Anyone Else NOT use Back Button Focus?

RocketCowboy

Senior Member
If you can show me how to focus and recompose a BIF, I'll switch to BBF.:encouragement:

Nope, BIF I want BBF on af-c so that I can control focus tracking separate from shutter. That said, you are the BIF master, I'm just an amateur there.


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Blacktop

Senior Member
Nope, BIF I want BBF on af-c so that I can control focus tracking separate from shutter. That said, you are the BIF master, I'm just an amateur there.


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See, this is what I don't understand. It seems to me, that shooting BIF it would be more of a distraction using BBF. You have to control your thumb as well as your shutter finger. I figure, since I have to have my finger on the shutter ready to click at any moment it just feels much more natural to me. Especially if I lose focus during tracking, it's much easier to get it back, and then click the shutter in almost one motion.

Just seems more fluid to me. If it works better for others the other way, I'm not here to argue against it.:encouragement:

BTW, I'm no master in BIF..I see some stuff out there on 500PX and 1X and some other sites, that just blows my mind.
 

RocketCowboy

Senior Member
BTW, I'm no master in BIF..I see some stuff out there on 500PX and 1X and some other sites, that just blows my mind.

Likewise, I see what my results are when I try BIF, and I see what you come up with. Being humble is good, but don't forget to recognize how far your skills have come as well.

I guess I've just become accustomed to always having my thumb over the af-on button as part of event photography. Depending on what the subject is doing, I may need to re-engage the af, or I may want it locked while I recompose quickly. I don't have time to move the focus point a lot of times, and even with the D810 I don't want to crop to get a more pleasing composition.



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pforsell

Senior Member
... always having my thumb over the af-on button as part of event photography. Depending on what the subject is doing, I may need to re-engage the af, or I may want it locked while I recompose quickly ...

I agree this is the strong point of AF-ON button. The camera behavior will be modeless and the shooter can have continuous-AF, single-AF and manual focus all three at the same time. No need to change focusing mode or to move the focus point. This is best in using a DSLR, being able to exert complete haptic control over the camera without taking one's eye off the viewfinder.

Trying BBF is addictive though, so i don't recommend it lightly. Once tried, forever hooked. :)


Disclaimer: don't read if autofocus doesn't interest you
Partly off topic, but there is some evidence in AF-C mode being a little bit more accurate in nailing focus than AF-S. The reason is that Nikon's phase detect autofocus is predictive and estimative. When we autofocus in AF-S mode the camera and lens estimate where the lens should focus and it goes there in one go. It is not 100 % accurate. In AF-C mode the camera and lens do continuous correction and refocusing and this re-iteration causes more accurate focus. I know from my own experience that this is true because I get more keepers with AF-C + BBF even with static subjects. Not by much, but noticeably anyway. Google Marianne Oelund's autofocus articles in dpreview for hard scientific measured facts.
 
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grandpaw

Senior Member
I think that whatever works for you is the right way to go. I have found that BBF just gives me a lot more control over every situation that comes up. I don't have to take my eye off the viewfinder to get the focusing mode I need and I have instant access to what I need at all times. After shooting using only one button for years and adding a second one it does change things up a bit. It did take me a few weeks to get the hang of it but now i don't even think about it, it just happens. The pre test to see if you can use two buttons instead of just one is to try chewing gum and walking at the same time. If this seems like a challenge to you then BBF may not be your best choice. LOL
 

Stoshowicz

Senior Member
If you can show me how to focus and recompose a BIF, I'll switch to BBF.:encouragement:
I think you can just go ahead and keep shooting the way you do and stay excellent. But any of the autofocus modes that adjust for distance continually would allow you recompose 'on the fly'once youre locked on. Right?.. so long as your' lingering time' is not set at zero.
 
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Blade Canyon

Senior Member
I was using it for years because of the constant availability of continuous AF and the added ability to lock focus and recompose as if AF-S. Once I reset my camera back to SBF for a party so others could take pictures, then I never changed it back. I don't really miss it.

Acclaimed wedding and portrait photographer Jerry Ghionis told me he does not use BBF because he shoots long days and BBF causes hand cramps after a long session.
 

tjlaswell

Senior Member
The best I can figure my D50 doesn't do BBF. I have a "AF-L AE-L" which sounds close. I think AE-L sounds a little more useful. Use the button to lock the exposure, lock the focus with the shutter then compose the shot and take it. I have used the shutter focus and exposure lock for years but now I am starting to think separating the two might be beneficial in some circumstances where I don't want to sacrifice focus for exposure.

In digging through the menus I also rediscovered the focal point illumination. Turned it back to auto. I probably had it turned off when trying to take astronomy pictures.
 

Osantacruz

Senior Member
The best I can figure my D50 doesn't do BBF. I have a "AF-L AE-L" which sounds close. I think AE-L sounds a little more useful. Use the button to lock the exposure, lock the focus with the shutter then compose the shot and take it. I have used the shutter focus and exposure lock for years but now I am starting to think separating the two might be beneficial in some circumstances where I don't want to sacrifice focus for exposure.

In digging through the menus I also rediscovered the focal point illumination. Turned it back to auto. I probably had it turned off when trying to take astronomy pictures.
The d50 does. You just reassign the af-l ae-l button to af-on in the menus.

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nickt

Senior Member
The best I can figure my D50 doesn't do BBF.
Yes and no. You can set the back button to af-on and use it to initiate focus, but I think the D50 does not have a way to set release priority. You need release priority to get the 'full deal' from bbf. That full deal being the ability to focus and recompose. Some people don't want that anyway, they want to be sure they have focus before the shutter can release. The focus recompose is a little than what you do with holding the shutter button at half. With bbf, you can prefocus, set the camera down, take a break, or whatever and take your shot later, recomposing if needed. No need to hold anything like the shutter half press. If your camera doesn't have release priority, you can't do that. When you finally take the shot, if the camera does not see focus at the focus point, it won't be able to fire.
 

Horoscope Fish

Senior Member
The best I can figure my D50 doesn't do BBF. I have a "AF-L AE-L" which sounds close. I think AE-L sounds a little more useful. Use the button to lock the exposure, lock the focus with the shutter then compose the shot and take it. I have used the shutter focus and exposure lock for years but now I am starting to think separating the two might be beneficial in some circumstances where I don't want to sacrifice focus for exposure.

In digging through the menus I also rediscovered the focal point illumination. Turned it back to auto. I probably had it turned off when trying to take astronomy pictures.
As I recall the D50 does not support Shutter-Release Release-Priority; it's perpetually in Shutter-Release Focus-Priority; meaning that without the camera registering a focus-lock, you no can take a shot, even when shooting in AF-C. Shutter-Release - Release Priority, I believe, came about with the advent of D70.
 

Jcher

Senior Member
After reading posts about it and watching some videos, I tried it but shortly quit using it. It was a distraction trying to get my thumb up on the button; not a natural feeling. Plus it didn't seem to offer any advantages for my photography. Don't have a problem staying with the shutter button.

I strongly agree. I have given it an honest attempt however the BBF is not giving me what I'm accustomed to with SBF.


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WayneF

Senior Member
I strongly agree too. I don't shoot many moving subjects. So, I use the normal shutter button, with AF-S and single point focus, which is what these are for (stationary targets). It is instinctive habit to put the focus point on the subject, where I want it, and then I know what I've got. Sometimes I move the spot in the frame for continuous work (portraits), but half press will hold it there if necessary to shift aim.
 
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Shy Talk

Senior Member
As a firmly committed AF-ON user, please let me contribute.

Firstly, why do modern DSLR users imagine that combined focus and shooting is normal?
In the old days, you focussed, and then when you thought you had it focussed (and framed), you shot.

Why would it be any different with digital?

The only reason that AF is set up to happen when you press the shutter release is to make it easy. There is no other reason.

Focussing and shutter release are two separate and entirely different things- as they have ALWAYS been. Did anyone try to simultaneously focus and shoot an OM-1? I don't think so!

It took me a day. It might take you an hour, or a month.

Do it, you'll be glad you did!��
 

Woodyg3

Senior Member
Contributor
As a firmly committed AF-ON user, please let me contribute.

Firstly, why do modern DSLR users imagine that combined focus and shooting is normal?
In the old days, you focussed, and then when you thought you had it focussed (and framed), you shot.

Why would it be any different with digital?

The only reason that AF is set up to happen when you press the shutter release is to make it easy. There is no other reason.

Focussing and shutter release are two separate and entirely different things- as they have ALWAYS been. Did anyone try to simultaneously focus and shoot an OM-1? I don't think so!

It took me a day. It might take you an hour, or a month.

Do it, you'll be glad you did!��

Well, in the film/pre-auto-focus days I certainly DID focus and shoot at the same time. That was the only way to shoot sports or other moving subjects without AF-C.

Focus and shutter release are still separate things even when using a half press of the shutter release to focus.

The only advantage I can see to BBF is to be able to focus-recompose OR continuous focus without having to stop and change the focus setting. With all the focus points on my current cameras, I find it just as easy to move the focus point where I want it in the viewfinder.

No big deal one way or the other. Some people like to drink with a straw, others prefer mouth to the glass. :)
 

Shy Talk

Senior Member
Hi Woody.
Well, first of all, you're correct. It's not for everyone and it's no big deal if you don't use it, as long as you are happy with what you're getting.

Also, it's annoying to have to explain the AF operation if you hand the camera to another to take a pic of yourself, for example.

But- and it's a biggie, for movers it makes a huge difference. Also, if shooting a fixed subject but when there's foreground or background that's distracting the autofocus, it's nice to leave the subject in focus without worrying about what the AF will grab when you shoot.

I had to be talked into trying AF-ON, but boy, am I glad I adopted it. I guess it doesn't make much difference a lot of the time, but if you shoot moving targets, or anything really that's taxing the AF system, it's something that's worth looking at.

I sometimes chip in on topics like this because in my own case I wish I'd found out about it a few years earlier!
 
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