Back-focus Button?

ernieh

ernieh

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Ernie
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Hi All,
Noticed a number of threads talking about a 'back focus button'. Could somebody please enlighten me as to the benefits, when its used and if its available on the D90. Many thanks for your replies.


Ernie
 
Not sure about the Nikon, but I have used the custom settings on the Canon. This can change the way you focus from the normal half depressed shutter button on the front, to one of the small buttons on the back of the camera. I find it much easier to focus on something and lock on without having to keep my finger half pressed on the shutter release button. Horses for courses - some like it, others don't.
 
I changed to back button focus on my D90 over a year ago and never looked back.

Depending on what your shooting it can be massively advantageous. It allows you to focus on a subject then release your fingers and never have to focus again (unless they or you move any significant distance). Just fire fire fire!!
 
Ahhhh, now I know! Got to say that I thought it was a button that allowed you to focus in the reverse direction somehow to obtain a special effect of some sort....doh!

In fact, I had that button assigned exposure lock, but will investigate focus lock and see how I get on. I notice on the video, he uses it along with continuous focus, but as he says it takes practice.

Many thanks to all who replied. I'm always amazed at how the folks on this forum are soooo helpful for even the most basic of questions.

Ernie
 
It's what 'proper' photographers use! ;)
 
TCR4x4 said:
YAY.. Im a proper photographer!!:cool: :lol:
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Oh well I'm not a proper photographer, I'm not a big user of it ;) I've started playing with it a bit and have found it useful on occasion but I have used the half press of the shutter for so long I always revert back.
 
lensflair said:
Oh well I'm not a proper photographer, I'm not a big user of it ;) I've started playing with it a bit and have found it useful on occasion but I have used the half press of the shutter for so long I always revert back.
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Would you like to re-phrase that please? :D :thumbs:
 
Back button is better as an exposure lock in my book . . . much more versatile to set the shutter button to half press focus lock . . . if you are not shooting fast moving sport of some kind:lol: . . . yep, you can lock both independently this way, I can choose to re focus on different points of one subject in split seconds and/or re meter . . . choose there and then, or, take half a dozen shots and choose at home. Horses for courses???

CJS
 
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I have been using the shutter button to AF for over 20 years, but since trying BBF I couldn't go back, the benefits are so good.

You can focus (or re-focus) without touching the metering, so you can focus, recompose, meter, shoot. For that alone it should come as standard on a DSLR. Likewise if you are using Focus Tracking, just leave your thumb on the button, follow the subject, then shoot.

For those that can't get used to it, try it for a whole weekend, shoot Saturday and Sunday, by which time it'll be second nature.

Steve
 
Jelster said:
For those that can't get used to it, try it for a whole weekend, shoot Saturday and Sunday, by which time it'll be second nature.

Steve
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I did, and basically decided it wasn't for me as my thumb was constantly poking in my right eye - it's even worse on my D7000 as the AE/AF-L button is raised out from the body.

I do occasionally use this method of focus, but I have to switch to shooting with my right eye, and I just can't get a handle on shooting with my right.

Edit - If you want to do focus trapping with a Nikon, then using the AE/AF-L button is the only way to do it as far as I'm aware.
 
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CJS said:
Back button is better as an exposure lock in my book . . . much more versatile to set the shutter button to half press focus lock . . . if you are not shooting fast moving sport of some kind:lol: . . . yep, you can lock both independently this way, I can choose to re focus on different points of one subject in split seconds and/or re meter . . . choose there and then, or, take half a dozen shots and choose at home. Horses for courses???

CJS
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On some Canon models, the 50D and 7D certainly, a separate dedicated Back Button Focus button is provided adjacent to the Exposure Lock button, so both functions are still retained. Undoubtedly a good thing with Canon recognising that so many people now use back button focusing.

I'm with you though - I've tried it but I'm just a dyed in the wool half-presser.
 
On the D70S, and I suspect some other Nikons, the AE-L/AF-L button can be set to either lock the focus when pressed or to focus only while pressed. If set to the latter it won't focus when the shutter release is half pressed.

Custom menu 15 for spotters.
 
On some Canon models, the 50D and 7D certainly, a separate dedicated Back Button Focus button is provided adjacent to the Exposure Lock button
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Also a custom setting to swap the function of the AF-ON and * buttons, did this myself because the * button falls more conveniently under my thumb for focusing purposes.
 
when shooting raw would you focus first then meter,or meter first then focus?also would you set the af to af-c,thank you.
 
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reedwarbler said:
when shooting raw would you focus first then meter,or meter first then focus?also would you set the af to af-c,thank you.
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What on earth difference does shooting raw or jpg make to where and how you focus?

Surely you can do both at the same time if you want, unless of course you only have one digit (in which case back button focussing would be mute anyway).
 
EdBray said:
unless of course you only have one digit (in which case back button focussing would be mute anyway).
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that made me giggle a bit!
 
CT said:
On some Canon models, the 50D and 7D certainly, a separate dedicated Back Button Focus button is provided adjacent to the Exposure Lock button, so both functions are still retained. Undoubtedly a good thing with Canon recognising that so many people now use back button focusing.

I'm with you though - I've tried it but I'm just a dyed in the wool half-presser.
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I think CT, perhaps the half press shutter is difficult to control for some togs? BBF is a very positive click. However, I prefer, getting my metering right and fixing that with the BB . . . it may be as well, that I use CW or Spot metering most of the time . . . then I look around the subject for a focus point, take as many pictures with varying focus points, DOF could be an issue with a fixed focus in certain circumstances? Ho-Hum, I'm old fashioned I suppose.

Surly, at the end of the day:thinking: if 'its suits', use it, it ain't the end of the world :shrug: . . . ???

CJS
 
CJS said:
Surly, at the end of the day:thinking: if 'its suits', use it, it ain't the end of the world :shrug: . . . ???

CJS
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Absolutely - nice to have the choice I suppose, and all roads lead to Rome.
 
Nice, learning something new every day :)

Much prefer this setting to the shutter button focus.
 
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EdBray said:
What on earth difference does shooting raw or jpg make to where and how you focus?

Surely you can do both at the same time if you want, unless of course you only have one digit (in which case back button focussing would be mute anyway).
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i am a newcomer to this and i am trying to get usefull advice [rude comment removed] by the way i meant to write manual not raw,my mistake
 
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I prefer the bbf because I want individual focus and metering buttons when shooting moving subjects. Tried it and prefere it
 
never really experimented with back buttons, so used to half pressing the shutter. May have a play and see how I get on with it.
 
reedwarbler said:
thank you for the usefull advice,much appreciated.
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No worries ... just checking on the other part of your question ... on my D300 & D700 as soon as you press the rear focus button the cameras meter system is activated.
 
cheers martyn,and i would like to apologise for my remark,to ed bray
 
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vv cephei said:
Take a look at this video, its very helpful:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WyPv1bLkwqA

Steve
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Steve you are right, this video was very helpful, I had asked on another thread how to do this and if it was available on my D50. I'm now told it is available in the menu, pencil and then no.14 I had guessed it was available on the D90 which hopefully I shall shortly be upgrading to.
 
Well folks, once again many thanks for your helpful comments and experiences. If there is one thing that I've learned from all this, it is that you will never learn how to use a camera from reading the handbook, especially in this world of DSLR! Another thing is that I've probably picked up more from this forum in the last 6 weeks than I learned with my first digital camera in 6 years! Having said that, I found the menu system in the Coolpix 5700 a bit of a pain and tended to use it as a point and shoot camera and still got quite reasonable results......to me anyway!

One of these days I will unravel the art of posting piccys for your comment!

Thanks again,

Ernie
 
ernieh said:
One of these days I will unravel the art of posting piccys for your comment!

Thanks again,

Ernie
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That is simples ...

1 . Prepare photo to the best of your ability

2 . Resize image to 800 pixels on it's longest edge (if uploading to gallery here under keep it under 200Kb)

3 . Upload here, or Photobucket, Picasa, Imageshack et al, these can be bigger than 200Kb but will effect loading time for those on steam powered machines or dial up.

4 . Highlight the IMG code all of it including the bits at each end, copy it and paste it into your post (with Photobucket you just click it and it copies it automatically)

5 . To avoid ridicule make sure you start your post in the correct section.

6 . Start new post, add previously copied [IMG] link

7 . Use the Preview Post button to check your image is showing, if it all looks grand submit

8 . Patiently await the adoration, critique, or string of nice shot posts from the new members desperate to get into classified.

Failing that there is a FAQ thread on the subject [URL="http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=166289"]HERE[/URL] :thumbs:
 
aaronmcc said:
I prefer the bbf because I want individual focus and metering buttons when shooting moving subjects. Tried it and prefere it
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So how does that work? You press a button which meters and locks the metered settings and then press back button to focus?

I am mostly in manual mode so maybe that's why I don't see an advantage unless tracking a moving subject.



Edit: I just had a look at the video link posted above and realised when I was trying back button focus I had my camera set to focus+release priority and didn't have AF activation set to AF-only. This meant I couldn't lock focus by releasing the back button for focus recompose. I just set up my D3 as suggested in the video and straight away I can see this being something very useful. Thanks so much for this thread, can't believe I never looked into back button focus properly before, I just thought it was a sport shooter thing ;) I'll have to have a bit of practise with it but I think it could be a very nice feature.
 
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Will give the back button focusing a try I think, might have to remember to mention it to others who use camera. Prob best to stick it in auto though.
 
Martyn... said:
That is simples ...

1 . Prepare photo to the best of your ability

2. .........and so on.

HERE :thumbs:
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Hi Martin,
Many thanks for that; appreciate you taking the time to write it out step by step.

Will have to wait till we get back from hols, though, as we are off to Italy, Garda, on Monday, Ryanair willing. Unfortunately due to baggage restrictions, though, its going to have to be the old 5700, but should be OK.

Thanks again to all who have contributed to this thread.


Ernie
 
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