NOT crisp!

[DarkShadow]

IMO I would try aperture around F-8 and AF-C or 3d tracking.

 

[SCraig]

I see what you're saying. But the huge benefit of BBF is that you are separating the focusing and metering/shooting functions. It gives you the ability to turn off/lock the AF at any time, without having to go into menus or even hitting a button that isn't right under your thumb.

It can also give you the benefits of both AF-S and AF-C at the same time. AF-S locks the foucs for a 'still' subject....but if you put the camera into AF-C and set BBF, you can still lock the focus by simply releasing the button. Or use continuous focus by pressing it. Can't do that when your AF is tied to your shutter release (unless you constantly want to flip the switch on the lens).

Thanks, Mike. That's a very good point, but I pretty much can do it. I'm not trying to be argumentative, I really am just trying to understand why people are so fond of BBF.

I just got a detailed and well-written PM from one forum member that explained a lot of things I had not thought of or had misinterpreted, and that along with your post has made me think about things. I think a lot of the issues I've been having trying to understand the draw of BBF is that on my Nikon bodies I already have a focus lock button right under my right thumb. I seldom use it, but it's there and I think it's probably similar to what Canon users refer to as back-button focus. When using AF-C, if I want to stop the focus from changing (i.e. lock the focus at a given point) all I have to do is press that button. Depending on how I have the button configured, it will either stay locked until the button is pressed again or the camera is turned off, or it will stay locked until the shutter is released and will then reset.

Since I've always had that capability I couldn't understand what people were having to "Configure" to get it to work.

 

[Big Mike]

It's a little different with Nikon bodies, as you would basically have to configure that button (AFL/AEL) and if you choose AF only, then you loose AEL (although I think you can set AEL to the shutter button or other button on some bodies).

Some Canon bodies are similar, where the * button can be configured for AEL or BBF etc. I always had my bodies set for it to be AF only. But a while back, they added another 'AF-on' button beside the * button, which is a nice bonus.

 

[SCraig]

It's a little different with Nikon bodies, as you would basically have to configure that button (AFL/AEL) and if you choose AF only, then you loose AEL (although I think you can set AEL to the shutter button or other button on some bodies).

Some Canon bodies are similar, where the * button can be configured for AEL or BBF etc. I always had my bodies set for it to be AF only. But a while back, they added another 'AF-on' button beside the * button, which is a nice bonus.

You're right, and what that button can do varies from body to body. By default on my D7000 it's set so that when pressed it locks both focus and exposure, but it can be set to lock either or to initiate focusing. When I use it I am primarily locking exposure and that does come in handy.

Thanks, Mike. I appreciate the explanation.