Back button focus (Page 6): Let me see now... I would only like to hear from photographers who use it and for what type of photography, sports, BIF, landscape, etc. I use it...

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Back button focus

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Aug 1, 2018 16:31:42 #

photoman022 Loc: Manchester CT USA

Let me see now...

I would only like to hear from photographers who use it and for what type of photography, sports, BIF, landscape, etc.
I use it exclusively for everything!

Has it helped or hurt your keeper rate? It has only helped my keeper rate. Before using BBF, I would waste half of my shots trying to depress the shutter release just so far, only to have it go all the way down. The idea of pressing the shutter release, finding focus, and then recomposing was next to impossible for me to accomplish. I do it all with BBF!

How long did it take you to get used to it? Immediately

After trying it did you go back to shutter button focus? NO! and I never will!

If you are shooting BIF how do you know where to lock in focus if you are waiting for action to happen? I lock in the focus and pan with the bird in flight and take my shot. Most times I nail it and sometimes I don't.

Aug 1, 2018 16:33:07 #

Bill_de Loc: US

ToBoldlyGo wrote:

Shutter focus is just as fast. There is no speed advantage to bbf, besides the speed of your own reactions.

Back button or shutter release, it is an on off switch. But if people believe it builds confidence, so I think they do get better pictures. When someone believes strongly in something the mind can become closed to reality. When you get the entire congregation to believe ...

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Aug 1, 2018 16:46:00 #

zudac1ae Loc: Amesbury, MA

It took me about a week to get used to it, and I have never looked back.

Aug 1, 2018 17:16:05 #

toxdoc42

I have to admit, I ocassionally forget to focus, but that is rare and not as often as I remember and get a better composition when I can lock the focus and then recompose. I don't know why it is not a permanent button. Also, I forget that the same button locks the photo and makes it unereasable.

Aug 1, 2018 17:51:30 #

Tracy B. Loc: Indiana

Once I used BBF I never went back.

Aug 1, 2018 17:52:09 #

User ID

Bill_de wrote:

That is exactly the biggest misconception I was speaking
of. You can always choose to use the back button to lock
focus and reframe, instead of using it to engage focusing.
Either way you stay in continuous focus mode. ...........

--

Right. As you said 90 pages ago "6 of one, 1/2 doz of the
other". But that ignores ergonomics as applied to various
individuals preferences. Those who loudly sing the praises
of BBAF, and who persistently encourage all others to try
it out, have NEVER ONCE suggested or petitioned that the
manufacturers should set BBAF as the factory default. To
read your posts, one might easily think you can't see that
for what it is. You could describe the BBAF "phenomenon"
as a bunch of users whose "DNA" craves manual focusing,
but who were born into an AF World so they never had to
know a focus ring from a bull ring. Then one fine day they
learn about "Push Button Manual Focus". Their "MF DNA"
finds fulfillment, and they still don't hafta suffer the social
stigma of laying a finger on a focusing ring ! That's what
BBAF is, functionally. It's Push Button MF !

`

Aug 1, 2018 18:03:20 #

User ID

Aug 1, 2018 18:04:03 #

Stan Gould Loc: La Crosse, Wisconsin

PAR4DCR wrote:

This has been discussed in the forum but I would l... (show quote)

I first learned of back-button focus on UHH about a year or so ago. What seemed like a strange concept turned out to be very useful. I have a Canon 70D. I use it all of the time. It did not take long to get used to it. The only time I go back to shutter-button focus is when I am shooting in a mode, such as CA (Creative Auto), where the BBF is disabled on the 70D. I recommend that you give it a shot.

Aug 1, 2018 18:19:12 #

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

User ID wrote:

...That's what
BBAF is, functionally. It's Push Button MF !

So it is with the shutter button also, just a different button.

Aug 1, 2018 18:21:39 #

User ID

Longshadow wrote:

So it is with the shutter button also, just a different button.

Think about what you just said/wrote.

`

Aug 1, 2018 18:41:03 #

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

User ID wrote:

`

Think about what you just said/wrote.

`

I did. You press the shutter button half way, it focuses. You change to BBF and press the BB it focuses.
Same function different button.
Your the one who said "That's what BBAF is, functionally. It's Push Button MF ! "
They both are push-button manual focus, not restricted to BBF.

Aug 1, 2018 19:18:02 #

Iankahler Loc: Seattle WA

I have read everything in this thread and it is all very interesting but it begs the question.... is this "back button focusing" some kind of secret code or something????
I STILL have NO clue what the heck back button we are talking about.
WHY don't we just call it the AE- L AF-L button, if that is what it really is [ on the back of the camera as indicated on Nikon cameras] or is it the AF selection mode button behind the shutter??? I DUNNO.

A little clarity and less "Mason" double talk would be helpful for the sake of clarity. I realize you will all think I am an "outsider moron" for asking this question... but I will say again.... I have NO clue what the heck you guys are talking about.

Aug 1, 2018 19:18:10 #

User ID

Longshadow wrote:

Here's why/how default AF is not push-button manual focus.
If you abort the release moment, you lift off the button, and
the AF will refocus when you again press the button for what
appears to be another good moment for shutter release. IOW
it's always intruding. It's AUTOMATIC.

Yes yes you can lift off only half way, or you can hang onto
the AF lock button. Unless acoarst you've set your shutter
button for "hair trigger" [so there IS NO halfway position].
And if you reset you AF-L button for some other use, such
as instant spot metering, then you also can't freeze focus
via the "AF-L" button neither :-(

That is why BBAF users are so happy with their "discovery".
If the default AF control set up suited their needs then the
"discovery" would never occur. You can argue all you want
against what makes people more comfortable. They WON'T
voluntarily go back to being less comfortable merely on the
basis that you don't "get it".

"Ain't nobody bidnez but they own" ;-)

`

`

Aug 1, 2018 19:39:00 #

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

User ID wrote:

Here's why/how default AF is not push-button manua... (show quote)

Who's arguing?
Then why would you refer to it as push-button MF?
BBF simply separates the two functions from one button.
Many people like it, few don't.
Yes, it is an individual volition to like it or not.
(Half shutter on mine still (only) meters, not a hair trigger.)

Aug 1, 2018 21:14:05 #

jamesl Loc: Pennsylvania

PAR4DCR wrote:

This has been discussed in the forum but I would l... (show quote)

I've been using it for 3 years or more now and I like it. I use it for all types photography. I don't need to know where to lock in focus for action shots. If you have your camera set to continuous focus you just hold in the button and follow the action and press the shutter when you want to shoot. If not shooting action you just press the button and when focus locks release it and shoot when you want since the focus won't change until you press the button again.

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