Whoa, back button focus... Anybody else do this?

[Cerpin Taxt]

I just learned about back button focusing and set it up on my D7000. Initial impressions are very positive. I'd previously become a frequent user of the AF-L/AE-L button but simply reassigning it to AF-ON actually made things easier for me.

http://improvephotography.com/4552/back-button-focusing/

 

[ControlD]

I've been using back button focus on my Canon DSLRs for years now. There are some situations when I go back to normal focusing (particularly if someone else is using my camera) but BBF is how I normally do it.

 

[NAC]

I've tried it, but never got use to it. On my 70d, the back focus button is assigned to stop focus (so essentially the reverse of using it to start focus), but I actually forgot I had that assigned and never use it.

 

[Red Squirrel]

That button on my D7000 will let me take an instant pic (ex: won't call for AF if needed), is that what you mean? I sometimes use autofocus to get on a subject, then hold down that button if I want to take a fast pic without the camera hunting for AF again. It can be handy if you want to use AF to focus on a subject but don't want to take the pic right away so it won't try to AF again when you do go to snap the pic. Ex: trying to get a bird that's about to do something.

 

[Cerpin Taxt]

That button on my D7000 will let me take an instant pic (ex: won't call for AF if needed), is that what you mean? I sometimes use autofocus to get on a subject, then hold down that button if I want to take a fast pic without the camera hunting for AF again. It can be handy if you want to use AF to focus on a subject but don't want to take the pic right away so it won't try to AF again when you do go to snap the pic. Ex: trying to get a bird that's about to do something.

The basic idea is to separate the Autofocus function from the shutter release function by assigning each function to a separate button. Press one button to focus, press the other to snap the shot. Once you've pressed the autofocus button, the the focus is set and will hold there as long as you like (and you don't need to hold the button down). You can continually hit the shutter release button as many times as you like after that without worrying about the camera re-autofocusing again, potentially on some other object that you didn't intend.

I used to use the AF-L/AE-L button a lot to lock the focus so it didn't go hunting for focus again while I took my shots, but that required holding the button down. Now I just hit the button once while targeting my focus, and then I'm free to re-compose my shot without worrying about keeping the focus point on target.

Oh and hi-five to a fellow D7000 owner.

 

[Red Squirrel]

The basic idea is to separate the Autofocus function from the shutter release function by assigning each function to a separate button. Press one button to focus, press the other to snap the shot. Once you've pressed the autofocus button, the the focus is set and will hold there as long as you like (and you don't need to hold the button down). You can continually hit the shutter release button as many times as you like after that without worrying about the camera re-autofocusing again, potentially on some other object that you didn't intend.

I used to use the AF-L/AE-L button a lot to lock the focus so it didn't go hunting for focus again while I took my shots, but that required holding the button down. Now I just hit the button once while targeting my focus, and then I'm free to re-compose my shot without worrying about keeping the focus point on target.

Oh and hi-five to a fellow D7000 owner.

Ahhhh I see. Know what I need to try this. So you hold the button to focus, like a "soft" hold of shutter would do, so when you do hit shutter it just goes.

 

[Cerpin Taxt]

Ahhhh I see. Know what I need to try this. So you hold the button to focus, like a "soft" hold of shutter would do, so when you do hit shutter it just goes.

Yes, but you don't even have to hold the focus button down. You hit it, the lens focuses, and then let it go. The focus will stay while you hit the shutter release as many times as you like. When you need to refocus, just hit the assigned button again.

It seems trivial to talk about it, but in the moment it has really helped me control my focus more, and it's enabled me to compose my images better in the frame. I spend much less time moving my focus reticle around in the viewfinder. Instead, I just target what I want to be in focus, hit the button, and then adjust my composition knowing the focus will stay put.

I should add that you CAN hold the assigned focus button down, and it works pretty well in conjunction with AF-C (continuous servo) focus mode.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Yeah I just set it up, and I see how it can really be useful. Might stick to using it this way. Will have to see how I feel once I take it out for some actual photography. I like that you can keep it in auto focus but focus manually too if needed.

 

[thestrangebrew1]

I just learned how to do this a few weeks ago when I got my 80d. I love using it so far!

 

[jhansman]

Yep. Learned about it in Gerlach's "Digital Landscape Photography," and use it on my D7000 by default. Wonderful function.

 

[Exterous]

I've been using back button focus on my Canon DSLRs for years now. There are some situations when I go back to normal focusing (particularly if someone else is using my camera) but BBF is how I normally do it.

Same here. Generally works really well but I run into a downside. Since I am left eye dominant when shooting my right thumb often hits my glasses, smearing them while using BBF