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Jan 31, 2021 08:20:25   #
agillot
 
i use simple ways , dont know or use back focus ??? , set camera on spot focus , make sure the spot is at center of view finder and align with subject .or use manual focus .

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Jan 31, 2021 08:24:18   #
agillot
 
assuming you where shooting at 400 mm , hand held ?? , nothing is in focus , motion sickness ???

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Jan 31, 2021 09:22:38   #
tcthome Loc: NJ
 
For small birds I use spot focus. The group setting is to big & sometimes I can see it hunting around with less keepers even when it grabs focus. I also use BBF. If it doesn't look like it caught focus, I remove my thumb from the BBF button & press it again & if you have to repeat until it is in focus. Using VR or IS? Steve Perry has some good vids on how to. I'll look for the vid & repost. Also , I noticed that sometimes I get better results at slower shutter speeds & VR on as to higher shutter speeds & vr on or off as some people suggest turning off vr at higher shutter speeds. Note: I'm shooting with a Nikon D810 & Nikon 200-500 lens. Good luck & experiment with the focus settings & practice, practice, practice. Nothing beats learning threw experience.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChUi5Gm8w-S_d6dS31cFCnQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69jcmNbqGrU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9YBeNBoKVw&t=3s These should get you going in the rite direction.

When using a tripod
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_a6XaQ16aaE
hthttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8HVPrPzpR4&t=16stps:
//www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmIfYtcnqdU

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Jan 31, 2021 09:22:56   #
franbires
 
I’m not finding anything about continuous focusing under camera or wrench. Under AF I have Al servo on focus priority

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Jan 31, 2021 09:25:51   #
franbires
 
I set up BBF. I get great results with larger subjects such as deer or elk. It’s the songbirds in particular that I have trouble with.

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Jan 31, 2021 09:28:51   #
tcthome Loc: NJ
 
CHG_CANON wrote:
No worries. Hopefully, the sumac and bluebirds remain frequent for the next outing. The zone is great for in-flight. But, when you can use the single AF or expanded single AF, you'll get the best results with the camera and lens focusing very precisely on that one AF.

I tend to 'pump' the BBF. Using this shot as an example, I'd get the AF point on the bird, press and hold the BFF and let 3- to 5 images rip. Then, lift my thumb for just an instant, press again while releasing my next burst. The camera may be locked for every frame, but sometimes it seems asking the lens to restart with the 'pump' gets things slightly better.
No worries. Hopefully, the sumac and bluebirds rem... (show quote)


I learned this after watching a Steve Perry vid. It works.

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Jan 31, 2021 09:29:47   #
franbires
 
I shoot in Al Servo and depending on the situation I use a tripod.

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Jan 31, 2021 09:33:55   #
joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois
 
franbires wrote:
I have been struggling nailing in focus photos and I have become rather frustrated. I included this photo I took today of a bluebird on a stag horn sumac. If anyone can help, I would appreciate it. It seems my biggest issue is initially nailing the focus, especially with small subjects like songbirds. I was probably 30 yards away when I took this photo. Here are the specifics: Canon 5D Mark IV, EF 100-400 f4.5-5.6L IS II USM, Shot taken - Manual, 1/1250, f/8, ISO 2500 and AF Zone, 9-points and Back Button Focus. When I try to locate my subject, I hit the BBF and sometimes for whatever reason, I miss the focus. I have come to the realization it is not my equipment, but me. Has anyone else gone through this. This should have been a keeper but as you can see, it is far from it. Thanks, Frustrated Fran
I have been struggling nailing in focus photos and... (show quote)


You need to be using single point spot metering. BBF is not for everyone. Why use two buttons when one will do.

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Jan 31, 2021 09:40:02   #
Nalu Loc: Southern Arizona
 
I found that using BBF was just another variable that could lead to errors. I found when using my Canon gear and processing images in DPP4 that occasionally there were images that did not have the AF point highlighted. I came to the conclusion, eventually, that there were times I the heat of battle that I was not depression the back button sufficiently to activate the camera, hence missing focus. After this realization, I stopped using BBF and never went back. Eliminating one variable.

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Jan 31, 2021 09:42:05   #
gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast
 
Be sure to use single point focus and put the focus point on the subject. And depending on the focal length used, 1/1250 might not have been fast enough if you’re very shakey. At least use a monopod.

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Jan 31, 2021 09:48:02   #
olemikey Loc: 6 mile creek, Spacecoast Florida
 
franbires wrote:
I feel like I'm back in grade school. But once I press and hold the BBF button, I can let go before I squeeze the shutter correct?


For birds and other small critters I use spot focus and metering, works well.

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Jan 31, 2021 09:57:35   #
portcragin Loc: Kirkland, WA
 
You are way overthinking this. Drop your ISO down to 400 F/stop to 5.6., zoom into the subject (the Bird) and Reshoot. Quit trying to incorporate all the fancy features you have in your hands. Back to basics. It is very easy to try and incorporate all the new features in the technology we hold.

Good shooting

Porter Cragin

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Jan 31, 2021 10:01:58   #
bleirer
 
franbires wrote:
I’m not finding anything about continuous focusing under camera or wrench. Under AF I have Al servo on focus priority


Here is what I found for one of the settings I mentioned. Maybe the other doesn't apply to your camera since you have many sophisticated focus settings:

Autofocus Menu 4: Lens drive when AF impossible: Continue focus search – if focus cannot be achieved, the camera can continue searching or stop. Let the camera continue to search is recommended.

From this article:

https://photographylife.com/recommended-canon-5d-mark-iv-settings

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Jan 31, 2021 10:11:27   #
camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.
 
You should know that the majority of AF errors are operator's error and I suspect by now you know that. I am not familiar with Canon, I am a Nikon shooter and I use the BBF all the time for stationary and moving subjects. No issues for me.
If you have a stationary subject and this has already been discussed, use single servo AF. If the subject is not in focus the camera will not fire. Using continues AF is a different story, this has also been discussed and that modality would be the first choice for subjects that are moving fast. In this case the photographer keeps his finger on the BBF while firing to keep tracking the subject.

Yes, if you focus on a subject in single servo AF and you move your finger from the BBF the camera has locked focus on your target. If the subject moves to another location you have to start all over again since the camera locked focus for the original position only.

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Jan 31, 2021 11:05:35   #
johngault007 Loc: Florida Panhandle
 
franbires wrote:
I’m not finding anything about continuous focusing under camera or wrench. Under AF I have Al servo on focus priority


Your BBF setup will continuously focus while holding the button down. Not to be rude, but blunt, some information following Paul's is contradictory to how YOU want your camera setup and the steps he outlined to start troubleshooting.

There was a great suggestion about making sure BBF is setup correctly. Meaning, did you dedicate a button (not the shutter release) for this task...and...did you disable shutter release from it's default button on the front.

For me, I have two BBF setup on on the (*) and (AF-ON) buttons, and then set the shutter release button for metering only activated for the half-press and disabled any focus options.

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