New To Back Button Focus: I have a Canon T3i with 18-55 mm kit lense (which I hope to replace soon) and playing around with the back button focus. Can anyone suggest the best way to...

biancat Loc: New York

I have a Canon T3i with 18-55 mm kit lense (which I hope to replace soon) and playing around with the back button focus. Can anyone suggest the best way to practice with this- what are the best kind of objects that I can use or focus on so that it's obvious and I can see the results?

Turbo Loc: Raleigh, NC

you should be able to see the small red square on the subject that the camera is focusing on. That way, you know exactly where the focus point is.

Any subject is good for back button focusing

tradio Loc: Oxford, Ohio

Once you get the hang of it, you will wonder how you ever got along without it.

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

biancat wrote:

I have a Canon T3i with 18-55 mm kit lense (which I hope to replace soon) and playing around with the back button focus. Can anyone suggest the best way to practice with this- what are the best kind of objects that I can use or focus on so that it's obvious and I can see the results?

It's just like regular "shutter button" focus...and practice is the key.

You are trying to "unlearn" the other motion of "half press the shutter" and replace it with a new habit.

Just walk around focusing on things....within a few days it will become second nature....no sweat.

Db7423 Loc: Pittsburgh, PA

rpavich wrote:

It's just like regular "shutter button" focus...and practice is the key.

You are trying to "unlearn" the other motion of "half press the shutter" and replace it with a new habit.

Just walk around focusing on things....within a few days it will become second nature....no sweat.

Yep, right, and you will soon wonder why this is a special setup rather than the standard and will wish you had learned this long ago- a sooo much easier and better method.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

rpavich wrote:

It's just like regular "shutter button" focus...and practice is the key.

You are trying to "unlearn" the other motion of "half press the shutter" and replace it with a new habit.

Just walk around focusing on things....within a few days it will become second nature....no sweat.

Unlearning is not one of my goals in life. I tried BBF, and soon went back to what I had learned originally - shutter button focusing. The terms "old dog" and "new tricks" come to mind.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

I have same camera and lens + a 55-250 mm. Read about BBF on UHH and it did become second nature quite quickly. I now hover my thumb over the button when re-composing and practically do the focus and expose/click at the same time. Just do your regular shooting and it'll be "normal" soon. My only issue is I wear glasses so my thumb smears the glass!

stevenelson Loc: Pauls Valley, Oklahoma

If you like really crisp pics. Zoom in all the way, focus, then zoom out to where you want the pic.

mborn Loc: Massachusetts

tradio wrote:

Once you get the hang of it, you will wonder how you ever got along without it.

Double ditto. It is the only way to go :D and old dogs can learn new tricks

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

stevenelson wrote:

If you like really crisp pics. Zoom in all the way, focus, then zoom out to where you want the pic.

I always made it a practice to do that, but then I read a couple of articles that recommended against it. The idea is that, as the glass inside the lens moves one way and then the other, it will not necessarily be in sharp focus at both zoom ratios. Their advice was to focus on the scene you want to photograph. This effect can vary from lens to lens.

Of course the best thing to do is run a test with your specific lens. That's on my huge list of "Things to Do."

stevenelson Loc: Pauls Valley, Oklahoma

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

guitarbts Loc: Charlotte, NC

I use back button focus mostly for sports. I have it set up and saved on my d7000 to use when I need it.

biancat Loc: New York

Thank you all so much for you help and advice.

photophool Loc: Grosse Pointe Park, MI

stevenelson wrote:

If you like really crisp pics. Zoom in all the way, focus, then zoom out to where you want the pic.

Not necessarily true. Some lenses will change focus slightly as the zoom moves in or out. Best to focus after composing.

nikonshooter Loc: Spartanburg, South Carolina

photophool wrote:

Not necessarily true. Some lenses will change focus slightly as the zoom moves in or out. Best to focus after composing.

Absolutely - I am a backfocus photographer and changing the zoom will move the focal plane enough to screw up your focus more often than not. Always focus after composing....and leave the zoom alone until you fire. I still use manual focusing for everything but sports.