Back Button Autofocus
Apr 28, 2018 15:14:29 #
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 switched over to back button focus 8 months ago and love it. I photograph mostly nature shots, mainly flying birds and find it fast and accurate using my thumb to focus and forefinger for shutter. I followed Steve Perry's direction for setup on my D810
Rick
Apr 28, 2018 15:20:23 #
ABQMikee
Loc: Albuquerque, NM
I started using it today!!! I got so frustrated with setting up a scene and focusing where I wanted to and then pressing the shutter button only to have the focus change.
Apr 28, 2018 15:21:10 #
Billynikon
Loc: Atlanta
My granddaughter borrows my camera quite often when I visit. I told her it was back button and it took my 12 yr old g daughter one shot to fiigure it out.
Apr 28, 2018 16:40:37 #
sergiohm wrote:
I hate it, it was never needed back in the film days, so why now?
It's not really NEEDED, but it's a nice option to have. Time marches on.
Apr 28, 2018 16:43:47 #
Les Brown wrote:
I used it for about 20 years and would not do any other way!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?
Apr 28, 2018 16:54:49 #
I have always used BBF. As a sports photographer it allows me a much better chance of getting the shot by prefocusing where I believe the play will be. This time saving can be the difference between getting the shot and missing it. For portrait work or say a wedding, it allows me to focus on the primary subject's eyes and then recompose.
Its a powerful tool and once you get the hang of it, I'll be surprised if you go back. I use it on all my Canon's and even on my Sony A7r II.
Its a powerful tool and once you get the hang of it, I'll be surprised if you go back. I use it on all my Canon's and even on my Sony A7r II.
Apr 28, 2018 18:14:33 #
BBF for me on my Nikon. No more accidently pushing in the forward button 1/2 way and accidently taking a photo.
Apr 28, 2018 19:00:34 #
Apr 28, 2018 19:56:11 #
I use it on both of my Nikon dslr's, and wouldn't go back to using the shutter release to focus.
Steve Perry has an excellent video on the subject. He also has come out with a free booklet on it. I learned from his video.
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzqQskGoURE&t=99s
Booklet: https://backcountrygallery.com/free-back-button-af-guide-for-nikon/
Steve Perry has an excellent video on the subject. He also has come out with a free booklet on it. I learned from his video.
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzqQskGoURE&t=99s
Booklet: https://backcountrygallery.com/free-back-button-af-guide-for-nikon/
Apr 28, 2018 22:08:10 #
For sports it is probably the best method. I use my d500 almost exclusively for grandkids sports (little league baseball, soccer, track) and at every event manage to get some sharp action shots that I doubt I’d achieve otherwise.
Apr 29, 2018 01:18:28 #
nikonuser750
Loc: Monroe, LA
photoman022 wrote:
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.
I have the same problem. Time and again I've taken pictures when I didn't mean to because I pressed just a little bit too hard on the shutter button. BBF eliminates that problem.
Apr 29, 2018 01:26:13 #
nikonuser750
Loc: Monroe, LA
sergiohm wrote:
I hate it, it was never needed back in the film days, so why now?
My Nikon FE was not auto focus. That was my film camera. You didn't focus with the shutter button. I focused with the focus ring on the lens and took the picture with the shutter button once I was focused. For moving subjects you were kind of doing both at once so even though I don't remember thinking that it was a big deal, it certainly seems a bit more than BBF.
Apr 29, 2018 08:41:56 #
Apr 29, 2018 08:56:21 #
ToBoldlyGo
Loc: London U.K.
RSQRD wrote:
They do buy a d 810
What and what? Please quote whoever you are responding to.
Apr 29, 2018 11:43:05 #
JTann
Loc: North East, MD
I use it because I can set focus with it and shoot w/o it changing. Great option when, for instance, I'm using a tripod to shoot a static scene but changing perspective or taking multiple shots using a bracket as an example. The other side of that coin is when I'm shooting moving targets and hold the button in with right thumb the camera continues to track the subject and keep it in focus.
What's not to like?
What's not to like?
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