Back Button Focus ~ HELP: I use BBF on my Nikon D800e and love it. Here is what I need help with. A friend has a Nikon D7100. I am trying to help her set it up for BBF but have not...

Jim S Loc: Barrington RI, DC now Hilton Head,

I use BBF on my Nikon D800e and love it. Here is what I need help with. A friend has a Nikon D7100. I am trying to help her set it up for BBF but have not been able to.

Can someone give me the process to set her camera for BBF?

Thanks

Just Fred Loc: Darwin's Waiting Room

Here's one site that gives instructions on how to set BBF on a Nikon D7100:

http://www.anderson9.com/photography/bbf/bbf-nikon-d7100.html

clgonzo

Turn of the auto focus.

avemal Loc: BALTIMORE

YOUTUBE it. Tons on this. Good luck!!!!!! It is the best to take pix.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Just Fred wrote:

Here's one site that gives instructions on how to set BBF on a Nikon D7100:

http://www.anderson9.com/photography/bbf/bbf-nikon-d7100.html

Thanks for that. It's not easy to figure it out from the manual.

Another tip: if you have more than one DSLR, set all of them to BBF. Otherwise, you'll go crazy when you switch cameras and want to focus.

John Howard Loc: SW Florida and Blue Ridge Mountains of NC.

Jim S wrote:

I use BBF on my Nikon D800e and love it. Here is what I need help with. A friend has a Nikon D7100. I am trying to help her set it up for BBF but have not been able to.

Can someone give me the process to set her camera for BBF?

Thanks

I think you have your question answered, but I have a related one....
I use BBF on my nikons, with the AF-ON button focusing, and the release button ONLY releasing, not focusing again. QUESTION - what do you all do with the AE-L / AF-L button. I am undecided and have tried it both ways. Seems there are times when I want the Exposure and the Focus locked, and other times I only want the Exposure locked. Depends if I am re-composing or moving the focus point to the subject.

What do you all do?

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

John Howard wrote:

I am undecided and have tried it both ways. Seems there are times when I want the Exposure and the Focus locked, and other times I only want the Exposure locked. Depends if I am re-composing or moving the focus point to the subject.

What do you all do?

I've gotten used to BBF, and I'm not going to try another method. I use it for focus only.

clgonzo

Use continuous focusing.

Jim S Loc: Barrington RI, DC now Hilton Head,

John Howard wrote:

I think you have your question answered, but I hav... (show quote)

With BBF there is no worry about recomposing - just set the exposure and do not touch the BBF again. No worry regarding the AE-L or AF-L ~ don't use them no need to.

Jim S Loc: Barrington RI, DC now Hilton Head,

jerryc41 wrote:

I've gotten used to BBF, and I'm not going to try another method. I use it for focus only.

I agree Jerry. Why have a button do 2 things?

Mac Loc: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia now Hernando Co. Fl.

Jim S wrote:

I use BBF on my Nikon D800e and love it. Here is what I need help with. A friend has a Nikon D7100. I am trying to help her set it up for BBF but have not been able to.

Can someone give me the process to set her camera for BBF?

Thanks

Go to the Custom Setting Menu
Select Assign AE-L/AF-L Button
Select AF-ON

The AE-L/AF-L button will then BBF.

John Howard Loc: SW Florida and Blue Ridge Mountains of NC.

Mac wrote:

Go to the Custom Setting Menu
Select Assign AE-L/AF-L Button
Select AF-ON

The AE-L/AF-L button will then BBF.

Thanks. I can do that. My add-on question was since I have a AF-ON button, and I use that for BBF, what to do with the AE-L/AF-L button. Do you leave it as AE-L only, then if you want to lock the focus you have to push two buttons. OR leave it as locking both Exposure and Focus, but then you cannot lock Exposure only. How often do people need to lock Exposure and Focus separately?

Mac Loc: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia now Hernando Co. Fl.

John Howard wrote:

Thanks. I can do that. My add-on question was since I have a AF-ON button, and I use that for BBF, what to do with the AE-L/AF-L button. Do you leave it as AE-L only, then if you want to lock the focus you have to push two buttons. OR leave it as locking both Exposure and Focus, but then you cannot lock Exposure only. How often do people need to lock Exposure and Focus separately?

My Df has an AF-ON button that I use for BBF. I'm still trying to figure out how the AE-L/AF-L button works and what to do with it. :shock: :-D

John Howard Loc: SW Florida and Blue Ridge Mountains of NC.

Mac wrote:

My Df has an AF-ON button that I use for BBF. I'm still trying to figure out how the AE-L/AF-L button works and what to do with it. :shock: :-D

There are times when it is easier to meter a point and then recompose than it is to move the spot meter point, especially if you then need to move the point back. In that case I meter, lock exposure, recompose and shoot. Say for a person standing by a window - meter the face and recompose. In that situation it is also good that locking focus happens. You can do both with the AF-L/AE-L button. But the button can be set to only lock exposure. Are there times when this is useful?

The Villages Loc: The Villages, Florida

[quote=Mac]Go to the Custom Setting Menu
Select Assign AE-L/AF-L Button
Select AF-ON

The AE-L/AF-L button will then BBF.[/quote

Correct

:-D :thumbup: