Back button focus: I have recently switched to bb focusing (Canon 5D MK IV). Genrerally i find it very convenient, but I am having an issue if I use either an electronic or cable...

whitehall Loc: Canada

I have recently switched to bb focusing (Canon 5D MK IV). Genrerally i find it very convenient, but I am having an issue if I use either an electronic or cable remote) They seem to be linked to the conventional shutter button and if I uses bb and try to reframe I have to hold down the AF ON button which seems to defeat the purpose behind using the remote release. I could change back to shutter release when I am on a tripod, but for now at least I prefer to use one method. Suggestions?

Thanks.

IGW

Dixiegirl Loc: Alabama gulf coast

whitehall wrote:

I have recently switched to bb focusing (Canon 5D ... (show quote)

I have the same camera and use BBF. I'm not having any problems focusing, recomposing and then using the cable remote to release the shutter.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

I believe the cable/remote will only perform what function(s) the shutter button is set to do. If the shutter button is not set to focus, neither will the cable or remote.

davidrb Loc: Half way there on the 45th Parallel

whitehall wrote:

I have recently switched to bb focusing (Canon 5D ... (show quote)

While I do not shoot the 5D Mk iv my other Canon's require the user to de-activate the AF function of the shutter button. Look in the owner's manual under custom functions for the instructions on setting your camera. You can put an end to the frustration. Good luck.

marki3rd Loc: Columbus, Indiana

davidrb wrote:

While I do not shoot the 5D Mk iv my other Canon's require the user to de-activate the AF function of the shutter button. Look in the owner's manual under custom functions for the instructions on setting your camera. You can put an end to the frustration. Good luck.

You obviously do not understand.... The OP stated he is set up for BBF and is using BBF.... He therefore has already "de-activated" the AF function of the shutter button. Your suggestion that he would "put an end to his frustration" makes no sense!!

davidrb Loc: Half way there on the 45th Parallel

marki3rd wrote:

You obviously do not understand.... The OP stated he is set up for BBF and is using BBF.... He therefore has already "de-activated" the AF function of the shutter button. Your suggestion that he would "put an end to his frustration" makes no sense!!

It is you mark who does not understand. The only method to de-activate the AF feature of the shutter button is to go into the custom menu and do so manually. AF is not automatically removed from the shutter button just because another button on the back of the camera now does that function. That is all explained in the manual. The OP may have had a button on the rear of the camera that activated AF but the shutter button is still doing that function.

Dixiegirl Loc: Alabama gulf coast

davidrb wrote:

It is you mark who does not understand. The only method to de-activate the AF feature of the shutter button is to go into the custom menu and do so manually. AF is not automatically removed from the shutter button just because another button on the back of the camera now does that function. That is all explained in the manual. The OP may have had a button on the rear of the camera that activated AF but the shutter button is still doing that function.

You're wrong, David. AF function is indeed removed from the shutter button when the another button is assigned for that purpose. Otherwise you would lose focus when you pressed the shutter button to get the shot.

whitehall Loc: Canada

Thank you for your replies. In fact the shutter was restricted to exposure only and AF ON assigned focus. Based on your replies, I concluded that in that configuration if I want to focus and recompose I must either keep pushing the AF On button or reconfigure and reassign focus to the Shutter button. Another option just occurred to me is to assign AF Lock to the button next to the AF ON ( the star which I now use for locking exposure). Thoughts?

IGW

Dixiegirl Loc: Alabama gulf coast

whitehall wrote:

Thank you for your replies. In fact the shutter was restricted to exposure only and AF ON assigned focus. Based on your replies, I concluded that in that configuration if I want to focus and recompose I must either keep pushing the AF On button or reconfigure and reassign focus to the Shutter button. Another option just occurred to me is to assign AF Lock to the button next to the AF ON ( the star which I now use for locking exposure). Thoughts?

IGW

If you have focus assigned to your AF On button, all you need to do is press to lock focus. Then you can stop pressing AF On, recompose your shot and press the shutter button. No need to keep pressing the AF On button. I just double checked with my camera to make sure I was giving you the correction info, and there was no problem.

whitehall Loc: Canada

Thanks. Makes sense.

Dixiegirl Loc: Alabama gulf coast

whitehall wrote:

Thanks. Makes sense.

You're very welcome.

rafikiphoto Loc: Spain

A simple way to achieve what you want is to set one of your custom configurations (C1 - C3) to exactly what you have at present with the exception of the shutter button custom button control set to 'Metering and AF Start'. You can leave your BBF settings as they are (they will be overridden by the shutter button AF in this setup). Save these settings to one of the configurations (e.g. C1). When you attach your remote just set the camera to whichever Custom setting you saved it to and fire away with your remote which now has AF capability.

Jimmy T Loc: Virginia

davidrb wrote:

While I do not shoot the 5D Mk iv my other Canon's require the user to de-activate the AF function of the shutter button. Look in the owner's manual under custom functions for the instructions on setting your camera. You can put an end to the frustration. Good luck.

Jimmy T Loc: Virginia

Longshadow wrote:

I believe the cable/remote will only perform what function(s) the shutter button is set to do. If the shutter button is not set to focus, neither will the cable or remote.

marki3rd Loc: Columbus, Indiana

davidrb wrote:

It is you mark who does not understand. The only method to de-activate the AF feature of the shutter button is to go into the custom menu and do so manually. AF is not automatically removed from the shutter button just because another button on the back of the camera now does that function. That is all explained in the manual. The OP may have had a button on the rear of the camera that activated AF but the shutter button is still doing that function.

The OP states he has a Canon Camera. I may be wrong, but I do not believe you can have back button activated focus set up and still have half press shutter button focus. Somebody provide me with information that this is wrong as I would like to know when I am in error.

Now, I shoot with a Canon Camera and a Pentax Camera. The Canon completely switches the AF function to the back button and only the back button. The Pentax on the other hand can be setup to have both buttons AF. On the Pentax you have the option (which I have never understood the reason for) to completely switch the AF over to the back button or leave both buttons capable of AF.

Perhaps it is the Canon vs Pentax difference that causes confusion or do some models of Canon Cameras work that way?