Back button focusing

Do you back button focus?

  • Yes, I love it

    Votes: 107 66.0%

  • No, it sucks

    Votes: 19 11.7%

  • I have no idea what you are gibbering about

    Votes: 36 22.2%
  • Total voters
    162
Big Tony

Big Tony

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Tony
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Yes
I recently picked a up a D70, and as a personal challenge I am only using the camera in manual (much easier than on my d40 due to more buttons).
I am experimenting with back button focusing as I read on here (somewhere, can't find it) that it's the way forward, and once tried you'll never go back etc.

I was just wondering what the main advantages are and what is the general feeling towards this technique?

Cheers
 
It helps greatly for sports/motorsport photography
And also for product shots, and portraits, etc.

For me mainly the second one as it allows me to back button focus, and if i want to adjust it slightly from there I can (then when I half shutter press to meter the scene it doesn't mess up the adjustment I made.

For sports it means that if someone comes into the frame you can still get shots without the main subject out of focus but something in the way between you and the subject.

It can be greatly beneficial, plus it keeps applications apart focussing and metering
 
Thanks Jamie,

From my brief experiments so far it has been with product style shots and a few portraits and I have found it makes focus and recompose much more viable as it is something I have struggled with as I'm all fingers and thumbs at times.
 
^^ What J4MIE_P said :)

It is one of the most important transitions imo & made a huge difference to my photography - for example, if you are shooting a football match & trying to get a shot of the goalkeeper saving the ball & only the goalkeeper then you can focus on the keeper using the * focus, keeping hold of the button (camera in AI Servo) which will track his movement.
If you see another player running in for the shot (I am assuming you have both eyes open when shooting :) then you can release the button to stop focus whilst he passes in front of you (effectively One shot AF) & then hit * to continue focus - as you're still focused in the general area the keeper is, picking up focus again should be almost instant & ready for you to fire off the shot you need. In this effect, having focus set to * allows you both single shot & servo in one.

Another of the most useful features is the ability to lock exposure for subjects moving in & out of bright light, etc.
For example - You are tracking a rabbit in & out of the shadows to bright sunlight so you begin AI Servo focus by holding the back button - as the rabbit passes into the light you half compress the shutter button (locking the exposure - I usually set to spot metering) & continue to do so until the rabbit passes back into the light when you take your shot - speeds everything up & takes the guesswork out of metering quickly.

Edit: I'd also recommend avoiding focus & recompose if at all possible, even slight shifting of focal length can mean the difference in getting the shot or not - I'd use your different focus points instead.
 
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Bloody love it. Feels so much more controlled to have the focus/shutter release separated.

I found it as a result of one of these threads back in the good old days and have switched it straight away on every camera since.

Awesome.
 
Took time to get used to but wont go back now, using it for wild life and BIF shots, much easier.
 
Best thing I've ever done. Wont ever go back.

Kev.
 
While I first got used to it, there were many hair raising times when I thought my camera was broken as I forgot to use it and of course nothing would focus on the shutter button!!

Now ........... it's second nature and would never change it.
 
couldnt imagine it any other way tbh
 
Once you use it you will find it is the best way to go, love it.

Couldn't imagine not using it.
 
Thankfully it didn't take me much time to get used to it and I wouldn't like to go back now. I just find having the shutter button seperate from the focus button is so much more convenient and to be honest it feels more natural that way.
 
I do a bit of both.... but its damn useful!!
 
I use it sometimes, like Dave said, I do a bit of both
 
I wanna be converted.

Anyone have an idiots guide to it?

I (kinda) understand from the football/rabbit example, but let's assume that I need more explanation and some practical assistance .........
 
Read about it in a book while back and its an excellent method, well worth persevering with.
 
Lots of great replies so far and most seem to be in favour of it.
Some top tips too. :thumbs: keep 'em coming.
 
Absolutely no other way now, although I did try it a couple of years back and hated it, and went back to shutter release for focus, then tried it again a while later and now find any other way really frustrating.
 
Very quick to get used to and always use it now...

apart from with manual focus lenses and I then find I prefer to use the 2 step shutter to get the focus confirm.
 
never going back, took about 100 photos to get used to it and now having the shutter and focus seems so much more intuative. For Nikon users though remember that the af-on button does not activate VR on a lens with it should you need it, only a shutter half press does that but being able to switch VR on only when needed in another big puls
 
Read about it on here months ago. Tried it and have never gone back.
 
I am another one who read about it on here, tried it and never went back.
 
Hi. Someone suggested it to me. Took some getting used to, but now it seems almost second nature. Interestingly, I asked a pro- if he used it on his camera - he didn't even know what I was talking about ... so its obviously not universally known.
 
Need to dig out my manual to find out how to do it - if I can on a 400d
 
if your camera has an AF-On or * button on the back, switch off the half press shutter focusing option in the menu.You then use the * button instead, but can stop and start autofocus with it not linked to the shutter. Its like using the AF-Lock button alot and really useful for keeping a bit more control
 
Would if I could, osteoarthritis in my fingers stops me doing it.
 
Few wants to know how to set? This is for 5D2:

CN IV (1) Function 2 Page 182 in Manual
 
I avoided it for ages, then decided one day to have a play with it... I can't believe how flexible it is. The only time I don't use it now is when shooting macro, as I use the shutter button to get the focus confirm to activate.
 
Just can't see what the fuss is all about. Have tried it and can say that it works, but no different to half pressing the shutter. You can lock focus y half pressing but don't lock the exposure - it's all I need

Plus, it means my (already sketchy) head has to adjust to something new after 15 years of shooting, something i don't want to have to do when I'm on an important job :)
 
Right I don't think I can do this on my 400d

Cust.Function 04 - Shutter/AE Lock

I have these options

AF/AE Lock
AE lock/AF
AF/AE lock, no AE lock
AE/AF, no AE lock

I'm in manual exposure - I push the * button in each option and nothing

PS Lens IS on AF :lol:
 
Sonriendo said:
Right I don't think I can do this on my 400d

Cust.Function 04 - Shutter/AE Lock

I have these options

AF/AE Lock
AE lock/AF
AF/AE lock, no AE lock
AE/AF, no AE lock

I'm in manual exposure - I push the * button in each option and nothing

PS Lens IS on AF :lol:
Click to expand...

Don't think you can - should be a button marked AF-ON

imgres
 
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I don't think I can either - yet another reason I NEED to upgrade :lol:
 
I love back button focus but it does seem to result in a bit of an issue when using a cable release. The cable release half press does not result in a focus any more obviously so I don't get a focus unless I touch the camera. Why does this matter? Well I wanted to use my shutter release for timed shots -it has a timer built in to it.
 
Sonriendo said:
Right I don't think I can do this on my 400d

Cust.Function 04 - Shutter/AE Lock

I have these options

AF/AE Lock
AE lock/AF
AF/AE lock, no AE lock
AE/AF, no AE lock

I'm in manual exposure - I push the * button in each option and nothing

PS Lens IS on AF :lol:
Click to expand...


AF/AE Lock
Works as normal, half shutter focuses and back button AE locks

AE lock/AF
Half shutter AE locks and back button focuses (I think this is the one you want)

AF/AE lock, no AE lock
Sounds like it works as normal but possibly with AE lock as a latching button (press on and press again for off)

AE/AF, no AE lock
Mix of option 2 and 3 :)
 
Sonriendo said:
Right I don't think I can do this on my 400d

Cust.Function 04 - Shutter/AE Lock

I have these options

AF/AE Lock
AE lock/AF
AF/AE lock, no AE lock
AE/AF, no AE lock

I'm in manual exposure - I push the * button in each option and nothing

PS Lens IS on AF :lol:
Click to expand...

I've just checked on my 450d, setting the first option, puts the AF lock on the shutter button, setting the second option, puts the AF lock on the * button on the rear of the camera. I know the 450d is newer, but I'd have thought with identical menu settings, you'd get identical results.
 
puggie said:
AF/AE Lock


AE lock/AF
Half shutter AE locks and back button focuses (I think this is the one you want)
Click to expand...

jgs001 said:
I've just checked on my 450d, setting the first option, puts the AF lock on the shutter button, setting the second option, puts the AF lock on the * button on the rear of the camera. I know the 450d is newer, but I'd have thought with identical menu settings, you'd get identical results.
Click to expand...

You beauties :thumbs: Just tried it again and hey presto :D
 
Thi thread is making my head hurt :eek:

I have a Nikon D80 & have looked for the buttons you metion...can't see anything like on the back of the camera.There is an AF button on the front but that sets the lens to manual focus

So,can this "back focus" thing be done on a D80 & if yes - does anyone have an idiots guide on how to do it(preferablywith pictures to make it real easy:help:)

thanks
 
On a D90 it can be set up via the custom setting menu.
Then into Controls menu and then f4 assign AE-L/AF-L button.
Then select AF-ON and thats it.

Don't know if D80 has same menu but it can't be far off. :thumbs:
 
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