Back button focus (Page 2): You still have to move the focus point around with one of your thumbs and when you do that your thumb is not on the back focusing button. I find that when...

Fotoartist Loc: Detroit, Michigan

You still have to move the focus point around with one of your thumbs and when you do that your thumb is not on the back focusing button. I find that when shooting action I generally have to keep my focus point in the center when using BBF so a lot of subjects are centered. And then I have to crop a lot later.

G Brown Loc: Sunny Bognor Regis West Sussex UK

I have never used it, I can't say I have missed out. I have no problem focusing on static or moving subjects because setting AF can be done 'when you expect to need it' just as easily as altering the focus points in the conventional manner.

I do know that a lot of 'talking heads' can tell you how to do it....but having started with a camera that 'couldn't' now I can, I can't be bothered.

have fun

bpulv Loc: Buena Park, CA

Photobum wrote:

Just out of curiosity, do many of you use back button focus, and if so, what do you liked or dislike about the feature?

I use back button focus on all my cameras for multiple reasons. When tracking action, I can focus on the subject once, release the back button and the camera automatically maintains focus. It allows me more precise control of the exact place I am focusing and it prevents me from accidently clicking the shutter when I only want to focus.

I takes a little practice to get use to having a separate shutter and focus control, but once you master it you will not want to go back.

bpulv Loc: Buena Park, CA

Fotoartist wrote:

You still have to move the focus point around with one of your thumbs and when you do that your thumb is not on the back focusing button. I find that when shooting action I generally have to keep my focus point in the center when using BBF so a lot of subjects are centered. And then I have to crop a lot later.

You are not using your back button focus correctly. First place your camera's focus point on the subject then press and release the back button focus. Once you release the button, either the focus distance will not change while you frame and take the picture or the focus distance will automatically change to follow the subject DEPENDING ON THE FOCUS MODE you set your camera to.

AndyH Loc: Massachusetts and New Hampshire

bpulv wrote:

I use back button focus on all my cameras for multiple reasons. When tracking action, I can focus on the subject once, release the back button and the camera automatically maintains focus. It allows me more precise control of the exact place I am focusing and it prevents me from accidently clicking the shutter when I only want to focus.

I takes a little practice to get use to having a separate shutter and focus control, but once you master it you will not want to go back.

This is what I do as well. I leave the focus set to continuous (Nikon term - others use a different name) even though I mostly shoot stationary objects. I focus on the desired point, release the button, then recompose and use my spot meter to set the exposure and shoot by holding down the shutter button halfway. It's taken much longer to write this out than to do it.

On the rare occasions I'm shooting grandkids, pets, or other moving subjects, I leave the back button held down while composing and metering. I find that most of the time I use the center spot for both purposes, but on the rare occasions I've tried to shoot wildlife, I go to the nine spot focus. As above, this also takes longer to write out than to do. I absolutely hated the process at first, but now find that it works for virtually every shooting situation with some minor adjustment in he shooting process. I may be resistant to change, but I've found it allows me to work faster and fumble less.

Andy

Steve Perry Loc: Sylvania, Ohio

There are a lot of reasons to use it. I have a video that really goes over the advantages in detail and why in many cases it's superior to front button AF. There's also a free setup guide too if you're a Nikon shooter:

https://backcountrygallery.com/free-back-button-af-guide-for-nikon/

dannac Loc: 60 miles SW of New Orleans

marklevisay wrote:

I have switched to using it on my D7000. The only drawback is that the live view switch is quite close to the AE-L/AF-L button, and I hit that sometimes by accident. Otherwise, I'm finding it to be a big improvement over the shutter release method.

Some camera's allows you to use a different button.

I use "fn" button on front of camera ... falls right under the middle finger of my right hand.

Jim70 Loc: Delaware

I use it on my D7100 and love it. However, it took some getting used to. I like to focus on an element in the image, then recompose as needed. When taking multiple shots, it's much faster as long as everything stays in focus.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

I do, love it!

Bill_de Loc: US

Fotoartist wrote:

You still have to move the focus point around with one of your thumbs and when you do that your thumb is not on the back focusing button. I find that when shooting action I generally have to keep my focus point in the center when using BBF so a lot of subjects are centered. And then I have to crop a lot later.

I mentioned that once in a similar thread. I was told that nobody uses the joystick (Nikon) to move the focus point when shooting action.
When shooting action I prefer the 1/2 shutter button for continuous focus. My finger is already their. On those occasions I want to lock focus I'll use either the back button or the programmable buttons on long lens. If I am locking focus I don't need to use the joystick to move the focus point.

BBF certainly has some good points. But from reading posts on here over the past couple of years it was oversold to the point that some who switched don't really know why. One person said it is great except for everything except action so they only use it for stills.

Another said it is great because now they can use continuous focus.

BBF is like PhotoShop. It can be good, but too many who hype it don't know how to take advantage of it.

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Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Photobum wrote:

Just out of curiosity, do many of you use back button focus, and if so, what do you liked or dislike about the feature?

Use it, love it.

bpulv Loc: Buena Park, CA

One thing that has not been mentioned about BBF is that if you hand your camera to someone to take your picture, they will not know how to focus your camera unless you explain it to them or put it in the manual focus mode. If the person is someone who has never used anything other than point and shoot, forget it!

Fotoartist Loc: Detroit, Michigan

Are you sure you don't have to keep holding down the AF Button on the subject when it moves?

bpulv wrote:

You are not using your back button focus correctly. First place your camera's focus point on the subject then press and release the back button focus. Once you release the button, either the focus distance will not change while you frame and take the picture or the focus distance will automatically change to follow the subject DEPENDING ON THE FOCUS MODE you set your camera to.

Steve Perry Loc: Sylvania, Ohio

Fotoartist wrote:

Are you sure you don't have to keep holding down the AF Button on the subject when it moves?

You're correct and you do need to hold the button to track.

Fotoartist Loc: Detroit, Michigan

Thanks Steve. I reviewed your book and thought you made it pretty clear.

Steve Perry wrote:

You're correct and you do need to hold the button to track.