What AF mode do you use and what botton do you use to AF ?

[goodguy]

Do you use

1.AF-A
2.AF-S
3.AF-C

Also do you use regular shutter release botton to AF or do you use the back botton to AF ?

In the beginning I used to have my camera set to AF-S and use the front shutter release botton but then a friend told me to try the back botton to AF and put camera on AF-C.
For me it works better, the number of sharp pictures improved for me, I used it both on my D7100 and D750.
On my D5100 I find the back botton to be too small to use so I use camera on AF-S and front shutter release botton to AF.

 

[SCraig]

Nearly always use AF-C. Never, ever, NEVER use back-button focusing.

 

[Braineack]

I use AF-C about 99% of the time with D9.
I just recently started using BBF and I'm finding quite nice, especially when shooting burst mode with sports, or focus then recompose without AF-C changing focus on me...

 

[Derrel]

I use AF-C virtually all of the time , except for low-light flash shooting when I have the AF assist system set to on, and must therefore be in AF-S mode. I keep the focusing on the shutter button. I have the choice to set the horizontal AF-On button and the vertical AF-ON button separately, but I choose to keep them set as AF LOCK buttons. I keep the AF/AE-Lock button set to do AF AND simultaneous AE lock for the rare times when I want that.

I shoot a lot of talls, and my main lenses both have focus lock buttons on the lens barrels, and I often use those lens-based buttons for the times I want to lock focus and hold it (almost always only when doing focus and recompose).

My right thumb is reserved for moving AF points around, not for initiating focus. I shoot a fair amount at close ranges, where DOF is thin, and focus is critical, so I almost never want to lock focus and keep it locked through a sequence: I want a brand-new, re-acquired focus for almost every shot, every time, which is why I keep focus on the shutter button.

I reallllllly dislike AF-S or single focus for regular shooting, but when it is needed, like for AF assist in dim, flash-needed situations, it's good to have it, and I set it for focus priority. I set AF-C to the combo of focus + release priority.

There is no one, single way that is best to set up a modern camera for all users and all situations.

 

[JustJazzie]

I almost always use af-S :hide: tried af-c, tried bbaf....reverted back to old habbits.

However, when I shoot ny kids on their dirt bikes, or attempt to catch moving things like the occasional bird, I do turn on af-c.

 

[baturn]

AF-C and shutter button focusing.

 

[Dave442]

AF-C, AF-ON

 

[Usul]

For everyday shooting I use AF-S in order to recompose and I found that AF-ON or AF-L are less convenient for me because I just can forget to press the button and loose picture.
When I shoot sport (paintball usually) or wildlife I use AF-C and AF-L when for recomposing. I tried to use AF-ON but on my camera (D7100) the button is placed awkward for me.

 

[Solarflare]

Well, I only use AF-C on my DSLR. I fail to see the point of AF-S - all subjects are moving, since I am always [slightly] moving, even if I stand still - and AF-A is just superflous utter crap.

Otherwise I switch between these configurations:
Hand selected AF Point, no AF-ON Button
Dynamic AF point, AF-ON Button

 

[goodguy]

I use AF-C virtually all of the time , except for low-light flash shooting when I have the AF assist system set to on, and must therefore be in AF-S mode.

A little funny story, on my old D7100 I tried and tried to get the AF assist light to work but it didnt, on one time that I was in the camera store I asked one of the staff members to see if he can get it to work.
He tried everything but it didnt work so at the end he asked if he can bring camera back to factory settings, if the lamp will not come on then it is burned and will need to be replaced.
I agreed and he reset the camera, of course the light assist worked after the reset then I set the camera back to my style of shooting and it didnt work again, he looked deeply into my settings and suddently hit his head (lightly LOL) with his hand and said "of course-light assist is always off when camera is on AF-C). I actually knew that yet somehow I didnt connect the dots till he mentioned it himself.
We spent a good 15 minutes trying to resolve this wonderful mystery LOL
Reminds me a story my wonderful grandma told me many years ago about how she looked for her glasses for a long while only to find (eventually) they were placed on her face all that time

 

[goodguy]

Love to see how each person has his/hers own way of shooting, there isnt a perfect settings to cover them all, we all try different settings and after time we find what does and doesnt work for us.

 

[astroNikon]

AF-C Single most of the time for sports
I use the Back Button for Focus Lock, and regular release button for Focus/Capture as I've found this the most convenient for me.

I know most ppl use AF-C 9-pt or greater. but I've found in the sports I shoot that many times there may be players closer, or I'm shooting between players, etc and to give the camera that extra ability of making it's own decisions greatly lowers the keepers. With it my way based on *my* decision my keeper rate is significantly better, so AF-C Single most of the time.

In studio environment I use AF-S Single.

 

[satelitas]

I have my D7100 AE-L/AF-L button "converted" to AF-ON. Many times, I found myself pocking into my eyeball with thumb while focusing, especially in portrait/vertical. It looks, that dedicated AF-ON button on bigger FF camera bodies, is designed for the purpose to have the best ergonomic location to reach, even with a short thumb, and not to "hurt" yourself.
My setup is AF-C, Single AF point.

 

[Solarflare]

A little funny story,

Explains also why my assist lamp never lights up, which is something I noticed but shrugged away (I just switched to manual focus instead) ... so guess AF-S has its uses, after all.

 

[KmH]

I use AF-S and AF-C depending on what I am shooting.
I use both 1/2 shutter press AF, and back button AF, depending on what I am shooting.