scsdesphotography wrote:
I guess I'm old school like a few others here. I learned to hold the shutter button half way down to focus back in my P&S days. Later, with my SLR, I learned to hold the button down to lock focus, and then while still holding the release half way to recompose. Not hard to do, one button simplicity. My imaging flow goes like this; observe, asses the light, make several test images to evaluate exposure, focus lock, recompose and shoot. I really don't think it matters which button(s) you use as long as it works for you to make quality images.
I guess I'm old school like a few others here. I l... (
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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.
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
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.
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.
OZMON wrote:
I watched a video on youtube about back button focusing, I have not tried it yet but it looks very promising,have any hoggers tried it and if so what are the results.
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!
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.
OZMON wrote:
I watched a video on youtube about back button focusing, I have not tried it yet but it looks very promising,have any hoggers tried it and if so what are the results.
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...
OZMON wrote:
I watched a video on youtube about back button focusing, I have not tried it yet but it looks very promising,have any hoggers tried it and if so what are the results.
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.
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!
have been using it for many years especially for landscapes
OZMON wrote:
I watched a video on youtube about back button focusing, I have not tried it yet but it looks very promising,have any hoggers tried it and if so what are the results.
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.
larryzplace wrote:
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
It was his video that got me to change.
mikemercury wrote:
Three buttons, don't forget the AE-L button. That way you're not automatically setting exposure on the focus point and they can be set independently. AE-L, then back button focus, then shoot
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.
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