Finally sorted my focus issues (Back Button Focusing!)

AF-C (continuous focus) and the AF button on the back of the camera gives you the best of both S & C focussing. Keep your thumb on the button and the camera will continuously focus - take your finger off the AF button and it's just like using AF-S. Combine that with 51pt 3D and you'll never miss a shot again - well hardly ever! No question this is a far better way to wotk than using the shutter half press.
 
Hmm...not convinced. For me, using AF-C (or Canon AI Servo) is not something I have ever heard of people using as a constant choice for focussing. If I want to use constant focusing (AF-C or AI Servo I mean) then it would be because the subject is moving and because I wanted the best possible most up to date focus attempt before pressing the shutter to take the shot. At no point would I find I would need to "lock" (or stop) focusing to take the shot. if that were the case, then the argument is to use single shot if you have that much time to focus.
 
Please yourself - but most pros do not use AF-S - you just would miss too many shots. OK for static studio shots - but my method gives you the best of both worlds without changing anything on the camera - ever. I use it daily on dozens of subjects from race horses to people shots to groups to portraits to sport - etc etc - it just works.
 
In every book I've read it talks about changing to AF-S so you can recompose shots without changing focus.

AF-C is good for sports and I would swap between the 2 methods depending on what I was shooting.

If you want track what is going, use AF-C in 3d tracking mode

If you want to compose an image, use AF-S in probably single spot mode.
 
My experience doesn't come from reading books - but from shooting professionally for more than 30 years.

How much shooting have you actually done?
 
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I think the key is to give it a shot for a day or two and see what you think after..
if you dont like it go back to using whatever method you were using before.

For me, i'm defiantly sticking with it
 
awp said:
Please yourself - but most pros do not use AF-S - you just would miss too many shots. OK for static studio shots - but my method gives you the best of both worlds without changing anything on the camera - ever. I use it daily on dozens of subjects from race horses to people shots to groups to portraits to sport - etc etc - it just works.
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Pros shooting what? that is far to generalised.

It all comes down to what you shoot.
 
no, it doesn't - go back and read #44 - and answer my question above.
 
try it - seriously, give it 100 shots and see if it works for you
 
awp said:
My experience doesn't come from reading books - but from shooting professionally for more than 30 years.

How much shooting have you actually done?
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So does my uncle and he uses AF-S and he is helping me learn on my DSLR (before that I've had a bridge for 5 years)

Experience is an interesting thing, you've been doing it for 30 years, doesn't mean you are doing it the right way for 30 years and also things change. I read lots and take lots of info from lots of places and add it altogether along with my own experiences
 
awp said:
no, it doesn't - go back and read #44 - and answer my question above.
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I line up on my intended subject, pan right to compose the image (only want it on the right side of the photo) and AF-C refocuses.
 
sorry - I won't bother offering advise again then - you just go on muddling around. You'll never learn. Back to reading your book about it.

Experience is an interesting thing, you've been doing it for 30 years, doesn't mean you are doing it the right way for 30 years and also things change.
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Nowhere did I say I'd been doing things the same way for 30 years! Things have changed - I've learned and adapted - that's what experience is. I'm still learning. Some things are tried and tested and can be relied upon to work - every day - on every job - and the focus method I described is one of them!

You've been on the forum for a whole three days and I see from another thread that you've had your camera for an entire week!!! Well well well. That just says it all!
 
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Dale_d3100 said:
I line up on my intended subject, pan right to compose the image (only want it on the right side of the photo) and AF-C refocuses.
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Why are you holding down the AF-on button as you recompose? Obviously that will refocus.
 
redddraggon said:
Why are you holding down the AF-on button as you recompose? Obviously that will refocus.
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I'm not, i'm holding down the shutter button halfway
 
awp said:
because he doesn't understand the principle of what he's doing. :bang:
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Shhh

I understand the principles, I just fail to see how this method will help in what i photograph.

It helps you, thats fine

The point of the internet is everyone has their own opinion and entitled to express it.
 
redddraggon said:
There's your problem then.

Back button for focusing and half shutter for exposure.
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its not a problem, I'm trying to understand the benefits of this method and where it can be used. I use a different method.
 
I think all Dale and I are trying to understand is why people are making it out to be any more beneficial than simply the ergonomic factor of the back button being placed at a different location. I see no real benefit separating them as I said above for 99% of situations. However, those 99% of situations might be 1% of the next togs shooting methods so they may benefit from it.
 
clicktor said:
I think all Dale and I are trying to understand is why people are making it out to be any more beneficial than simply the ergonomic factor of the back button being placed at a different location. I see no real benefit separating them as I said above for 99% of situations. However, those 99% of situations might be 1% of the next togs shooting methods so they may benefit from it.
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the only real worthwhile advice is try it - give it 100 shoots on AF-C and back button AF. See if you want to go back or not.Simply looking at it on paper isn't the best way to decide, so if you want to try it give it a go. Up to you really
 
think of it this way....

If you are taking a picture of a couple...

Focus on on face pressing af/on then recompose to the middle and take you shot.
one of them blinked so take your shot again.

If you are using the half press
focus on a face, recompose to the middle take the shot, eyes closed to take another shot, means you have to focus on the face then recompose then press the shutter.

Not a major thing but it is faster if you use the afon as the focus is kept.

It might not suit your style but you are the only person in this thread that is arguing against it..... does that not point out something... :-)
 
crashtestmac said:
think of it this way....

If you are taking a picture of a couple...

Focus on on face pressing af/on then recompose to the middle and take you shot.
one of them blinked so take your shot again.

If you are using the half press
focus on a face, recompose to the middle take the shot, eyes closed to take another shot, means you have to focus on the face then recompose then press the shutter.

Not a major thing but it is faster if you use the afon as the focus is kept.

It might not suit your style but you are the only person in this thread that is arguing against it..... does that not point out something... :-)
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But I can't except change when the change is ****. ;) Only kidding. I agree, best try it out really but in response to the above quote, if they blinked, the only way you are likely to know is by looking at the preview of the pic which is probably going to mean you don't get the camera exactly back to the position you were holding it at so arguably means that refocusing is probably a good idea anyway. Besides, you could counter that by using a continuous burst of say 2-3 shots incase of a blink (depending on whether flash is required). My point is, I seem to be able to counter every argument at the moment, and I'm not doing it to be a ****, I'm just struggling to agree it is that beneficial. Sorry, i will leave it now! I understand your point though, yes it could allow you to skip having to focus and recompose. :)
 
You'll never understand the advantages - until you try it! Once you've tried it - you'll never go back.
 
awp said:
AF-C (continuous focus) and the AF button on the back of the camera gives you the best of both S & C focussing. Keep your thumb on the button and the camera will continuously focus - take your finger off the AF button and it's just like using AF-S. Combine that with 51pt 3D and you'll never miss a shot again - well hardly ever! No question this is a far better way to wotk than using the shutter half press.
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Andrew, you use a D3 as well, so how do you disable the shutter-button operating AF in AF-C mode?
When I try it using the AF-On button to focus, it does as you've described, but release that and the shutter button still operates the AF as well, so there's no advantage I can see (unless there's a custom menu option I'm missing - I've been through them all three times now, but I'll keep looking - damned if I'm going to resort to RTFM at my age...lol).

The only way I can approximate what everyone's describing here is to use the AE-L/AF-L button to 'hold' focus and exposure while still using the shutter-button to focus - which to me isn't that much better than shooting on AF-S and quickly recomposing after each shot.
I don't miss much and I've been doing this for 35 years as well...
 
I don't have a d3 so can't comment on the menu's etc but with this method it takes the focus away from the shutter release button and moves it to the ae-l button so it shouldn't be focusing with the shutter release at all
 
cobra_lite said:
Andrew, you use a D3 as well, so how do you disable the shutter-button operating AF in AF-C mode?
When I try it using the AF-On button to focus, it does as you've described, but release that and the shutter button still operates the AF as well, so there's no advantage I can see (unless there's a custom menu option I'm missing - I've been through them all three times now, but I'll keep looking - damned if I'm going to resort to RTFM at my age...lol).

The only way I can approximate what everyone's describing here is to use the AE-L/AF-L button to 'hold' focus and exposure while still using the shutter-button to focus - which to me isn't that much better than shooting on AF-S and quickly recomposing after each shot.
I don't miss much and I've been doing this for 35 years as well...
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There is a menu option on the d300/700/3/3s and 3x that allows you to switch the shutter half press focus off. Its in the custom setting menu number A5. Set it to AF-ON only.
 
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A5 on the menu - Page 308 in the manual :)

too slow - I had to look it up it's been so long since I set up mine!
 
boyfalldown said:
There is a menu option on the d300/700/3/3s and 3x that allows you to switch the shutter half press focus off. Its in the custom setting menu number A5. Set it to AF-ON only.
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Thanks Hugh & Andrew - looking in the wrong place (f: Controls) as usual...lol

All sorted now and I'll give this a go on tomorrow's test shots.
 
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It does take a little getting used to - so persevere!
 
If it helps it'll be worth it - I've noticed I occasionally miss sharp focus on location shoots (especially podium shots) by a tadge, so this could potentially solve a lot of swearing at the computer screen.
 
also try 51pt 3D - focus point locks on and tracks the subject :thumbs:
 
what does AF-ON do if you do not change it to do this, i have never done it without.... lol
 
crashtestmac said:
what does AF-ON do if you do not change it to do this, i have never done it without.... lol
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without doing this it still autofocuses - but I think you have the option of assigning it differently in the menus
 
It also allows you to use the manual focus on lenses without the camera resetting focus every time you press the shutter to take a shot.

I don't get on with it too well in all honesty, but maybe I haven't used it enough. I'm also left eyed which means the back focus button on my 5D2 is slightly awkward to reach.
 
I've been back button focusing for a year. For me the big advantage is not having the exposure locked while focusing. Shooting events outdoors when I can be shooting into the sun and away in consecutive shots of the same subject while continuously focusing is a real bonus.

Just give it a go, you might surprise yourself. I must admit I was sceptical to begin with.....hooked after one session.
 
back button focusing is amazing - it's totally changed my technique and improved my shots. In fact, not being able to do it properly on my old D5000 (the d5000 doesn't have a proper shutter release priority mode, so it'll only fire the shutter if it's in focus) was what made me upgrade to a d90.

So i set the ae-l button to af-on and use af-c focus and it's great.
 
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