Question about back focusing.
Feb 3, 2016 18:17:44 #
A couple of days ago I was out shooting at a local lake park with some folks in my photography club. We came upon a large flock of birds sitting on the lake shore and some kids starting throwing bread out to feed them. The birds started flying all over the place to grab the bread out of the air. I was shooting with my D200 and a Tamron 18-200 lens. One of the other shooters said that he was using back focus to grab good sharp shots. he told me that by back focusing he was able to speed up his lens. He was shooting with a D610 and I don't remember what lens he was using. My question is, what could I have done to capture some sharp pictures of the birds in flight I don't know much about back focusing and I have never used it. I was shooting in program mode and I would like to know how I should have been shooting to get the best shots. I also have a D7000. Would using that body make any difference. I like the D200 for daylight landscape shooting, but this is the first time I've tried to capture birds in flight. Any tips or advice will be greatly appreciated.
Feb 3, 2016 18:20:36 #
Feb 3, 2016 18:45:55 #
Feb 3, 2016 19:12:17 #
PVR8 wrote:
A couple of days ago I was out shooting at a local... (show quote)
google back button focus and your camera body.
Feb 3, 2016 19:14:17 #
every once in a while I set my camera to back button focus. Im having a hard time getting used to it. Some people love it, me not so much... maybe with time.
Feb 3, 2016 20:00:57 #
bdk wrote:
every once in a while I set my camera to back button focus. Im having a hard time getting used to it. Some people love it, me not so much... maybe with time.
Once in a while won't work. You have to use it until you do get used to it, and learn to accept all the advantages of using it. Force yourself to use it exclusively for a month. Then re-evaluate whether or not it is making your life better, easier etc. If not go back to half press. Switching back and forth will not work.
Feb 3, 2016 20:02:42 #
Click the link below. This is from Steve Perry, who is also on UHH. Does a great job of explaining the use of BBF. I started using this method a few years ago and have never looked back!
http://youtu.be/FzqQskGoURE
http://youtu.be/FzqQskGoURE
Feb 3, 2016 20:43:35 #
Feb 3, 2016 20:46:12 #
Thanks for the link. Excellent video I'm going to give the back button focus a try. Thanks again!
juicesqueezer wrote:
Click the link below. This is from Steve Perry, who is also on UHH. Does a great job of explaining the use of BBF. I started using this method a few years ago and have never looked back!
http://youtu.be/FzqQskGoURE
http://youtu.be/FzqQskGoURE
Feb 3, 2016 20:50:21 #
At the time he was into capturing the birds in flight is probably why he didn't go into any detail. I didn't want to wreck his flow and we went our separate ways in the park. I'll discus it with him the next time we meet up.
jim quist wrote:
Ask the guy in your club to show you how he did it.
Feb 3, 2016 20:56:05 #
Good idea, thanks. I just finished watching the youtube video that juicesqueezer was good enough to post a link to. It was an excellent video that explained back button focusing very clearly. I'm going to give it a try
orrie smith wrote:
google back button focus and your camera body.
Feb 3, 2016 21:00:21 #
I'm going to try it. The youtube video makes it seem like it's more useful and effective than shutter button focusing.
bdk wrote:
every once in a while I set my camera to back button focus. Im having a hard time getting used to it. Some people love it, me not so much... maybe with time.
Feb 4, 2016 06:11:23 #
Since trying BBF out several years ago, I use it exclusively now. It's great!
Feb 4, 2016 06:15:16 #
I use 3D tracking and AF-C mode with my Nikons. 3D tracking works great to track birds in flight as long as the lens autofocus can keep up. My Nikon 70-300mm AF-S lens has trouble with that. My Nikon 80-400mm AF-S has better autofocus. I've been impressed how well it can stay locked onto moving objects.
Feb 4, 2016 06:20:38 #
juicesqueezer wrote:
Click the link below. This is from Steve Perry, who is also on UHH. Does a great job of explaining the use of BBF. I started using this method a few years ago and have never looked back!
http://youtu.be/FzqQskGoURE
http://youtu.be/FzqQskGoURE
Excellent tutorial.
:thumbup:
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