Back button focus and image stabilization (Page 3): Hello i am a canon user but may i suggest going to u-tube type in camera that you want to set up and back button focus and you will...

northsidejoe Loc: pittsburgh

rmm0605 wrote:

I have a Nikon D7100 and have tried to follow various sources of guidance on how to set the camera up for back button focus and image stabilization. Can anyone out there walk me through the steps? The manual is silent on the subject.

Hello i am a canon user but may i suggest going to u-tube type in camera that you want to set up and back button focus and you will find information there.I hope this helps, Saying hello from Pittsburgh

akretiree Loc: Anchorage

CanonShot wrote:

WE smile and applaud both of 'em for their contributions here on the hog. I am sure I would value them as good friends if I lived anywhere near their back 40s.

:thumbup: :thumbup:

Ralloh Loc: Ohio

Greg Brandt wrote:

On my D5100 with the 70-300 VRII, it stabilizes when you back button focus, not when you press the shutter.

I can't imagine that being correct. What good would it be? I can focus with my back button, then if I'm not changing positions and the subject is not moving, I can take several shots without refocusing. The VR has to come on with the regular shutter release button press. Also, it would be a colossal waste of battery if it turned on every time you pressed the focus button.

jimmix7 Loc: England

rmm0605 wrote:

I have a Nikon D7100 and have tried to follow various sources of guidance on how to set the camera up for back button focus and image stabilization. Can anyone out there walk me through the steps? The manual is silent on the subject.

I use the D7100 and using BBF activates the Vr (you can hear the VR kick in when it is being activated) But the 'shutter button' also activated the VR even though the lens does not focus with the shutter button, but I use BBF,, :thumbup:

HelleGuy Loc: Boston

I set my D750 for BBF and VR activates when button is pressed for focus :thumbup:

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

Ralloh wrote:

I can't imagine that being correct. What good would it be? I can focus with my back button, then if I'm not changing positions and the subject is not moving, I can take several shots without refocusing. The VR has to come on with the regular shutter release button press. Also, it would be a colossal waste of battery if it turned on every time you pressed the focus button.

On Canon cameras (which is what the original poster is asking about), IS most certainly is activated when you press the back button. (as well as focusing and metering).

BBF is a popular sports/action technique that's most useful when shooting active, moving subjects with continuous focus. It's the perfect time to have IS up and running while tracking the subject with AF, with everything in focus and stabilized well before you take the shot. IS also helps stabilize the image in the viewfinder when panning the camera with the subject.

Yes, it uses a small amount of power. But I shoot all day long... sometimes 2000 or more shots... on a pair of batteries and still have ample power left over. That's with IS and AF active a lot of the time, using BBF. It really uses far less power than you might think.

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

amfoto1 wrote:

On Canon cameras (which is what the original poste... (show quote)

Absolutely. I can hear the IS motor whirring whether I use the AF-On back button or the shutter button, and it doesn't matter how you set the C.Fn IV Operation/Others AF and Metering Functions. IS is always active if the switch on the lens is set to the On position.

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

Ralloh wrote:

Yes it is correct. To test this, pay attention to how much an image in your viewfinder is moving, then press Back Button Focus. You will not see any difference while pressing it or not. Now half press the shutter release button and you will see the image will settle down with far less movement.

On my Canon 60D, or any other current Canon EOS DSLR camera, that is not correct. If the IS switch on the lens is on, IS will be activated by both the shutter button and the back button all the time, regardless of any other settings.

NoSocks Loc: quonochontaug, rhode island

Mr PC wrote:

How do we decide between Jerry's powerful brain and MT's vast experience?

I would Go with the experience with the powerful brain.

Ralloh Loc: Ohio

Ok I stand corrected on my statement about VR and Back Button Focusing. I have a Nikon. I really don't know squat about Canons.

georgevedwards Loc: Essex, Maryland.

I can hear the auto focus motor whirring when I press the back button focus, it also even seems to auto focus occasionally through the shutter button half depressed, like maybe in different modes like full auto, or when live screen is activated...How would you tell the difference between the autofocus whirr, and the VR noise? I don't think I have heard a VR noise on my D5200...although I didn't really think to listen for it, it didn't seem obvious, or do you notice an effect while watching through the viewfinder, that the image in the viewfinder or live screen doesn't wobble with hand shake, especially with telephoto?

mwsilvers wrote:

Absolutely. I can hear the IS motor whirring whether I use the AF-On back button or the shutter button, and it doesn't matter how you set the C.Fn IV Operation/Others AF and Metering Functions. IS is always active if the switch on the lens is set to the On position.

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

georgevedwards wrote:

How would you tell the difference between the autofocus whirr, and the VR noise?

First, the sound of the whirring of the IS motor is completely different than the sound of the lens' AF focus motor. To hear it whirring on a Canon USM lens you must put your ear next to it in a quiet room. Its almost dead silent. Second, on Canon bodies, at least, when you depress the shutter button half way or use the back button, the IS whirring continues until you take the picture or release the button, and then stops. Until then, it will just keep whirring. The sound of an AF motor is completely different and only make a noise until its achieved focus, which is no more than a second or so, usually less. If you turn the AF switch on your lens off all you will hear is the sound of the IS motor. If you turn off the IS switch on your lens off you will no longer hear the whirring. I can't speak to what happens with a Nikon body.

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

Mr PC wrote:

How do we decide between Jerry's powerful brain and MT's vast experience?

Try it yourself?