Back Button Focus
- Thread starter Burt
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BF Hammer
Senior Member
I know several people here do BBF. I experimented with it when I was using both a Z5 setup normally and a D750 configured with BBF. To my usual subjects, I did not see it benefiting me. And it broke my brain during the experiment.
There is no real harm in trying it to see if it's right for you.
There is no real harm in trying it to see if it's right for you.
Burt
New member
I'm using it right now and the only real advantage that I can see is how quickly you can go from single to continuos shot, especially when subjects are moving a bit... I only use in the U3 (wildlife) at the moment.. My thumb already hurts, but I will give it a week to see if it is really that much easier... Problem is that eventually if I like it, I will have to use it for all the modes, otherwise it could become messy...
Most of the time, I'm still pressing the button only half way.. It is hard to stop doing that after that many years...
Most of the time, I'm still pressing the button only half way.. It is hard to stop doing that after that many years...
I use BBF but I shoot DLSRs. Focus and recompose is easy it is amazing how often the focus point or cross point is not were you want it but it seems if you are shooting mirrorless quite a bit of the advantage goes away if you are able to focus at any point in the scene.
Burt
New member
I mostly use the single point focus and so far it seems to be very accurate. I don't clearly get the last part of your sentence: "if you are shooting mirrorless quite a bit of the advantage goes away if you are able to focus at any point in the scene"
My understanding is that the main advantage is that you don't lose anytime by having both SF and CF and in a sort of way manual focus available to you at any time in the scene... You chose which one of the three you want to use and when, by operating a single button.... Am I missing something?
Burt
New member
I know exactly what you mean... If we were still using film, it would cost a fortune...
BF Hammer
Senior Member
Yeah, I don't get that either. The reason for BBF with either type of camera is to set focus on a subject and maintain that focus for some time before pressing shutter release, allowing the AF-C to track and not accidentally grab another subject as you press shutter. Pretty much all wildlife photographers advocate for BBF with mirrorless bodies just like with DSLR. Number of focus points or smart AF detection is not so much changing that function.
I was referring to the focus and recompose ability of BBF. On a DLSR the ability to focus in low light and low contrast situations can come down to which focus points you are using the cross type being the better choice. The number of these available comes down to lens choice and other factors. So I may use the center point to get focus and then recompose.
Look here for a discussion on focus points. https://nikonites.com/forum/threads/custom-setting-menu-a-autofocus-a7.45097/
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Burt
New member
I just read that thread, but the number of focus point is not really related to BBF... You can still use which ever focus point you want/need... All BBF does is moving the focus action, from the shutter button, to whichever button you want in the camera... Not really related... So it works in most camera's models regardless of the mirror...
That's my understanding...
I have two AF-On buttons! Z6 iii. The AF-On button works as usual. I customized the DISP button:
in f2: Custom controls (shooting),
DISP button= AF-area mode+AF-ON, then right arrow -->select 3D tracking.
and
Sub-selector center (the joystick press)=DISP
I can use the AF-On button, find a subject, then let go of the AF-On, and press DISP within about 1 second to hand off the selected subject to 3D tracking. This is easy and effective: the DISP button is easy to find by feel.
Or just press DISP as an alternative AF-On, with 3D selected. I use this for static scenes that I want to "focus and recompose", since it tracks the target, even if I move the camera or the target moves.
The joystick press now cycles through the display choices. (too bad that it only works in Shooting, not in Playback. But now I remember to press the original DISP in Playback image review.)
~~~
With AF-On=only, a half press shutter temporarily locks the exposure while it's held down. That's useful for strong backlit scenes -- aim downward to exclude the bright sky, half press shutter, recompose, shoot a frame. (I think this half press usage is a default setting in the menu somewhere)
in f2: Custom controls (shooting),
DISP button= AF-area mode+AF-ON, then right arrow -->select 3D tracking.
and
Sub-selector center (the joystick press)=DISP
I can use the AF-On button, find a subject, then let go of the AF-On, and press DISP within about 1 second to hand off the selected subject to 3D tracking. This is easy and effective: the DISP button is easy to find by feel.
Or just press DISP as an alternative AF-On, with 3D selected. I use this for static scenes that I want to "focus and recompose", since it tracks the target, even if I move the camera or the target moves.
The joystick press now cycles through the display choices. (too bad that it only works in Shooting, not in Playback. But now I remember to press the original DISP in Playback image review.)
~~~
With AF-On=only, a half press shutter temporarily locks the exposure while it's held down. That's useful for strong backlit scenes -- aim downward to exclude the bright sky, half press shutter, recompose, shoot a frame. (I think this half press usage is a default setting in the menu somewhere)
I use BBF on all my bodies, I can do the conventional shutter button also but find specifically on the D500 and D850 I have focus modes assigned to other buttons. My AFON button uses whatever mode I choose for me "group" the joy stick right beside it is single point, the bottom front Fn button is auto (some examples of possable).
The beauty is I can recompose after getting focus and hitting the shutter does not "alter" the focus. This is awesome for getting a bird behind a twig for ID or doing a one third out landscape shot.
As with most things experiment and see what you like, no such thing as "the only right way" - it does take a while to adapt to BBF so take your time as you "try" it. I'm very adaptable and it took several weeks till I stuck with it.
The beauty is I can recompose after getting focus and hitting the shutter does not "alter" the focus. This is awesome for getting a bird behind a twig for ID or doing a one third out landscape shot.
As with most things experiment and see what you like, no such thing as "the only right way" - it does take a while to adapt to BBF so take your time as you "try" it. I'm very adaptable and it took several weeks till I stuck with it.
Burt
New member
This was the reason for me in starting this thread... I just wanted to see (hear) what the other member think/use/prefer regarding the use of the BBF..
The best way it is always the one you are comfortable with, but sometimes getting out of your comfort zone, can lead to a greater experience..
I never used BBF before, but I wanted to give it a try. After a couple of day, I'm still struggling with telling my thumb to go first, but I have already been seeing some advantage especially in being able to pick between SF, CF and manual (recompose) without looking for extra buttons or having to remember which button does what...
I also use different Focus Points in U1 U2 and U3, and in combination with BBF, that is another improvement in my learning experience...
I thank everyone that took the time to add their input to this thread and hopefully my learning experience will continue to grow...
The best way it is always the one you are comfortable with, but sometimes getting out of your comfort zone, can lead to a greater experience..
I never used BBF before, but I wanted to give it a try. After a couple of day, I'm still struggling with telling my thumb to go first, but I have already been seeing some advantage especially in being able to pick between SF, CF and manual (recompose) without looking for extra buttons or having to remember which button does what...
I also use different Focus Points in U1 U2 and U3, and in combination with BBF, that is another improvement in my learning experience...
I thank everyone that took the time to add their input to this thread and hopefully my learning experience will continue to grow...
bluzman
Senior Member
I shoot mainly wildlife subjects so my cameras are rarely set for anything but AF-C. I use BBF on all of my Nikon DSLRs and mirrorless bodies as well as my Sony Cyber-shot RX10 IV. I started several years ago after watching Steve Perry's YT video on the subject. For me, at least, adopting the method took less than a week. At the time, I still had a couple of Nikon Coolpix cameras but once I realized they couldn't be configured for BBF, I dumped them and switched to Panasonics that could (FZ300, FZ1000 i and ii).