Back Button Focus.

[stapo49]

I was wondering how many people still use "back button focusing" or is it redundant given the focussing/sensor technology we have in cameras now?

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[weepete]

I still use it, I'm more comfortable with it now than with the shutter release on the front button.

 

[Jeff15]

No need on my camera.......

 

[Space Face]

Converted to it a few years ago and have it set on all my cameras. Use it all the time except for Macro and some long exposures with ND's. Everything else is bbf.

 

[stapo49]

So for the guys using it are you finding you get a higher hit rate of images in focus with this technique and would you use it more for fast action than static subjects like portrait photography/landscapes? Alternatively is it generally good for most everything. Discounting your macro and long exposure "space face."

 

[Space Face]

I think it does give a better success rate and the obvious advantage is for moving subjects you can keep the focus tracked. I found I was missing more shots when I was having to half depress the 'fire' button then try to take the shot and that was a pain if the subject was moving or started to move as in wildlife, birds etc.

With the heavier gauge ND filters any AF is pretty useless as it just hunts, so the options are focus before puting the filters on or MF with the filters on.

As for macro say for live, animated subjects like insects etc, I don't even use MF as such I simply move the camera back and forth slightly to hit (or try to hit) the focus.

I have become so used to bbf now I'd never go back to the other method and it was surprising just how quickly I got used to it. Maybe it's not for everybody but works for me and I'd always recommend folk just at least give it a try.

 

[Original katomi]

If you are doing a head count. Iam in the never used it group lol

 

[u8myufo]

Imho it makes no difference to keeper rate. However, it`s uses are having different choices of focus points at your command, and in the case of the D500, not sure on other brands, you can move from flight shots to a static subject, release the assigned button whilst in AF-C and it will lock focus for static subject.

 

[DarkShadow]

I set all my DSLR's up this way out of the box.Will never go back using the shutter button to focus. Has nothing to do with a keeper rate for me but the convenience of not having the shutter release coupled with AF and is the go to way for most of us wildlife shooters but works out in many other shooting types as well.

 

[Derrel]

Tried it, don't like it, now do not use it. It makes what is a 1 step process into a two-step process. Some cameras have a focus lock button on the back and if you have this control, then you will see very little need for back button focus.

 

[tirediron]

Like Derrel I tried it, but it always seemed cumbersome to me. On rare occasions when I'm tracking a fast moving target (car, cyclist) AF-C, I'll use back-button focusing to track it in, but that's it.

 

[zulu42]

I tried it and couldn't find any advantages for me. Including wildlife. Half button press tracks focus on moving subjects and full press to fire...I use my thumb to control shutter and select focus points.

 

[JBPhotog]

BBAF is all I use for the last decade or so. I find it is far superior to shutter button focus and for obvious reasons so do a huge number of others, thus the existence of the "button". LOL

 

[JBPhotog]

For those interested in setting up BBAF on Nikon bodies or wondering why and how, Steve Perry has a fantastic eBook; "Secrets To The Nikon Autofocus System".

It can be found here; Secrets To The Nikon Autofocus System – Backcountry Gallery Web Store

 

[stapo49]

Thanks for the comments guys. I was reading a couple of articles about it online and was interested to see what folks on the forum thought of the technique or if they used it. It appears on this forum, like the responses to the articles, to polarise opinion.

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