Back Button Focus - Use and Settings ?

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Fortkentdad

Senior Member
I've read this is the greatest thing since sliced bread.

I was finding it challenging to switch from AF-S to AF-C while shooting birds. They would sit pretty on a branch and I'd want AF-Single point, then they would fly away and I'd need to go to AF-C in a flash - never got there fast enough.

SO I gave it a go today. Setting up the button on the back marked AE-L button to be the Focus button. This disabled the focusing function of pressing the shutter half way. To focus I must remember to press this AE-L button. I also read that you need to set the shutter to "release" and did that.

How many people use this? Is it as good as they say? I did miss a few shots as I forget to press that focus button before pressing the shutter. But that's a habit to be developed.

I set the AF to AF-C 9 points (which I read is recommended for birding) I could use 21, but read it is not wise to use all 39. Is this what most Back-Focusing folk use here? (I'm talking about the D610 here not the D5100).

If I were to be doing some portraits of still people - unlike my grand children, I'd set the AF to AF-S single point.

I also chose centre weighted metering. (very occasionally I'll use single point metering - rarely the full matrix). Is this best for this sort of thing? Does the weighted metering follow the focus point or just always use the centre?

After one day of using it I'm decided to give it a go for a while and see if I get the hang of it.
 
K

Krs_2007

Senior Member
Fortkentdad said:
I've read this is the greatest thing since sliced bread.

I was finding it challenging to switch from AF-S to AF-C while shooting birds. They would sit pretty on a branch and I'd want AF-Single point, then they would fly away and I'd need to go to AF-C in a flash - never got there fast enough.

SO I gave it a go today. Setting up the button on the back marked AE-L button to be the Focus button. This disabled the focusing function of pressing the shutter half way. To focus I must remember to press this AE-L button. I also read that you need to set the shutter to "release" and did that.

How many people use this? Is it as good as they say? I did miss a few shots as I forget to press that focus button before pressing the shutter. But that's a habit to be developed.

I set the AF to AF-C 9 points (which I read is recommended for birding) I could use 21, but read it is not wise to use all 39. Is this what most Back-Focusing folk use here? (I'm talking about the D610 here not the D5100).

If I were to be doing some portraits of still people - unlike my grand children, I'd set the AF to AF-S single point.

I also chose centre weighted metering. (very occasionally I'll use single point metering - rarely the full matrix). Is this best for this sort of thing? Does the weighted metering follow the focus point or just always use the centre?

After one day of using it I'm decided to give it a go for a while and see if I get the hang of it.
Click to expand...

Ha, welcome to the dark side of the force. Been doing this for a few years, if your camera has the U1/U2 settings it makes it easier as you can save the settings profiles.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
 
4

480sparky

Senior Member
I don't use BBF for fast stuff like sports and moving critters. I only use it for landscapes, architectural, macro etc.... stuff that doesn't move.
 
D

Don Kuykendall_RIP

RIP :(
Using it for moving subjects is the best use for BBF. Although you set the camera for AF-C it is only in AF-C while holding the button down. When you release it it becomes AF-S. That way when the bird is sitting there once you click the button once on that bird the focus will stay there even if you set the camera down by your side. If the bird decides to fly just press and hold the button down and you are back in AF-C.

It takes a little while to get used to it but once you do then you won't go back. I am going to include the basic setup here which has some nice youtube guides on BBF. Worth the time to watch

Back Button Focus is a great tool for so many photographers and is something I think everyone should try at least once. Below are a few sites that talk about the how and why of Back Button Focus.

Benefits of Using the AF-ON Button for Autofocus by Nikon USA


BACK BUTTON FOCUSING – EASIER THAN YOU THINK! by Improve Photography


Here is a good YouTube video that goes over the why and how of Back Button Focusing.

You can do a search of the forum on "Back Button Focus" or BBF and see the many threads that have been created on this subject.

Try it, You will like it.






 
F

Fortkentdad

Senior Member
Krs_2007 said:
Ha, welcome to the dark side of the force. Been doing this for a few years, if your camera has the U1/U2 settings it makes it easier as you can save the settings profiles.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
Click to expand...


Hmmm, Yes the D610 has two user settings - did set them up a while back but got out of the habit of using them.

So one could be set with Back Button Focus and the other set so not BBF? Interesting idea. Quick change back if needed.
 
Danno

Danno

Senior Member
I use it and like it a lot. I am more steady when I am focusing... It is weird, but it is a side benefit for me.
 
G

Griso

Senior Member
I was a BBF skeptic, to be honest. Every time I used it, it was awkward and I gave up.

Then I persevered and stuck with it for a while. There were quite a few missed shots, but eventually it became 2nd nature.

Now, I'm a BBF believer and don't think I'd ever change.

Speaking for myself, I wouldn't change between BBF and conventional (shutter button 1/2 press). It needs to get into 'muscle memory' - that you just go to the button without thinking. Myself, I wouldn't be able to swap between the two methods, but that's just me and I guess my advice for someone wanting to try it out - stick with it and don't be tempted to change back (apart from the shots that you *must* get, that is!) until it's in muscle memory.
 
R

RobV

Senior Member
I have only had a DSLR since last September.
I didn't find out about BBF until December.

I love it!

I concur with sticking to only one method, but, of course you are free to do what you like.
Congratulations on the D610. If I ever get to the point where I can justify a 2nd body, I will get another. LOVE that pentaprism viewfinder!
 
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D

Don Kuykendall_RIP

RIP :(
Griso said:
I was a BBF skeptic, to be honest. Every time I used it, it was awkward and I gave up.

Then I persevered and stuck with it for a while. There were quite a few missed shots, but eventually it became 2nd nature.

Now, I'm a BBF believer and don't think I'd ever change.

Speaking for myself, I wouldn't change between BBF and conventional (shutter button 1/2 press). It needs to get into 'muscle memory' - that you just go to the button without thinking. Myself, I wouldn't be able to swap between the two methods, but that's just me and I guess my advice for someone wanting to try it out - stick with it and don't be tempted to change back (apart from the shots that you *must* get, that is!) until it's in muscle memory.
Click to expand...

RobV said:
I have only had a DSLR since last September.
I didn't find out about BBF until December.

I love it!

I concur with sticking to only one method, but, of course you are free to do what you like.
Congratulations on the D610. If I ever get to the point where I can justify a 2nd body, I will get another. LOVE that pentaprism viewfinder!
Click to expand...

If you read the standard post I send people when they ask about BBF you will see that I tell the to shot that way for at least 2 weeks without changing back for any reason. Shoot a lot everyday for fun and not on anything important just to get used to it. You are right that it is muscle memory. My wife will not change over to BBF because she has small hands and the D7100 is a larger camera so her thumb just is not comfortable stretching around to hit the button. When I have to check something with her camera it drives me crazy hitting the BBF button trying to focus. I have to actively think to use the shutter button and half press and hold and re compose to get the shot.

I could never swap back and forth between the two focus modes.
 
F

Fortkentdad

Senior Member
Another day and another backyard birding walk about the neighbourhood, working on my BBF technique.

Found it useful if there was a bird in the bush (which is not worth as much as a bird in hand but how often do you get a bird in hand?).

In the bush the focus would jump from one branch to another. With BBF I get the spot and shoot and if I move a bit and a branch gets in the way the focus does not change. Of course if the bird moves too much you need to refocus. And I think I should move up from F5.6 (or would that be down) to F6 or even F8 to give me a little more depth of field especially if the subject is not that far away (and when shooting birds that means maybe 20 feet or so).

These were shot with a Nikon 200-500 on a D610.

Did find that even if I press once and release and have the affect of a single focus point - in Nikons View NX it reports AF-C focus and does not show the focus point? Went there with a the ones that did not focus well to see where I had indeed focused the camera - but alas it was not going to show me.

It was still a bit of hit and miss. One set of shots I took of a different bird all were a little off focus - but another set were mostly bang on.

Definitely the way to go, but a skill to be developed.

Downy Woodpecker demo of BBF-DSC_9102-0001.jpgDowny Woodpecker demo of BBF 65-DSC_9102-0002.jpg
 
Horoscope Fish

Horoscope Fish

Senior Member
Am I the only one that switches between BBF and SBF (Shutter Button Focus) regularly, then? Because I like BBF right up until the moment I don't. For shooting most things I like it a lot but when shooting portraits, for one example, I revert back to SBF.

I'm not really sure why I shoot the way I do it's just gut instinct, this-just-feels-right-to-me sort of thing. Fortunately I have no difficulty whatsoever switching between the two modes and do it frequently.
 
S

SteveH

Senior Member
I find the shutter "fire" button far too sensitive (D7100) and I end up taking shots when just trying to focus, so I use BBF all the time...
 
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