Back Button Autofocus (Page 2): Why would they "build it in" when most people are used to focus being assigned to the shutter button, and possibly most people don't use bbf? I tried...

ToBoldlyGo Loc: London U.K.

Why would they "build it in" when most people are used to focus being assigned to the shutter button, and possibly most people don't use bbf? I tried it, but found my thumb wasn't naturally sitting on the button. For me it's no good. I do find it works well for changing the focus mode from group to single point, for me it works because it's an occasional thing. Otherwise, why would you want an extra button press for action shots when speed is crucial? Just my opinions of courses, many will differ. Photography is fun as long as we all agree we are all different, and what works for me may well not work for you. 😊

FiddleMaker Loc: Merrimac, MA

rmalarz wrote:

I don't, nor am a proponent of it. To me, it's just another do-dad they didn't need on a camera. 1/2 press on the shutter works for me just fine.
--Bob

I use BBF on my D750 but I am thinking to move it back to the factory default on the shutter release.

bluezzzzz Loc: Stamping Ground, KY

Mountainlife wrote:

Also if you give the camera to someone else to shoot your picture they would not be able to focus . So I reverted back to shutter press focus .

BBF with continuous AF was a game-changer for me in my years as a discdog action sports photographer. If I ever hand my camera to another person to take a photo and they are unfamiliar with BBF then I just set the camera to full Auto mode and it is automatically set back to half-button shutter release.

Bill_de Loc: US

crazydaddio wrote:

Game changer.
You can reframe in rapid succession without needing to move the focus point. If you use shutter button for focus, you would need to move the focus point

Or simply use the back button as a 'focus lock'. It's six of one, half dozen of the other.

For some reason those who advocate BBF, including some who write professionally, seem unaware of the alternatives. The choice is simple, press the back button continually when you want to focus or press it only when you want to lock focus. Either way you are going to be pressing the shutter button to take the picture.

--

ToBoldlyGo Loc: London U.K.

Bill_de wrote:

Or simply use the back button as a 'focus lock'. It's six of one, half dozen of the other.

For some reason those who advocate BBF, including some who write professionally, seem unaware of the alternatives. The choice is simple, press the back button continually when you want to focus or press it only when you want to lock focus. Either way you are going to be pressing the shutter button to take the picture.

--

Yes. Also, with a shallow dof, you don't really want to be moving the camera around after you've selected focus. You want the focus point on the subject to make sure focus is correct. Plus not everyone's shooting style works with bbf. Plus one button press is easier than two.

jccash Loc: Longwood, Florida

Use it with my Nikon D500. Some great replyâs. Post some pics.

dcampbell52 Loc: Clearwater Fl

Les Brown wrote:

This may be an old topic, but I just assigned my d7200 AE-L, AF-L button to autofocus. Just wondering who uses back button focus and who doesn't, and is it a good option. Everything on the Web seems to say it is wonderful. If so, why did Nikon not just build it in?

I've used Back Button Focus for many years and love it. The reason Nikon didn't build it in is because MANY photographers want to customize their cameras to meet their needs. Nikon DID make it an fairly easy modification for anyone that wants to do it. Nikon, like Canon, and any other manufacturer, can not and does not try to make a one size fits all camera and force their "perfect" configuration on their customers. They do (as I'm sure Canon and several other QUALITY manufacturers do) build in the ability for you, the user, to make the camera do what you want.

bpulv Loc: Buena Park, CA

Les Brown wrote:

This may be an old topic, but I just assigned my d7200 AE-L, AF-L button to autofocus. Just wondering who uses back button focus and who doesn't, and is it a good option. Everything on the Web seems to say it is wonderful. If so, why did Nikon not just build it in?

I use back button focus all the time. The reason they made the shutter release the default for autofocus is because it is easier to use for a beginner who has enough to think about. Once you get use to back button focus, which may take a day or two, you will not want to go back.

crazydaddio Loc: Toronto Ontario Canada

Bill_de wrote:

Or simply use the back button as a 'focus lock'. It's six of one, half dozen of the other.

For some reason those who advocate BBF, including some who write professionally, seem unaware of the alternatives. The choice is simple, press the back button continually when you want to focus or press it only when you want to lock focus. Either way you are going to be pressing the shutter button to take the picture.

--

I think that was what I was trying to say. You said it better ...single press = focus lock.

banster Loc: PA, Ontario, N.C.,Key West

I am like you,Bob. Just another gimmick. Not for me! But then I thought, you know, don’t know if you don’t try. Give it 2 week try and see what all this hype is about. Well, I never went back. It does have an adjustment period. Now after a year, it’s like second nature.

smilex3md

Les Brown wrote:

This may be an old topic, but I just assigned my d7200 AE-L, AF-L button to autofocus. Just wondering who uses back button focus and who doesn't, and is it a good option. Everything on the Web seems to say it is wonderful. If so, why did Nikon not just build it in?

In addition to the responses about using continuous focus, a great reason to consider BBF, I like having the focus and exposure locks separated. This way I can view a scene and let auto-exposure make an estimate of the camera settings. If I don't like the settings I can change the location of the where the exposure is being taken by shifting the camera, lock in the new exposure by half-pressing the shutter button, move the camera back to my original composition, push the BBF button, and then complete the exposure by fully pressing the shutter button. By picking different areas of the scene to take the exposure from I can easily change the exposure setting by any number of F-stops.

In short, while I can leave the camera in either shutter or aperture priority, using this method, I come close to shooting in full manual mode ad I can do this without ever moving the camera from my eye. While I do shoot in manual mode, using this method I typically shoot in one of the automatic modes chosen by the nature of what I am shooting (moving things, DOF important scenes, etc.).

mrtaxi Loc: Old Westbury NY, Fort Lauderdale, FL

I use backbutton focus on my canon 5D Mark IV. I have selected the regular front shutter button to still focus and shoot, and the back buttons to focus and the most left one shoot for still shots and the next button out to autofocus and shoot for moving shots. I also assigned that backbutton focus point to have a larger focus area than what I generally use. So in this way I have 3 different shooting methods. The camera has a third backbutton that can be assigned making this a 4 choice.

Mac Loc: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia now Hernando Co. Fl.

Les Brown wrote:

This may be an old topic, but I just assigned my d7200 AE-L, AF-L button to autofocus. Just wondering who uses back button focus and who doesn't, and is it a good option. Everything on the Web seems to say it is wonderful. If so, why did Nikon not just build it in?

I use BBF. Like you I have set the AE-L/AF-L button on my D7200 for BBF and I have set the fn button for AF-L.
On many Nikon cameras (like my Df) Nikon has included a separate AF-ON button for BBF.

FiddleMaker Loc: Merrimac, MA

mrtaxi wrote:

I use backbutton focus on my canon 5D Mark IV. I have selected the regular front shutter button to still focus and shoot, and the back buttons to focus and the most left one shoot for still shots and the next button out to autofocus and shoot for moving shots. I also assigned that backbutton focus point to have a larger focus area than what I generally use. So in this way I have 3 different shooting methods. The camera has a third backbutton that can be assigned making this a 4 choice.

I have a hard enuf time dealing with one button. 4 would drive me nuts.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

Les Brown wrote:

This may be an old topic, but I just assigned my d7200 AE-L, AF-L button to autofocus. Just wondering who uses back button focus and who doesn't, and is it a good option. Everything on the Web seems to say it is wonderful. If so, why did Nikon not just build it in?

I do a ton of wildlife photography. Sometimes my bird is in a tree and I have to use SINGLE SPOT focusing, for birds in flight I use GROUP AUTO FOCUS as my default focusing system.
I have assigned my back button to SINGLE SPOT focusing. So, my default focusing system is GROUP, but, if my bird is in a tree, I simple push and hold the back button and the camera switches to SINGLE SPOT.
Using the factory spec. focusing/shutter button on the top of the camera for all of my shots, I HAVE NOT MISSED A SHOT. Nikon and other camera companies spent thousands of dollars positioning that shutter release at the most convenient location. I find that it works great for me where it is. Again, I do not need a back button autofocus, I use that button for SINGLE SPOT focusing instead.
Good luck and keep on shooting until the end.