Algernon Loc: Milwaukee, Wisconsin

I confess that I was highly skeptical. I had read a lot about it and when I recently upgraded my camera to a body that had the capability for back button focusing, I decided to give it a 1 day trial (taking as many photos as possible).

Now I will never go back to shutter button focusing. To me it gives me greater freedom of composition. Your mileage may vary.

John N Loc: HP14 3QF Stokenchurch, UK

I've just started using it and it takes a bit of getting used to, mainly just remembering the correct button. One suggestion I'd make to anyone who is considering this is wait until Summer, unless you live in a warm Winter zone.

sumo Loc: Houston suburb

what kind of camera do you have, my Nikon 600 will not switch from BB focus to shutter button, if put in Auto mode

Notorious T.O.D. Loc: Harrisburg, North Carolina

Yes, my cameras don't change in or out of BBF mode when changing shooting modes.
Curious as to what camera make and model you have experienced this with. Tracy.

Best,
Todd Ferguson
Harrisburg, NC

big-guy Loc: Peterborough Ontario Canada

I believe that by choosing the program mode everything reverts back to a point and shoot scenario with the AF handled by the shutter. At least it does on mine. That makes things simple, switch to program and hand your camera off, on return, put it back on manual or whatever mode you normally shoot with.

AzPicLady Loc: Behind the camera!

Now that's a thought. I don't use BBF for the same reason you state.

Tracy B. Loc: Indiana

I have a Canon 5d mark iv. It also worked with my 70d, t4i, and someone said it works with the 7d Mark ii.

Thomas902 Loc: Washington DC

allanh without knowing what capture device you are endeavoring to implement back button focus it is virtually impossible to provide appropriate guidance here... Likewise any response not couched in qualification as to the respondent's make/model is to be viewed with caution in as there are wide variations in interface layouts and internal firmware algorithms... Even a firmware version can/does inter into the mix...

That said here are my thoughts on deploying back button focus on Nikons... I can't not speak for Canon yet my colleague who shoot them assure me they are pleased using BB focus on the aforementioned.

I find it superb on Pro body Nikon's in as their AF-ON button placement and tactical feel provides excellent control with ideal granularity in touch/reach. However for Nikon's prosumer cameras i.e. "enthusiast" models use/effectiveness of use is not at the same level... I'm underwhelmed with it in the D610, D7100 & D7200 models and the D7000 particular has rather poor tactical feel with its AE-L AF-L Button... Bottom line? If your Nikon as an AF-ON button you'll likely be favorably impressed at it's ease of use however if it has to be implemented via an AE-L AF-L Button then you may not enjoy the same degree of control... Nikon provides varying levels of user interface enhancements... I would support the inference that the price of admission for and AF-ON button is well worth the price.

With the above thoughts I have to qualify when Back Button Focus doesn't function in harmony with my workflow... I disable it when working in a dimly illuminated studio... btw, my studio is entirely flat black (for compelling reasons) thus ambient provided solely by modeling lights can be serious challenge for manual focus thus autofocus is critical for me here and with Back Button Focus you are limited to AF-C to use it effectively therefore you will not receive an audio conformation of focus lock as in AF-S. This is a deal breaker for my studio work...

Another problem I've encountered is unless you are using the latest Pro bodies AF-ON Back Button Focus will NOT activate VR period! You only activate the VR motor on shutter depression on the Nikon D3, D3x and D3s bodies... Which causes a critcal shutter lag since the camera will not fire while spinning up the VR system... Yes it's only a fraction of a second but I shoot league sport and the decisive moment is gone in a wink of an eye... So I've simply disable VR and bumped up the shutter speed to at least 1/1600 which is minimum for long glass and 1/4000 - 1/8000 to stop a ball in mid flight... There are no firmware updates to correct the aforementioned issue so deploying a workaround is germane here...

Final thoughts? allanh all the working commercial shooters I know use Back Button Focus except one... Nikon ambassador Moose Peterson who finds it an encumbrance to his workflow... Thus as others here have thoughtfully mentioned it is a personal preference... For me it is an excellent adjunct which warrants serious consideration as various scenarios predicate...

Hope this helps or is at least food for thought...
All the best on your journey allanh

DavidPine Loc: Fredericksburg, TX

I have it on one of my cameras. I thought I liked it but I really don't. I use a remote shutter release most of the time.

markj51 Loc: Fairfax, VA

On a Nikon D5500 that is set for BBF, switching to Auto does NOT turn BBF off.

Tracy B. Loc: Indiana

I just looked up Canon's image stabilization with BBF. It will be activated with either the Shutter or back button.

windshoppe Loc: Arizona

Turn the dial to auto.

cactuspic Loc: Dallas, TX

BBF is particularly useful if you photograph moving subjects such as birds in flight or outdoor sports where your subjects move from shade to sun and back again. BBF allows you to keep the subject in focus for a series of shots with the exposure calculated at the time each shot is taken. Otherwise, if you use the shutter button and press it halfway to acquire focus, your exposure is calculated at the time you pressed the button, which would not work well if the change of position of the bird is accompanied by a change in the light.

twr25 Loc: New Jersey

I take thousands of football action shots on the field. I used BBF many times but found the action, distance and framing changes so fast I would be constantly pressing the BBF. The new cameras have internal focus program settings designed to follow action, catch sudden zigs and zags and action just coming into the frame which are so much faster than manual. I recently went to the Canon 1dx which can fire 14 shots per second and there is no way I could possibly BBF that fast. At a recent game in Giants stadium I used a Nikon D810, usually use for portraits and travel shots not sports, with a 500 mm zoom and found the auto focus was slow until I re-set the focus program and was then able to get those fast action shots. The BBF would have worked as I was not taking high speed action but singles. I think the camera is way faster and adjusts much more quickly than any human at this point. Older cameras might be better to use the BBF. BTW I always use shutter priority, 800-1000+) for sports unless I'm trying to get a certain effect and the newer cameras are designed to set the ISO for low stadium lighting.

Billynikon Loc: Atlanta

My 11 yr old granddaughter used my camera last year. I explained the BBF which was different from her mother's camera and she proceeded to take some great pics with no issues.