Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

You are not wrong, but sometimes money or priorities are an issue for some. I certainly have my wish list, but paying the mortgage and other things sometimes mean that I don't always have the exact gear that I want. Remember that many in the UHH demographic exist on a fixed income, and that seems to be becoming the norm for most people in the US.

Bunkershot Loc: Central Florida

I would tell you why but it really wouldn't add anything to a BBF discussion...

Bill Emmett Loc: Bow, New Hampshire

Personally, I use BBF when I'm shooting still life, scenery, and static subjects. I've tried using it while shooting some wildlife, off a tripod, and gimbal, to some success. Once the assigned button is pressed, the subject cannot move forward or back, and if so the button must be pressed again. So, BBF, is something you may not want with every shot.

B

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

Tell whom?

Bunkershot Loc: Central Florida

Fotoartist...sorry I didn't quote his post...

Islandgal Loc: Vancouver Island, British Columbia. Canada

Hello Fotoartist! Earlier I also thought one needed the newest, highest pixel camera and received a resounding "no you don't" ! I was told it's not the camera that produces a great photograph but the skill of the user. I won't relinquish my 20D now with this mindset. My 20D is one of the camera's that I pack where ever I go and it's given me some outstanding shots. I'm also more than satisfied with the 18-55mm kit lens that came with it, the only downfall it won't fit on my full frame. And I know I can get even better photo's out of it if I try! I don't know if this answers your question, but I'm happy with mine.

Islandgal Loc: Vancouver Island, British Columbia. Canada

BBF is new to me... thanks for this interesting topic, will read up on it.

Laura72568 Loc: Anderson TX

This forum sometimes takes a simple, informative topic and turns it into something unnecessary. For those you got something from this post ABOUT BBF, I am glad! :-)

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

Well worth trying for a thingking gal! Does take a little practice at first, but once you've got it the benefits become pretty clear.

Chicopee Loc: NY State, USA

BTW Laura....the canon SL1 has served me well...Thank you..for now it was a good choice....and affordable!....but I AM disappointed w/ the olympus that I can't do BBF.

marki3rd Loc: Columbus, Indiana

You already have your answer, but I will expand on it a little. BBF was pioneered by Canon in 1986 with film EOS Cameras, and has been available with all Canon EOS Cameras since.

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

Doesn't that depend upon how you set it up? I thought the idea of pressing the button once, achieving focus, releasing and locking it was one of the benefits of BBF, but that pressing and holding could give continuous focus tracking. Perhaps I have it wrong, or misunderstood your comment, but just seems to separate the functions between different controls instead of a single button that controls everything - focus, metering and shutter actuation. Just requires a small brain adjustment and a little dexterity from my perspective. How do you have your camera set up for BBF? There are several options aren't there?

Fotoartist Loc: Detroit, Michigan

Hello Island Gal, Thanks for your thoughts. I really wanted to know the attraction that that camera has in 2016 to a serious shooter. When that camera first came out in or around the dawning of digital SLRs in 2003 it was one of the noisiest cameras in its class. I chose to go with the Fuji S2 built on a Nikon body that year. I'm wondering if you make large prints or compete in competitions with it. The image quality issue would probably show up most there. As for the issue of getting the shot in terms of exposure, focus response, battery life, etc. I don't know, but suspect you may be limited there also.

Bill Emmett Loc: Bow, New Hampshire

I have set both my 7D Mark II, and 6D for "Back Button Focus" Keep in mind setting up "BBF" only controls the focus of the camera, metering is still done when pressing the shutter button. I've set up BBF in the C.Fn III: Operations/Others (5) Custom Controls menu. You can assign the focus to either the AF-ON, or the "*" button on the back of the camera. I've used my 6D for this example. You can also include "metering" too. I've chosen to still have metering on the shutter release, since metering is almost instantaneous Remember, BBF does not focus follow the subject, so if you focus on a bird at a pond, and the bird moves either forward or back, you'll have to refocus. Or, if you move, you'll have to refocus. If you use spot focus, and hold the assigned button, the camera will attempt to keep focus on the "spot" selected. In shooting in burst mode, you must keep the red box on the subject the entire time, or the camera will focus on the background, and then once the subject is back in the red zone, will again adjust focus. Focus speed of the lens will effect the photos in this instance. I'd suggest using A1 Servo, which is a entirely different process.

B

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

That was really the essence of my question. Can't you assign BBF and AI Servo simultaneously? I think that is what I have done with my old T3i, and you can still select focus points although I normally just use the center point on a T3i. It does seem to work well. Push the assigned focus buttion, get a lock - red light focus confirmation, release, and it holds. Keep the assigned button pressed, you don't get anymore focus confirmation signals after the first, but it tracks. I could be completely wrong, but that is what I read and also seems to work in real life.

The back button controls focus, the 'shutter button' manages metering lock and firing the shutter. Set on manual and of course you can isolate the exposure settings as well. If I'm wrong, please let me know, 'cos I must be missing something.

Perhaps it's just that I'm using an older and much more primitive camera.

Thoughts?