieve focus, then release it. if you are shooting something that is moving, continue to hold the bbf to continue focusing while subject is moving. be sure you are set up for continuous focus for both situations and use single focus point for best results. if you are shooting fast action, then you may want to increase your focus points, but only for fast action.

DOOK Loc: Maclean, Australia

orrie smith wrote:

if you are focusing on an inanimate object, push the back button focus until you achieve focus, then release it. if you are shooting something that is moving, continue to hold the bbf to continue focusing while subject is moving. be sure you are set up for continuous focus for both situations and use single focus point for best results. if you are shooting fast action, then you may want to increase your focus points, but only for fast action.

Exactly. :thumbup:

oldtigger Loc: Roanoke Virginia-USA

anneabc wrote:

I'm still trying to fully understand BBF. If I hold down the BB and recompose, it still holds the focus... right? That's if it's a still subject such as landscape.
However, if I do the same thing and want to recompose, say a kid is moving and I want to use the rule of thirds, do I hold down the BB and focus and keep holding it down and recompose, and it's still in focus? Do I keep my finger on the BB while pressing the shutter release? Thanks

no.
if the button is pressed, the focus is active and changing.
When you achieve focus, release the button and focus will remain locked.
Hold the button down only if you want continuously changing focus.

Allen McDonald Loc: Atlanta, GA

With BBF, use AF-C, otherwise there is no point in using it.

Yes! Stationary subject then press and release and then recompose if necessary. Moving subject then press and hold to maintain to focus. If you want to apply rule of thirds with a moving subject then adjust the location of the focus point within your frame by using the directional buttons on the back of the camera before initiating focus.

ruwohe

Guess I'm ignorant or stupid, but what is back button focus? I have a Nikon D5500. Thanks.

orrie smith Loc: Kansas

ruwohe wrote:

Guess I'm ignorant or stupid, but what is back button focus? I have a Nikon D5500. Thanks.

it is where you assign your ae-l/af-l button on the back of your camera to obtain focus instead of your shutter release half push method of focusing. the advantage is to achieve focus, then being able to recompose your photo without being concerned that when you push your shutter release, the camera will refocus. there are many articles if you google back button focus for dslr on the internet. also a lot of videos on you tube. it is worth checking out, as a lot of people, me included, swear by it once they get used to it.

INshooter Loc: Indiana

ruwohe wrote:

Guess I'm ignorant or stupid, but what is back button focus? I have a Nikon D5500. Thanks.

See this video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzqQskGoURE

ruwohe

Many thanx; video is great.

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

anneabc wrote:

I'm still trying to fully understand BBF. If I hold down the BB and recompose, it still holds the focus... right? That's if it's a still subject such as landscape.
However, if I do the same thing and want to recompose, say a kid is moving and I want to use the rule of thirds, do I hold down the BB and focus and keep holding it down and recompose, and it's still in focus? Do I keep my finger on the BB while pressing the shutter release? Thanks

First off, you need to have your camera in the AI Servo mode or whatever Nikon calls it if you have a Nikon. Then you can put the single focal point on your subject, focus, release, and recompose. If the subject is moving, then move your single focal point to the place in your frame where you expect to place your subject. Say you want the subject on the right, move the focus point to the right, hold down BBF and shoot while holding it down in AI Servo mode. Rarely do you ever use single shot focus. This is where it focuses and when it has achieved focus, it stops focusing until you release the BBF button or the shutter button and do a repress of the button programmed to do your focusing.

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

[quote=anneabc]I'm still trying to fully understand BBF. If I hold down the BB and recompose, it still holds the focus... right? That's if it's a still subject such as landscape.
Howeve

oldtigger Loc: Roanoke Virginia-USA

[quote=speters]

anneabc wrote:

I'm still trying to fully understand BBF. If I hold down the BB and recompose, it still holds the focus... right? That's if it's a still subject such as landscape.
Howeve

no that is not right.
if the button is being pressed, the focus is changing.