nadelewitz Loc: Ithaca NY

On my camera, with my older less-than-rock steady index finger, it is a real delicate balance between the point at which focus press advances to shutter-snappng, worse when moving the camera at the same time. Too many inadvertent shots taken. That's why I now use BBF.

larryzplace Loc: Elk Grove Village Illinois

Absolutely the way to go... A member here Steve Perry was the video that did it for me... His explanations are the best... He is a nikon man but all the theory he states applies to other brands...


Takes a bit of time to get used to however don't give up... Might seem awkward at first but that rapidly goes away...

Try it you will like it

bleirer

Birds in flight

bleirer

I'm coming from a mirrorless perspective and whats allowed or not on my camera, and I wonder if that might color how I think about it. Starting in servo, tracking, face detect with drag and release tracking points, the default settings would allow auto focus tracking of a moving target but focus lock to recompose is not allowed in servo and neither is manual focus. But the simple solution of keeping the shutter button half press at the default but assigning a thumb to disable auto focus while held gives me the ability to recompose, to manual focus, to get focus peaking or magnificaion (have to switch to spot metering for magnification). So from that perspective it seems like the easiest way. I get a blue box that follows the moving subject telling me the focus is achieved, but if it stops moving I can auto focus on the target then press my thumb to hold that focus, recompose, use manual focus, and independently lock the exposure if needed.

Doing back button focusing by setting the shutter only to turn on the meter or lock exposure, and using a back button to activate autofocus does exactly the same, except I have to remember to hold the thumb to focus and release to recompose. I still get manual focus but I lose focus peaking, and I lose the touch and drag autofocus that I like, where my thumb slides around to set the focus point while I'm looking through the viewfinder. Because my thumb can't be holding down the button and sliding around the lcd at the same time.

So for my camera, Regular BBF has some tradeoffs, making me slightly prefer the alternative method.

Leeo Loc: Oregon

It did not take long to remember to use it. Like all the buttons, it's good to use them all for what they do, makes it nicer when you get hurried shots to know what they can do for you.

SENSORLOUPE

I set all my Canons to BBF. I do like it very much. It works well for me shooting Basket Ball. With the help of some here and watching BBF on Utube
for my specific camera, I was pleased as how it works. Good luck!

Jim Bianco

I been using BBF for 4 yrs. now and love it, once tried you will never go back, try it you will like it. It's the only way to go.

CloudyCoastPhotography

You won’t go back after trying...benefits: focus when YOU want, NOT every time you click the shutter. Hold down to track moving object and shoot away as you desire. Many pros; I haven’t found and cons...

Blurryeyed Loc: NC Mountains.

Always, prevents the camera from refocusing a shot. Sometimes when working with shallow DOF instead of refocusing on a second target near the last one I shot I simply move the camera, a hangover from shooting macro I guess, but it is nice to be able to take multiple shots without worrying about the camera searching for focus or changing the focus you are trying for.

photoman022 Loc: Manchester CT USA

I'm glad I started BBF years ago; it's saved me from taking some bad photos! The old dictum of depressing the shutter release half way and then recomposing never worked for me. I would depress it and it kept going! With BBF I set up my composition, press the BBF button (that seems redundant somehow!), get focus, and then take the photo. I'll never go back to the old way!

Dallas P

As others have noted, Steve Perry is excellent on this topic: https://backcountrygallery.com/free-back-button-af-guide-for-nikon/

gtheodore Loc: Fort Collins CO

have been using it for many years especially for landscapes

hpucker99 Loc: Anchorage, Alaska

I changed over a few months ago but sometimes still push the shutter halfway to focus. When I see the result, then I remember about BBF.

hpucker99 Loc: Anchorage, Alaska

It was his video that got me to change.

srt101fan

Could you please clarify your "three buttons" comment? What camera are you using?

On my Nikon D5300, I assigned the AE-L/AF-L button to be the "back-button focus" button. The shutter button now controls only the shutter and, at half-press locks the exposure. So for me it's compose, back-button focus, recompose if necessary, and then shoot. Two buttons.