larryepage Loc: North Texas area

On April 3rd, I wrote that I was committing to a two-week trial of back button focus after discovering that my most recent cameras provide an easy, direct, one-click menu function to enable BBF or restore the factory default focus setup. Since I know that much of my shooting favors half-press shooting, this discovery eliminated one of my significant objections to changing...the awkwardness of going back and forth. That two weeks is now complete, and I am returning with a report of the results of my trial.

First, and most noteworthy, is that the world did not end as a result of half-press focusing being disabled on my camera. I successfully completed all of the shots that I attempted, and there were no meltdowns along the way. And nothing got broken or destroyed.

First and perhaps most important...I did discover one huge benefit of BBF that I had not considered...one which I do not recall ever reading about in any of the discussions which I have read. When set up for BBF, my cameras (Nikons) present a completely seamless combination of manual focus and automatic focus. As long as I do not press the focus button (I used AF-On, based on my 16 year familiarity with it), I can manually focus my camera. No switch to turn, No button to press, no Command Dial to spin. The camera is in manual focus. All of the lenses I was using were newer models with internal focus motors, and I realize that the functionality would be different or perhaps unavailable with older lenses, but it works perfectly with all lenses with motors. This is a pretty major plus, and I'm surprised we don't read about it more.

Second...I did not feel that there was a major benefit to be realized from the ability to press and release the AF button versus what I have been doing for years...pressing the button to focus and simply holding it while recomposing or living through whatever other delay in shooting might arise. For me, pressing and holding the button provides a mental reminder that the system is focused and ready to release when appropriate. I do not find it at all uncomfortable or inconvenient to simply hold the button to lock focus and prevent refocusing when pressing the shutter release.

Third...I do not find it at all inconvenient to access item a8 on the Custom Settings Menu and turn AF Activation (shutter release focus) on or off. a8 is at the bottom of the first page of the menu and simple to change.

So in summary...I plan to turn AF Activation back on and use half press focus as my default focus mode. But I'm really glad to realize the ability to integrate manual and automatic focus by using what we call BBF. That's a really good and useful thing. And I'm really glad to know that it is so easy to move between the two setups.

tradio Loc: Oxford, Ohio

I'm really surprised that you are going back...I made the change and never looked back and would be lost if I had to go back.
I guess it's what you get used to and the important thing is that you're comfortable with whatever method you use.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

I REALLY like auto focus and exposure metering separate.

(But each camera may be slightly different in its operation since all cameras are not created equal.)

gwilliams6

The genesis of back button focus BBF was because the early top pro DSLRs from Nikon and Canon (I have owned and used them all in my long pro career) could not re-acquire and re-autofocus fast enough to keep up with your shutter when covering sports, action of any moving subjects, breaking news or otherwise when you lifted your finger off and on the shutter button. So keeping the BBF pressed KEPT the focus system activated when you needed it at a moments notice. .

Fast forward to the best of the pro sports-centered cameras now. The autofocus systems on the best of them can now accomplish 120 autofocus and auto exposure calculations per second. (Nikon Z9, Sony A1)

So BBF is less of a necessity now. It can still be helpful when you are following a moving subject that crosses other near or far elements that can grab the focus away from your intended subject . With BBF you can release the AF so it is off and unaffected by foreground elements blocking you subject.

Many modern AF systems have AI Intelligence and sophisticated tracking that will lock on your subject and still stay focused on it even it your subject goes behind another person or object and hold the focus until your subject re-emerges .

Many pros still swear by BBF for that added control and separation of focus and shutter release, but many other pros and hobbyists alike find they can do their work and rarely miss any shot using the integrated function of focus and shutter release within a single button, freeing up other custom function buttons, and freeing up extra fingers.

Personally after many years of BBF, I find I really dont need to use it much anymore with the speed of AF acquisition, AI tracking, and 120 AF/AE calculations per second with my Sony A1.

Everyone needs to find what works best for what and how they shoot. But thanks Larry for sharing your experimental adventure and conclusions.

Cheers

https://www.facebook.com/GSWilliamsPhotography

Bill_de Loc: US

I did what you did quite a few years ago. Now I use half press to focus and AF/ON when I want to lock focus temporarily. I also use the joy stick quite a bit to move the focus point.

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BigDale Loc: Seymour CT.

I set up the back focus button on my Canon T6i about a year ago. When I get a focus on my subject I take my finger off the button and it stays while I frame and shoot. Its a big advantage shooting a bird or animal in the woods with a long lens, no refocusing on a twig or leaves as I take my shot. Today I was talking shots of a red tail hawk through the canopy with my Sigma 150-600 using the manual focus, if I had used the half way focus I would have ended up with sharp branches.

gwilliams6

That is fine for non-moving subjects, but wont work on BIF or if your subject's focus distance changes if you take your finger off the button deactivating autofocus . Moving subjects or subjects that change focus distance will require constant pressure on your BBF button.

If I had taken my finger off a BBF button after initial focus on this Snowy Egret while it was perched, I would not have had this shot in focus as this egret took to the air from its watery perch on the Caribbean Island of Sint Maarten/St. Martin.

Sony A1, Sony 200-600mm lens, 391mm, ISO 1600, f6.3, 1/4000 sec. Bird Eye-AF was enabled and it tracked and stayed on the egret's eye through its flight.

Cheers

(Download)

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

I found most interesting that manual focus is available while the camera is set to BBF. That is indeed convenient at times.
Like others here I prefer to separate focus from shutter activation. It has worked very well for me and all my cameras, including my Olympus bodies, are set that way. I have no experience with modern cameras or with the Nikon Z series.
If going back to focus-recompose works for you then you have done the right choice.

tcthome Loc: NJ

tcthome Loc: NJ

b top gun

I tried BBF a few years ago on my D7100 and D850; I tried it at the time because of Steve Perry. I am back to half press on my shutter. I was fighting muscle memory from so many years of half pressing the shutter to grab and lock focus. Tracking moving subjects is not a challenge for me as I have shot trap and sporting clays for around 40 years and apply tracking from that.

Sidwalkastronomy Loc: New Jersey Shore

I trying it out now and I'm shooting eagles sitting in a nest. I use the BBF to get the auto focus working. On my Canon T7i I use my Tamron 150-600 and I can fine tune the focus. On this lens I can manually adjust the ficus w/o changing focus button. If I manually adjust the focus it holds between shots. If I just used the shutter button I would have to go through the sequence again and again. Works perfect for that work. I was getting some auto focus on twigs and such on pure shutter button focus.

frankraney Loc: Clovis, Ca.

One thing I read, I think you are misunderstanding. You do not press and hold either button to focus and recompose. The camera will refocus if you do this. That is one of the major reasons to use bbf. Press to focus wherever, release, the recompose and press the shutter.

All my Nikon lenses can be manually focused when in auto, this can be useful sometimes.

joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois

I rarely manual focus. Tried BBF for awhile and went back. Probably works great with older technology...not needed with top end ML cameras.

larryzplace Loc: Elk Grove Village Illinois

I tried bbf a long time ago and aparently did not fully understand the process... Enter Steve Perry... Watched a video of his and said maybe i should try again... I followed his advice and never turned back... He made it very clear how it works especially for wild life photography...
Thanks Steve