Back Button Focus ~ HELP (Page 2): New to all this, what is the advantage of BBF? Can someone please explain as if I'm only 10 years old please? Please explain in simple terms that a...

NewzShooter Loc: Las Vegas, NV

New to all this, what is the advantage of BBF? Can someone please explain as if I'm only 10 years old please? Please explain in simple terms that a newbie can follow. Thank you.

mborn Loc: Massachusetts

John Howard wrote:

Thanks. I can do that. My add-on question was since I have a AF-ON button, and I use that for BBF, what to do with the AE-L/AF-L button. Do you leave it as AE-L only, then if you want to lock the focus you have to push two buttons. OR leave it as locking both Exposure and Focus, but then you cannot lock Exposure only. How often do people need to lock Exposure and Focus separately?

!use the AE-L/AF-L Button on my Nikon D810 to change the crop mode set up in custom function along with the command wheel

lazyjt1 Loc: Potter Valley, CA

jerryc41 wrote:

Thanks for that. It's not easy to figure it out from the manual.

Another tip: if you have more than one DSLR, set all of them to BBF. Otherwise, you'll go crazy when you switch cameras and want to focus.

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

photostephen

I have both a D750 and a D7100. Here are the settings I use to set up Back Button Focus (BBF) for each of those cameras.

D750 Setup

 Place Camera in A Mode
 Using side button, set camera to AF-C S
 Set ISO to 400
 Set WB to AUTO
 In Custom Settings Menu
o Reset Custom Settings to Clear all settings
o D7 Turn on Viewfinder GRID
o E7 Change the Bracket order to Under-Norm-Over
o F1 Change Playback OK button to View Histogram
o F2 Change FN button to Viewfinder virtual horizon
o F3 Change Preview button to AE-LOCK (HOLD)
o F4 Change Assign AE-L/AF-L to AF-ON
 In the Setup Menu
o Save User Settings to U1 or U2

D7100 Setup
 Place Camera in A Mode
 Using side button, set camera to AF-C S
 Set ISO to 400
 Set WB to AUTO
 In Custom Settings Menu
o Reset Custom Settings to Clear all settings
o D1 Grid Off
o D2 Turn on Viewfinder GRID
o E7 Bracket Order under MTR over
o F1 OK Button Playback Mode set to View Histograms
o F2 Assign FN button to View Virtual Horizon
o F3 Assign Preview Button to AE LOCK (Hold)
o F4 Assign AE-L/AF-L Button to AF-ON
o F7 Slot empty Release to Locked
 In the Setup Menu
o Save User settings to U1 or U2

Bud S Loc: Logan Ohio

I use the fn button on the front to lock exposure ( like if I'm shooting a subject in the sun, I hit bbf and focus is locked, point camera away from sun and hit fn button and hold, recompose and shoot) I use the preview button on the front for spot metering and the ae/af button for bbf. Started this a few months ago and it works great, no setting dials. That's me and how I do it.

Bram boy Loc: Vancouver Island B.C. Canada

John Howard wrote:

I think you have your question answered, but I hav... (show quote)

Just set the ae-L and AF-L button to back button focus and your done .

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

NewzShooter wrote:

New to all this, what is the advantage of BBF? Can someone please explain as if I'm only 10 years old please? Please explain in simple terms that a newbie can follow. Thank you.

Well, dood, like for sure the raddest thang about BBF is that it lets U use continuous focus mode all the time. Like with both moving & stationary subjects.

Like, without BBF, U wouldn't wanna do that, 'cause U'd have probs like when focusing and recomposing & maybe in some other cases. But with BBF, problem solved & you can, like, control the AF with Ur thumb.

BBF also, like, puts U more in control of AF.

Watch this dood's vid for more info: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzqQskGoURE

Once U get used to BBF, which will take like about 3 days, U'll probly never go back.

Peace out.

Bud S Loc: Logan Ohio

once set up and on continual, you make the choice to follow a subject by simply keeping your thumb on the button or just focus and release button for stationary subjects. total control of focus with a thumb, no changing dial settings.

Bram boy Loc: Vancouver Island B.C. Canada

John Howard wrote:

Thanks. I can do that. My add-on question was since I have a AF-ON button, and I use that for BBF, what to do with the AE-L/AF-L button. Do you leave it as AE-L only, then if you want to lock the focus you have to push two buttons. OR leave it as locking both Exposure and Focus, but then you cannot lock Exposure only. How often do people need to lock Exposure and Focus separately?

You don't want to lock the focus . Just Chang that button as your focus button
If you lock it then it won't continuos focus . When your holding it down on a flying bird it will be locked . and if your using your shutter for focusing , you don't want that on lock also .

Bram boy Loc: Vancouver Island B.C. Canada

Bram boy wrote:

You don't want to lock the focus . Just Chang that button as your focus button
If you lock it then it won't continuos focus . When your holding it down on a flying bird it will be locked . and if your using your shutter for focusing , you don't want that on lock also .

I have never locked my shutter no need to

smith934 Loc: Huntsville, Alabama

NewzShooter wrote:

New to all this, what is the advantage of BBF? Can someone please explain as if I'm only 10 years old please? Please explain in simple terms that a newbie can follow. Thank you.

If you shoot Canons watch this:

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8PN9R0D3pF0

For Nikon watch this:

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=FzqQskGoURE

Both explain why and how

bennydnut Loc: Phila, Pa.

John Howard wrote:

Thanks. I can do that. My add-on question was since I have a AF-ON button, and I use that for BBF, what to do with the AE-L/AF-L button. Do you leave it as AE-L only, then if you want to lock the focus you have to push two buttons. OR leave it as locking both Exposure and Focus, but then you cannot lock Exposure only. How often do people need to lock Exposure and Focus separately?

assign AE-L/AF-L for Exposure lock to lock the exposure, otherwise, when you press the release button the exposure will be used that meter reading as of that moment.

Bram boy Loc: Vancouver Island B.C. Canada

mborn wrote:

!use the AE-L/AF-L Button on my Nikon D810 to change the crop mode set up in custom function along with the command wheel

You never want to lock your focus if your using the shutter for focus
But if your using back button it's locking every time you focus and stays there tell you push back button again on something at a different distance away from you . Say your shooting birds coming to your feeder . Or winning dogs at a dog show on the same spot for showing . Or sports where the winner steps up to receive a ribbon . Or the graduating student that receives there diploma
You only have focus once with back button on the spot that they all stand .
and shoot ever thing that comes into it , all day long with out worrying about focusing again .

Bram boy Loc: Vancouver Island B.C. Canada

bennydnut wrote:

assign AE-L/AF-L for Exposure lock to lock the exposure, otherwise, when you press the release button the exposure will be used that meter reading as of that moment.

Your not unlocking the focus by pushing the shutter release if you have it in BBF . To release back button . It can't be turned off unless you change it . You can only refocus on what your shooting . But soon as you take your finger of it's locked there . That's why for moving targets you set it to continue to focus when holding down . And if you let go it's locked again .

Bram boy Loc: Vancouver Island B.C. Canada

amfoto1 wrote:

Well, dood, like for sure the raddest thang about ... (show quote)

I think it takes about 20 min of practice , I doubt if it took me even that . But it's all I use now on two cameras . I can't ever see going back to tickling the
Shutter to get focus , lose to many shots on BIF . And every thing else .