Making the switch to Back button focus

[gayle23]

So I have been dabbling a little with back button focus lately as I keep hearing that it is a more efficient way of shooting. My question is would you recommend keeping the camera in AFC mode, is there a reason to interchange between AFS and AFC with back button focus on, and does it focus just as well when you have a stationary subject as it doesn't make the beep noise to say it's locked focus (as I guess it doesn't lock it) which is a bit unnerving.
Any advice would be so helpful as I have a photoshoot coming up and am not sure whether to just stick to shutter button focus instead. Thanks

 

[JoeW]

I can't say about the AFS and AFC. I use back-button focus on all of my bodies. The only real negative I've found is occasionally on a very impromptu shot where I need shoot one-handed (like...holding a branch away with my left hand, holding a piece of paper as an improvised reflector in my left hand--stuff like that), it's tricky to do back button focus and shoot. Otherwise, I'm very happy with the switch.

 

[Derrel]

BBF is not all it is made out to be by the many beginning photo writers and YouTube people that promote it. I seldom use it, preferring a NEW focus, automatically, with every press of the shutter. With larger, heavier lenses (big body like D3x + 70-200/2.8,300/4,etc), BBF alters how the right thumb can support the weight of the camera and lens combo. On a long shoot, I dislike changing my hand;s grip for every shot, and prefer that the thumb stay perfectly atationary and supporting the back of the camera. BBF alters this ,materially.

Honestly, if one needs to ask questions about BBF, it's probably not the best time to move to something like BBF for an important shoot. We've had threads about it before: this forum's top Canadian sports shooter does not use BBF, but prefers the focus to be assoicated with the trigger button.

For SOME situations, BBF makes sense...in others, no sense at all...

As far as AF-C and AF-Single...one can lead to minute or severe focus errors on some subjects...

 

[480sparky]

I use BBF when shooting static subjects (landscapes, architecture etc). Moving subjects (sports, wildlife) are still focused using the shutter release.

There's no one-size-fits-all method. You need to experiment and see what method or mix of methods works best for you.

 

[Designer]

Any advice would be so helpful as I have a photoshoot coming up and am not sure whether to just stick to shutter button focus instead. Thanks

A paid photoshoot is not a good time to be learning a new technique. If you think you need that option, do your practicing on your own time.

 

[gayle23]

Any advice would be so helpful as I have a photoshoot coming up and am not sure whether to just stick to shutter button focus instead. Thanks

A paid photoshoot is not a good time to be learning a new technique. If you think you need that option, do your practicing on your own time.

It's not paid. I have been doing photoshoots for free for friends and am now being asked to do a free photoshoot for a family I don't know. I am treating them like paid work. As I work with kids who run around a lot I thought back button focus might be better so I can track them but if they stop I can quickly recompose rather than switching between modes AfS and AFC.

 

[gayle23]

I use BBF when shooting static subjects (landscapes, architecture etc). Moving subjects (sports, wildlife) are still focused using the shutter release.

Any advice would be so helpful as I have a photoshoot coming up and am not sure whether to just stick to shutter button focus instead. Thanks

A paid photoshoot is not a good time to be learning a new technique. If you think you need that option, do your practicing on your own time.

It's not paid. I have been doing photoshoots for free for friends and am now being asked to do a free photoshoot for a family I don't know. I am treating them like paid work. As I work with kids who run around a lot I thought back button focus might be better so I can track them but if they stop I can quickly recompose rather than switching between modes AfS and AFC.

Though maybe your right I should stick to what I know for this photoshoot in a weeks time and like you said practise it when I have more time.
There's no one-size-fits-all method. You need to experiment and see what method or mix of methods works best for you.

Thank you for your quick reply, can I ask why you don't use back button focus for moving subjects?

 

[Braineack]

I use it exclusively; it works for me. however, it is now impossible to hand my camera over to someone and have them take a shot...

 

[astroNikon]

I use primarily the Button for AE-L/AF-L for sports when I want to pan a bit away from a player to track the ball - for a goal shot as an example. This while not moving the focus lock point in order to keep the player in focus and get the movement of the ball.

I also have a AF-ON button, but I rarely use. I still like have the release button to do the initial focus. You can half press it too. Some ppl aren't good at half pressing and the full press for BBF is better.

So it's all a personal preference.

If you have 2 back buttons then you can have both the AE-L/AF-L and AF-ON functionality in addition to your main Release button. On my D500 I reprogrammed my AF-ON as my AE-L/AF-L as the little joystick is the AE-L/AF-L button too but you have to push it directly in, which I've been unable to do with any consistency and instead move my focus point.

 

[fmw]

I've never used it. I see no problem with it, however, if it works for you.

 

[Overread]

I use it all the time with continuous AF mode enabled - however most of what I shoot is action based photography so continual refocusing is needed. I also find that it makes more sense to have on lense which have full-time manual focusing because then you can use back-button all the time. If you want to go manual you just leave everything as it is and don't press the backbutton to engage the AF, and because the lens is continuous manual focus you don't have to flick a lens switch, you just change the focus on the lens as is.


The only time I regret it is when I'm doing something where I want the speedlite AF assist beam to enable. This only enables in one-shot AF mode not continuous. I also always tend to forget this until well after the event. This is more of an issue of AF mode rather than back-button selection but its still one thing to consider when choosing an AF mode itself (as that is part of your original question).

 

[Gary A.]

There is a learning curve to BBF. I found it a good tool to have. I often shoot in crowded, fluid environments and I find it easier to quickly focus, recompose and release the shutter than doing it all with the shutter release button. For action photography, often I will get get caught up with the momentum of the event and jamming my finger against a back button to focus only is better than jamming my finger against the shutter release button and ripping off a few frames.

For clarity: I, far more often, shoot in fast moving and uncontrollable environments (sports, Street, events, et al). BBF give me one less thing to think about ... I can concentrate fully on the image I desire to capture without multitasking finger pressure control at the same time. In a controlled situation ... BBF is no big deal. But for me, not having to worry or think about finger pressure allows me to focus what little cream-cheese brain matter I have left, completely in the viewfinder.

 

[table1349]

I use it exclusively; it works for me. however, it is now impossible to hand my camera over to someone and have them take a shot...

You say that like it's a bad thing.

 

[table1349]

Another BBF user all the time. Once you get used to it, it becomes second nature. Kind of like driving a car. Some have shift levers on the column, some on the center console and some on the bottom of the center dash. You drive it a few days and you are used to it and never think about it again.

 

[deeky]

I've switched to back button focus as well and, as others have said, it is a bit of a learning curve. But I like it. Most of my shooting right now is the kids' ball games. For example, if they are making a play at a base, I can hit the bbf. Then, as I'm ripping off continuous shots, if another player steps into the frame, my camera isn't trying to refocus on them. I'm still locked in on my kid since I've released the bbf. Other times, I am still forgetting to hit the bbf and expecting my shutter button to focus. Oops. It's a learning curve.