Playing around with back button focus...

[Bolthead]

Nikon D5100

Nikon AE-L / AF-L Button

I don't shoot Nikon, but that should cover it.

Wow, great read. Thanks for sharing. +1

 

[mdsnyderjr]

Thank you! I'm making it my goal for this week, just got the camera, there is a lot to learn.

 

[o hey tyler]

Thank you! I'm making it my goal for this week, just got the camera, there is a lot to learn.

Good luck! You'll grow to love BBF very soon.

 

[Bend The Light]

I am trying BBF too...

Can I just check I have this right:

BBF - the back button sets focus and keeps it while it is pressed. The shutter then meters the scene as you depress the button.

No BBF - The shutter button sets focus AND meters the scene as it is pressed.

So, with BBF I can set a focus on one thing and meter off another, whereas with no BBF I must meter off the thing I have focussed on?

That right?

 

[One2]

What would be the advantage/disadvantage of using back button focus compared to just pushing the shutter half way down? I tried it on my D90 and it felt kind of awkward so I switched it back. I guess I could get used to it but didn't know if there were any real advantages to using it?

 

[One2]

Oh and sorry I didn't mean to hijack the thread. I also wanted to say the images look great!!

 

[Bend The Light]

What would be the advantage/disadvantage of using back button focus compared to just pushing the shutter half way down? I tried it on my D90 and it felt kind of awkward so I switched it back. I guess I could get used to it but didn't know if there were any real advantages to using it?

I think if you read my post #19 that that is why it's useful, but just wondered myself if I'd got it right.

 

[MTVision]

I am trying BBF too...

Can I just check I have this right:

BBF - the back button sets focus and keeps it while it is pressed. The shutter then meters the scene as you depress the button.

No BBF - The shutter button sets focus AND meters the scene as it is pressed.

So, with BBF I can set a focus on one thing and meter off another, whereas with no BBF I must meter off the thing I have focussed on?

That right?

I don't know much about canons (think that's what you have) but I know some of them only spot meter from the center whereas Nikons spot meter from the active focal point.

Anyways, with BBF in manual mode, at least my camera, you don't have to press the shutter button to meter. If the camera is on and "awake" it's metering anyways. I usually meter off of something and then set my focus with the BBF. BBF does lock your focus so you can focus and recompose with this method as well. Just for clarification do you lock focus and then move your camera to meter off something?

BBF is also handy for non-moving subjects - you can hit the BBF button and snap multiple pictures without having to re-lock focus. I do think it all depends on what setting you have it on as well.

Without BBF you can still meter off of something different then what you focus on in manual mode. In the priority modes you would have to lock the exposure if you wanted to meter of something but focus on something different.

With BBF in a priority mode - say you focus on something with the center focal point (which is where I believe canons spot meter from) then moved the camera to meter off something else - you are basically just focusing and recomposing.....

If this makes absolutely no sense I apologize - its almost 4am and I am exhausted.

 

[Bend The Light]

I am trying BBF too...

Can I just check I have this right:

BBF - the back button sets focus and keeps it while it is pressed. The shutter then meters the scene as you depress the button.

No BBF - The shutter button sets focus AND meters the scene as it is pressed.

So, with BBF I can set a focus on one thing and meter off another, whereas with no BBF I must meter off the thing I have focussed on?

That right?

I don't know much about canons (think that's what you have) but I know some of them only spot meter from the center whereas Nikons spot meter from the active focal point.

Anyways, with BBF in manual mode, at least my camera, you don't have to press the shutter button to meter. If the camera is on and "awake" it's metering anyways. I usually meter off of something and then set my focus with the BBF. BBF does lock your focus so you can focus and recompose with this method as well. Just for clarification do you lock focus and then move your camera to meter off something?

BBF is also handy for non-moving subjects - you can hit the BBF button and snap multiple pictures without having to re-lock focus. I do think it all depends on what setting you have it on as well.

Without BBF you can still meter off of something different then what you focus on in manual mode. In the priority modes you would have to lock the exposure if you wanted to meter of something but focus on something different.

With BBF in a priority mode - say you focus on something with the center focal point (which is where I believe canons spot meter from) then moved the camera to meter off something else - you are basically just focusing and recomposing.....

If this makes absolutely no sense I apologize - its almost 4am and I am exhausted.

Yes, I think that makes sense. And the spot metering on the 40D is as far as I know in the centre spot. Although obviously other metering modes are available. With the metering lock you mentioned, that is just a similar thing really, just a different thing locked...it just makes the exposure and the focus separate instead of all on one button (the shutter).

think I get it..