Back button focus

dachshund

Senior Member
In setting up back button focus on my D5600, in custom features set-up menu I have set F2 to AF-ON, and focus mode to C. My question is about A1 in the custom features menu which is AF-C priority selection, BBF seems to work with either option selected. Am I missing something?

I also set C1 to on, to return the AE lock to the shutter.
 

nickt

Senior Member
Menu A1 will make bbf work correctly. If a1 is set to focus priority, in many cases you won't be able to focus/recompose using bbf. BBF wil appear to work but you won't be getting the full benefit of the technique. With it set to release priority, you will be able to focus/recompose in all cases with bbf and the technique will work correctly.
 

nickt

Senior Member
I saw this thread, a lot of good info. I’m still not sure on the D5600 if its necessary to use release mode as opposed to focus mode (C1 in custom settings menu)to be able to fully utilize all the benefits of BBF.
Some models force release priority when the back button is set for AF-On. The d7200 does this. Regardless of how menu a1 is set, the d7200 knows to force release priority with bbf set. If you set a1 to focus priority and you can still consistently use bbf then the camera is probably forcing release priority. To test, set a1 to focus priority, then bbf on something close, then point the camera to the sky and shoot. If the shutter won't trip then you are in focus priority and not getting the full technique. If the shutter does trip, then the camera did override a1 and force release priority. In other words, the shutter should always trip in bbf even if absolutely nothing is in focus.
 

dachshund

Senior Member
Some models force release priority when the back button is set for AF-On. The d7200 does this. Regardless of how menu a1 is set, the d7200 knows to force release priority with bbf set. If you set a1 to focus priority and you can still consistently use bbf then the camera is probably forcing release priority. To test, set a1 to focus priority, then bbf on something close, then point the camera to the sky and shoot. If the shutter won't trip then you are in focus priority and not getting the full technique. If the shutter does trip, then the camera did override a1 and force release priority. In other words, the shutter should always trip in bbf even if absolutely nothing is in focus.

Thanx, I suspected that AF-ON overrode the AF-C priority focus/release setting. A test confirmed this to be true.

Good info, I get answers much faster on this forum than I do using the Nikon support facility. Good forum.
 

hark

Administrator
Staff member
Super Mod
Contributor
Thanx, I suspected that AF-ON overrode the AF-C priority focus/release setting. A test confirmed this to be true.

Good info, I get answers much faster on this forum than I do using the Nikon support facility. Good forum.

Nice to have you here. You keep learning, and eventually you will have enough info to start answering questions posed by others. ;)
 

dachshund

Senior Member
Nice to have you here. You keep learning, and eventually you will have enough info to start answering questions posed by others. ;)
Most of my experience was with film, I got back into photography after a hiatus of several years. Learning digital has been a fun challenge
 

dachshund

Senior Member
Coming back to this old thread, I’ve been using BBF on my D5600 with great results for quite some time with no problems. A question arises when using live view, which I almost never use. It behaves as though it weren’t set up for BBF at all. I’ve got it set for AF-F focus mode and wide area AF for AF area mode. It seems to focus without pushing any button at all, like it would if it were not set up for BBF. I suspect there is no problem except my expectations.
 
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