Back Button Autofocus
Apr 29, 2018 13:20:53 #
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?
It takes quite a while to get used to it and I almost gave up a few times. Stick to it before you decide. The biggest reason I like it is for following a moving object. The only downfall is when I hand my camera to someone else, because they seem confused that they have to push TWO buttons...One to focus and one to take the picture.
I don’t have my Sony cameras set up this way, though because I consider them more “point & shoot” type cameras, I guess! The a6000 is my traveling camera and it’s more likely I will hand it to someone else to “take our picture, please”. I’ll also use the auto+ mode and a scene mode once in a while. It drives me nuts that it doesn’t always pick the spot to focus on that I want sharp. So...to answer your question more fully, I will switch to BBF in the Sony a6000 for consistency!
Apr 29, 2018 13:57:05 #
rdrechsler
Loc: Channel Islands Harbor, CA
It is a standard button on the D850. Everyone who responded to my prior cries for help with focusing my new Nikon 200-500mm, f/5.6 lens, said to use BBF. I began using it consistently yesterday when I took several hundred images of surfers (posting soon). Out of all those images, only a handful were discarded because of focus issues. I’ll never look back (pun intended!)
Apr 29, 2018 14:00:41 #
crazydaddio wrote:
Game changer.
One method no one mentioned is to focus using BBF and then take finger off and reframe on a still subjext and when you shoot, the camera does not refocus. 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
In liveview and face tracking this is not an issue of course....mirrorless cameras ditto.
One method no one mentioned is to focus using BBF and then take finger off and reframe on a still subjext and when you shoot, the camera does not refocus. 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
In liveview and face tracking this is not an issue of course....mirrorless cameras ditto.
When I use BBF and AF-C to focus, but release the button to recompose, the shutter frequently does not fire. Am I missing something?
The camera is a D3100.
Apr 30, 2018 00:50:51 #
woolpac
Loc: Sydney Australia
leftj wrote:
Actually, if you give your camera to someone else to shoot you probably need to put it on Auto which will put it back to shutter release focus.
Any party shots of me are always out of focusApr 30, 2018 09:31:00 #
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
--Bob
I think the utility of AF-back button focus is related to the type of photography one does. For anyone doing wildlife photography, it’s a useful tool. The wildlife photography of Steve Perry is the finest on this forum & his results speak for themselves: https://backcountrygallery.com/galleries/.
Apr 30, 2018 18:01:00 #
I agree with all of the advantages others have cited. One additional advantage I've sometimes found is that I may want to take the meter reading from a different part of the visual field than where I'm focusing. Back button focusing, by separating focusing from metering, allows me to do that.
May 1, 2018 20:25:59 #
I use it. My two Nikon kit lenses don’t have a manual focus switch on the lens, it’s a camera setting. With BBF I am thus able to manually focus then press the shutter button OR press the BBF and use auto focus. It’s also a good way to determine if the lens needs AF Fine Tune. I focus on a optical pattern manually (camera on tripod) and then press the BBF. If the focus changes then (it hasn’t) your lens needs calibration.
The only downside is if I forget to press the BBF I have an out of focus shot. But I very rarely do that.
The only downside is if I forget to press the BBF I have an out of focus shot. But I very rarely do that.
May 1, 2018 20:31:59 #
I us it all the time, so much easier than trying to push a button half way to get focus. BUT you have to commit to using it, at first its un natural , but then in a bit you can't live with out it.
May 1, 2018 20:46:19 #
I use Back button AF and have been for several years. My Pentax K-3 has a dedicated back button and I think several other brands do too on their higher end models. With my K-3 the button is easily reached and is located just to the right of the rear e-dial wheel. As a matter of fact with the K-3 you don't have to take your eye away from the view finder to change any commonly used settings.
Larry
Larry
May 1, 2018 21:11:46 #
Whether your thumb naturally sits on the button depends on the designers of the camera, some cameras have much better ergonomic design than others. When I pick up my camera my thumb is perfectly placed to activate BBF so that's one reason I started using it, it just feels natural!
ToBoldlyGo wrote:
Why would they "build it in" when most p... (show quote)
May 1, 2018 21:48:26 #
sergiohm wrote:
I hate it, it was never needed back in the film days, so why now?
Now exactly how many autofocus lens did you have back in the film days? With BBF you're doing essentially the same as film days focus the lens and trip the shutter the only difference is the button is assisting in the focus rather than your fingers either way you still have to trip the shutter!
Larry
May 1, 2018 21:56:57 #
nikonuser750 wrote:
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.
Wait till you're in continuous Hi and push the button a little bit too hard........ 5 to 8 useless photos!
Larry
May 1, 2018 22:03:18 #
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 and love it focus then frame without having to worry about the camera deciding my subject is something other than I am focused on. Works well for wildlife as well.
May 2, 2018 15:10:36 #
It really just comes down to a matter of discipline. When I first began using the back button, the biggest challenge was to "unlearn" my reliance on the shutter button, which had become second-nature. It took discovering a number of poorly focused images after the fact to drill into my head the need to remember to focus from the back button. You have to get to where THAT becomes second-nature.
May 2, 2018 15:54:21 #
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