Back button focus (Page 3): I have changed to BBF recently thanks to Steve. Found it awkward at first but now am very thankful for this set up adjustment as it makes the whole exposure...

BBBruce77 Loc: Eureka, Montana

I have changed to BBF recently thanks to Steve. Found it awkward at first but now am very thankful for this set up adjustment as it makes the whole exposure process much more fluent.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

bmike101 wrote:

I am so excited that today I learned how get the focus off of the shutter button! Now the camera fires right when I press the button!
I know I'm the only one who really cares but I'm excited by it.

No, you aren't the only one who cares.... I've been using BBF with my Canon for many years.

While it's considered a "sports shooter's mode" by many folks (and that's the majority of what I shoot), I use it for practically everything. The main thing is that it allows one to leave the camera in a continuous focusing mode (AI Servo on Canon... AF-C on Nikon... dunno what Sony-Pentax-Oly call it, if they have it). Using that focusing mode full time isn't possible without BBF, would cause some focus problems. But with BBF, continuous focus can be used 99% of the time, as my default setting for use with subjects in motion or stationary, and leaving me ready to shoot either without having to stop shooting to switch focus mode.

I think it depends upon the camera model... Older Canon I used required the AE Lock (*) button be used to control BBF, same as appears to be the case with your camera. When I was using those it was very much like you mention... easiest by far to just switch to Manual exposure when wanting to lock exposure (otherwise it meant diving into the menu to disable BBF temporarily, which took a lot longer and was more hassle than simply switching to manual mode). Not that AE Lock is needed all that often.

The Canon models I use now, as well as several previous I've used, have a separate dedicated AF On button in addition to the AE Lock button. So both functions are available on those cameras. (The functions of the buttons can be swapped, if preferred.) I'm not familiar enough with all the different Nikon to know, but some of them may have other means of setting up BBF, so that their AE-L remains usable.

leftj Loc: Texas

bmike101 wrote:

I am so excited that today I learned how get the focus off of the shutter button! Now the camera fires right when I press the button!
I know I'm the only one who really cares but I'm excited by it.

More power to those who like BBF. I tried it for several months and went back to shutter button focus. Just wasn't a good fit for me.

jennifer graham

So sorry i certainly did not mean to “hijack” another user’s thread with my own questions. it was all regarding BB focus so i did not realize that was so offensive. I will not make that mistake again

photodoc16

Okay, crazydaddio, I have a question.
I have been using BBF for about 2-3 years. I use it for everything whether it is in Servo mode for bursts or for single shot mode. Why would you have to program 2 buttons?
Thanks,
Photodoc16

photoman022 Loc: Manchester CT USA

I also love my bbf! Before I learned how to do it, I would press the shutter release and it would take an out of focus photo! This happened in 1 photo out of 3! I admit that I lack the finesse to focus with the shutter release and now I don't have to!!!!

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

Jim Bob wrote:

I agree it's not for everyone. If you "have never missed a shot" I would certainly wish to mimic your technique. However, I must candidly state that even when I used the shutter button to focus and release the shutter, I missed bunches of shots. I wish I had your talent.

Not talent, PRACTICE.

mikeroetex Loc: Lafayette, LA

bobmcculloch wrote:

Since you asked, Maybe I'm just too old, if I don't like the auto focus with the shutter I switch to manual focus, one of the few non auto things I routinely do, I do have center focus on so I control the focus point, frame and shoot, playing with 2 buttons to focus and shoot is just too much to shoot.

Seriously? Don't you have to take your hand off the shutter to focus in manual, then back to the shutter? I would think a button and a focus ring more of a PIA. Anyone who can shake hands, or squeeze a grapefruit should be able to BBF. It's just habit. But whatever works for you is what works for you.

leftj Loc: Texas

mikeroetex wrote:

Seriously? Don't you have to take your hand off the shutter to focus in manual, then back to the shutter? I would think a button and a focus ring more of a PIA. Anyone who can shake hands, or squeeze a grapefruit should be able to BBF. It's just habit. But whatever works for you is what works for you.

As long as you have two hands the answer to your first question is no. Additionally the question is not about not being able to BBF. It is whether it works well for that photographer.

sirlensalot Loc: Arizona

BBF is my preference and favorite method of shooting.

bmike101 Loc: Gainesville, Florida

in regards to assigning ae-L to the shutter: that defeats the purpose of reassigning the auto focus.... it will pause before firing.

leftj Loc: Texas

bmike101 wrote:

that defeats the purpose of reassigning the auto focus.... it will pause before firing.

It would help to know who you are responding to.

bmike101 Loc: Gainesville, Florida

I just realized that and fixed it

ToBoldlyGo Loc: London U.K.

mikeroetex wrote:

Seriously? Don't you have to take your hand off the shutter to focus in manual, then back to the shutter? I would think a button and a focus ring more of a PIA. Anyone who can shake hands, or squeeze a grapefruit should be able to BBF. It's just habit. But whatever works for you is what works for you.

No. You're not considering button placement. That rear button just doesn't work for everyone. I'll give it another go like I said in a previous comment, but my first attempt was much less intuitive than my first photo experiences using the shutter button to focus and shoot.

bobmcculloch Loc: NYC, NY

mikeroetex wrote:

Seriously? Don't you have to take your hand off the shutter to focus in manual, then back to the shutter? I would think a button and a focus ring more of a PIA. Anyone who can shake hands, or squeeze a grapefruit should be able to BBF. It's just habit. But whatever works for you is what works for you.

How do you hold your camera, my hand is already on the lens, has been since my first SLR.