Back Button Autofocus (Page 6): I have been using it since watching the video of Tony Northrop shooting his daughter running to first base. With focusing on the shutter button he was...

Kozan Loc: Trenton Tennessee

I have been using it since watching the video of Tony Northrop shooting his daughter running to first base. With focusing on the shutter button he was only able to get off 2 or 3 shots. With back-button-focus, he was able to get off 9 shots. It convinced me.

Anyone shooting action such as football, baseball, soccer, etc., should love BBF.

Kozan

frankraney Loc: Clovis, 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 it pretty much all the time, and love it .....it is built in on Nikon (somewhat) just have to reassign to it).. The reason they do not put in there permanently (as you ask) is, as you can see from the comments, not everyone likes it. It's great for tracking a moving object (ie BIF, track meets, etc) just hold it and it is in continuous focus mode. It's also great for focusing then re-composing. Like everything else, try it and see when and if you like it.

brooklyn-camera I Loc: Brooklyn, NY

I use it all the time for shooting sports action. One thing I must say is that it takes some getting use to at the very start, once you master the finger movement that is the only way to shoot. Give it some time and you will love BBF.

GENorkus Loc: Washington Twp, Michigan

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 both with about 90% of the time no. I fine the more creative my shots are, the less I need BBF.

Not using BBF just might give you that extra few shots when you batteries are running low also.

Bill_de Loc: US

Kozan wrote:

I have been using it since watching the video of Tony Northrop shooting his daughter running to first base. With focusing on the shutter button he was only able to get off 2 or 3 shots. With back-button-focus, he was able to get off 9 shots. It convinced me.

Anyone shooting action such as football, baseball, soccer, etc., should love BBF.

Kozan

Tony is another one that seems to forget that using the back button for focus lock when his daughter was at bat, and letting go when she started running would have accomplished the same thing. Instead he dramatically takes the camera from his eye to change modes.

I have nothing against BBF. I hate the fact that so many who promote are disingenuous in there presentations.

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crphoto8 Loc: Anaheim, California

I've never used it and now I'll probably never do. I switched to an Olympus E-M1 II system; the LCD screen allows me to just touch the point where I want to focus & it takes the image.

frankraney Loc: Clovis, Ca.

Bill_de wrote:

Tony is another one that seems to forget that using the back button for focus lock when his daughter was at bat, and letting go when she started running would have accomplished the same thing. Instead he dramatically takes the camera from his eye to change modes.

I have nothing against BBF. I hate the fact that so many who promote are disingenuous in there presentations.

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disingenuous : adjective

not candid or sincere, typically by pretending that one knows less about something than one really does.
synonyms: insincere, dishonest, untruthful, false, deceitful, duplicitous, lying, mendacious; hypocritical

I have not seen this at all...Both sides have been presented, some for and some not, but I believe all are honest and truthful on the way they feel, and why.

No disrespect meant, I just don't understand, or i'm missing something.

Bill_de Loc: US

frankraney wrote:

disingenuous : adjective

not candid or sincere, typically by pretending that one knows less about something than one really does.
synonyms: insincere, dishonest, untruthful, false, deceitful, duplicitous, lying, mendacious; hypocritical

I have not seen this at all...Both sides have been presented, some for and some not, but I believe all are honest and truthful on the way they feel, and why.

I was commenting on the Tony Northrop video that was referenced in the post I replied to. I agree with you that the folks here are telling it like it is from their own experience. I edited my post to make that clearer. Thanks for pointing it out.

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photoman022 Loc: Manchester CT USA

I only use bbf. I hated depressing the shutter button to focus and then have it shoot the photo anyway (I guess I'm ham-fingered). I wound up with a lot of out of focus photos. That problem is reduced 99% with bbf. The 1% is dues to ineptness on my part.

sergiohm

I hate it, it was never needed back in the film days, so why now?

Boris Ekner Loc: From Sweden, living in Guatemala

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?

BackButtonFocus?
-Yes, absolutely!

Get Steve Perry’s Secrets To The Nikon Autofocus System at:
https://backcountrygallery.com/secrets-nikon-autofocus-system/

cabbageseed

I have not seen any mention of what focus point areas are best with AF-C, especially for moving subjects. Any thoughts?

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Les Brown wrote:

Thanks for all of the great posts. I'll be interested in seeing how I like BBF now that I have just set it up.

You'll have to condition yourself to remember to use it. Shouldn't take long.

jccash Loc: Longwood, Florida

cabbageseed wrote:

I have not seen any mention of what focus point areas are best with AF-C, especially for moving subjects. Any thoughts?

Yup can set it for as many points as you want.

mborn Loc: Massachusetts

kpmac wrote:

I use it and will never go back.