Dan R Loc: Way Way Way Upstate NY

I use BBF all the time for everything. Just set your camera to it and play with it. If you don't like it set it back.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

I primarily shoot sports/action.... but for 15+ years have used BBF for almost everything.

Using BBF greatly improved my "keeper rate". I mostly use it with "single point" AF. Occasionally, for some special situations, I use multi-point AF such as Zone or Expansion. I also sometimes use single point Spot focus, which uses a smaller, more precise AF point (handy when trying to focus on something behind a tangle of branches, for example). Not all cameras offer all these options. Some models I've used only have choice of single point or all points... in which case I nearly exclusively use single point. This is more work for me, but also goes a long way to improving my keeper rate.

It took me about 1 day to get accustomed to using BBF. For my own use, I never reset my cameras to the "usual" AF activation arrangement. I only do so occasionally when I loan a camera to someone who doesn't know how to use BBF (and isn't up to giving it a try yet).

When I'm shooting moving subjects (i.e., sports/wildlife), I don't lock focus. I use AI Servo (Canon's term... Nikon and some others call it AF-C or continuous focus). I put the AF point on the subject, press the button and maintain pressure on it for as long as I like, tracking the subject with focus constantly updating, taking one or more shots whenever I wish.

In fact, the reason BBF is popular among sports photographers is because it lets you use AI Servo (continuous focus) for pretty much anything... moving or stationary. No need to stop shooting and switch back and forth between One Shot (locking focus) and AI Servo/continuous.

Without BBF, you can get into trouble using techniques like "focus and recompose" with AI Servo/AF-C/continuous focus. With BBF, to "lock" focus any time you want (such as for focus & recompose), all you need do is lift pressure off the button. Easy as that.

BBF puts you in more full control of when and where the camera and lens focus. This is more "work" for you, but also can make for very good keeper rate (I consistently get 95% and better).

There's a side benefit of using BBF and continuous focus, as described above. Many modern zoom lenses are varifocal type. That means they don't maintain focus when zoomed. To some extent, many of today's autofocus zooms "lose" focus whenever you change the focal length. (Parfocal zooms, which maintain focus, are more complex and more expensive.) When you're using a method of focus that stops and locks, you have to consciously re-focus the lens after any change in the focal length, by lifting off the button, then reapplying pressure to re-do AF at the new focal length setting (regardless whether it's set up BBF or still at the shutter button). But when the camera is instead in a continuous focus mode.... which is in turn made possible by using BBF... the camera and lens will immediately and automatically correct any loss of focus due to a varifocal zoom design.

A couple times I might not use BBF are when shooting macro or when shooting scenics/architecture. In fact, I typically don't use AF at all, but use manual focus instead (possibly with Live View). These are pretty sedentary types of subjects, allowing time to set up focus with care (unlike fast and furious sports/wildlife shooting!). The reason I switch to manual focus is for various techniques using hyperfocal distance to maximize depth of field or depth of field preview. Those things are more easily done focusing manually. (I haven't done so yet, but also want to try some focus stacking... especially with macro... which is best done focusing manually.)

ToBoldlyGo Loc: London U.K.

It tracks exactly the same. Actually if anything, you stand a better chance maintaining focus by using the shutter for focus. You have that one button pressed instead of having the possibility of letting go of one without meaning to.

Dale Evans - Amaetur Loc: Baton Rouge, La

I started using BBF several years ago because I got tired of taking pictures by accident.
It has become second nature to me now and I will not go back.

Dale

idahoshooter Loc: Coeur d'Alene

I have switched to BBF for about 6 months now. I find it gives me more control over the composition. You can focus in one spot, and then frame the picture separately. I also use exposure lock too, when I have time to compose the picture. I missed a few shots early on, before my muscle memory kicked in, but now my thumb is on the BBF button most of the time.

HINT: I have programmed one of my Custom settings (Canon) to turn re-enable the focus on main shutter button, and go into Auto (P) mode. This is to make the camera still "usable" when I have someone ELSE take a picture of my wife and myself.

For those that are still experimenting with different modes of their camera, I suggest using the Custom Settings (Canon's have 3), to save sets of settings. Its really handy. Its not just settings like aperture or shutter speed, but almost all operating modes.

tomcat

I only use it for my sports shooting and birds. It still takes me some getting used to for family portraits and when I hand the camera off to someone else, it's difficult to get them to follow the idea of using 2 buttons. I highly recommend it for action shots.

idahoshooter Loc: Coeur d'Alene

tomcat, check out my post which came in only seconds before yours.

kskarma Loc: Topeka, KS

After some 60 or more years....don't ask....of using 'conventional' shutter button focusing, it took me a few days of actual shooting....no, make that a few weeks....before it became 'natural' to me... It's hard to break such a long standing habit, but once I had my camera set up for BBF, I could see the advantages of this method. From then on, it was just a matter of training my keen (!) mind/body/fingers to adapt. Fortunately, each time I used BBF, it came more quickly and now it's pretty much automatic.

And...after a very brief period of having some of my camera (Nikon d750) options set to BBF...and others to the default of Shutter Focusing, I found that keeping my reflexes "up to date" on which I was using at any one time was NOT working..., I just went all in for BBF...and have never looked back...

tomcat

I have one of those customizable menu features too, I think, on my Nikons, but I gained some confusion over reading the manual. So I just left it at factory default on the regular shutter release on my D750 portrait camera but I did switch to BBF on my sports D500 model. By the way, I am left-eyed, so my BBF is actually a FBF now because my glasses got in the way. I just have to remember to press the stupid buttons. I need one of those new Nikon mirrorless models with Siri. Then I can shout out "focus" or "focus and shoot" and have the voice activations do the controls for me. 'Course, half the fans in the stands would jump out and run for cover if I shout out "focus and shoot"!!!

Photocraig

Back button focus returns the camera operations to separating the focus function and the exposure function. In the total auto world, the camera makes all the decisions, so half pressed shutter button does both exposure measurement and settings and focusing on the auto mode's chosen focus point. In a photographer-controlled world, the focusing is a separate operation and required to be separated from an exposure function. I use Auto focus 99% of the time. I choose my subject and choose what part of the subject I want to be in focus. I use Back Button to set that focus. (in so doing, the camera's shutter button does NOT engage the focus mechanism). In an auto exposure mode, the shutter button will then expose for the conditions--if I deem that appropriate. In cases of special lighting like backlighting, or Bright backgrounds or foregrounds--like snow or sun reflecting off water. In those cases I either engage compensation of go straight to manual.

On my previous camera I had a custom setting choice to not have BBF, so I could allow another person to use the camera. I miss that function and wish I had it for the grab shots that present themselves.

Another thing I've noticed is that when shooting action and sports, I believe I get caught up in the excitement and push the button with enough force to create camera shake as I take the photo. My trigger finger is trained to squeeeeeze the shutter button, I need to train my thumb to tap the focus button lightly.

I put a tiny piece of tape on the focus button to give it a feel different from the adjacent buttons on my old camera. It might be a tactile help for others. My new camera ahs the focus button placed more uniquely and more certain to find.

As to how to choose and set your focus point, it is a technique used fro way back when called "Focus and Re-compose." You select where you wan tot focus, lie the subject's eyes in a Portrait, press the focus button, and then reposition the subject relatively in the frame, and expose. Google and youTube search Focus and Recompose, and Selective Focus for good tutorials on the subject. It is a major separator between grab/snap shots and intentional imagemaking. Similarly, there are selective exposure techniques that play into this subject nicely, too. Happy watching!
C

Nikon1201

I use BBF for everything

larryzplace Loc: Elk Grove Village Illinois

Watch the youtube video by Steve Perry a member here... So far his explanations and video is the best I have seen.

I watched a number of videos on the subject and just didn't think i would like it...

Watched Steve's video switched all 3 of my nikons to it and never looked back... Takes a little getting used to it but once you try his method you probably won't go back...

wham121736 Loc: Long Island, New York

Does BBF work on Canon Rebel cameras? And if so where can I find instructions?

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

It works in mt T1i. Check the manual for whatever your camera may be.
Look under "Shutter/AE lock button"?

tomcat

I had this same problem with out of focus (OOF) images when I first started using BBF. I think it's because when you hurriedly press the BBF button you are pushing the camera body away from your face and thereby causing it to slightly "rock". When I switched to FBF, the camera is now pushed further against my forehead when I press the button, thereby reducing the camera rock and shake. This has eliminated my OOF shots. Try it and see if you don't like it better.