What's the Point of Back Button Focus?
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- Опубликовано: 27 июл 2024
- Why use back button focus? Most of the time cameras are set up with the shutter button doubling up as the focussing button. Many photographers know the benefits of setting up a different button for focussing though, and in this video we explore the benefits of doing just that.
Join me as I capture some bird photogaphy with the Nikon D500 and Nikkor 300mm F4 PF lens. Using back button focus of course!
#photography #birdphotography #birds #nikon
Videography by Andrea Bishop
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00:00 Intro
01:51 What is back button focus?
02:44 Improved shot recomposition
04:30 Two focus modes in one.
06:34 Disadvantages of using back button focus
09:20 Conclusion and seeting up BBF on the Nikon D500
10:44 Outro
Useful video man 👍 I have always thought I must try BBF so hopefully now I will give it a go. I have been focusing and holding the shutter button halfway down then recomposing since the film days in the 80s. Has always worked pretty well for me. 👍📸
Thanks - definitely worth trying out. Don't forget, an added benefit of BBF is that you can do the recomposing trick while using continuous autofocus mode. Something you can't do when using the shutter button to focus. Thanks for watching. 😊
Great video justifying BBF. The only disadvantage I know is when you hand off to someone else to take a shot and they don't know how bbf works.
Haha, true. My first experience with it was when I bought a used camera in eBay that was set up with BBF. It took me a while to figure out why it wasn't focussing! Thanks for watching. 😊
Great video explaining how to set up and use back button focus Robert. I've used it for years and not sure I could use a camera that didn't have it set up that way 😂 I do agree with the part you talked about how it might get tiring for some, but that is really a small con. I also really liked that image that was on your computer monitor behind you! Hope you are doing well my friend, have a great rest of the weekend!
That's interesting Paul - I don't personally use it for landscapes, but if it's what you're used to I guess it works as well as anything else. Would be good for situations where you need the manual override - like Astro for example. Thanks for checking it out mate. All good here, hope you are too. 😊
Interesting video Robert, I am a great fan of back button focus and us it all the time. Just about to replace my camera with the Nikon Z 6 so looking forward to that now I am back from Thailand.
Nice one John, what camera are you replacing? The Z cameras are great - and benefit from a really good lineup of lenses. Cheers for watching. 😊
@@Robert-Bishop Nikon D3500
Oh yes, I remember now. Also a really good camera - I think you'll really like the Z6 though. 😊
Love watching your videos Rob! Be nice to come and shoot with you one day :-)
Hope you're well Alan - appreciate you checking out the videos. I'll be honest, between editing videos and filming new ones (and the regular 9-5 job), I don't have a lot of free shooting time! Are you ever out in the Peaks?
Been using bbf for years now, just makes more sense to me to sepeeate the two functions , not sure i could go back now. I would suggest anyone try it, as you said takes a little getting used to but you may find you really like it. If not just go back. There is no right or wrong just what works for you. Hope your well all the best mate.
Do you find it useful for landscapes Lee? I thought it might be useful for Astro where you don't want to disturb the focus once set. Appreciate you checking the video out mate. 😊
@@Robert-Bishop yes mate definatly, if you have the camera on a tripod and all locked off once focused and then your just waiting for the light and when the time is right just hit the shutter button, no worries about it trying to re focus if the light is low i am just so used it it now i cant understand why i would ever want or need to go back !
4:12, lovely shot - but the RAW surprised me, would you not have used +1 or so exp. comp. there?
In an ideal world, yes. There just wasn't time to adjust settings before it flew away though. I guess we're lucky to have such great tools these days, that can still extract a decent image from that kind of situation. Thanks for watching. 😊
Is it beneficial for mirrorless? I never used bbf but read that it became redundant with mirrorless af systems
It's less benefit when it comes to recomposing, as mirrorless often have focus points all the way to the edge of the frame. But like I said in the video, the center points are usually the most accurate, so there's still a small benefit there. It's also still a great way to get AF-S, AF-C and manual override functionality in a quick and easily accessible way. So yeah, I still think it can be beneficial. Thanks for watching. 😊
I, too, use the D500 with the 300mm PF. After years of using back-button focus, I switched back to focusing with the shutter button. Not only do I find it more natural, but I'm also getting more shots in focus, including songbirds and birds in flight. I've concluded that back-button focus is overrated. It's hard for me to concentrate on what's in the viewfinder, and on releasing the shutter at the decisive moment, when I'm constantly punching that button. You say that being able to focus and recompose is a unique advantage of back-button focus, but I can do the same in less time using 3D autofocus. I get the focus point on the eye and half-press the shutter. If I need to recompose, the focus point will follow the eye. It takes practice but works better for me than the back button. If anyone hasn't used shutter button focus for awhile, try it again and you may be pleasantly surprised. Initially I shied away from 3D autofocus because Steve Perry didn't seem to be a fan of it. It took me a long time to learn that he was wrong about that.
I didn't say it was a unique advantage, Rob - just simply an advantage. Thanks for checking out the video and sharing your preferred method. 👍
Fair enough, Robert. I enjoy your videos. Thanks!
Appreciate that, cheers. I will try out your method - could be a video!
@@Robert-Bishop Cool!
BACK BUTTON FOCUS: Today's modern DSLR / MIRRORLESS cameras, back button focus is really not necessary.
When back button was useful was at a time when the a.f. points were limited to such a small portion on the viewfinder screen. Like when 9 points were all that was available. Luna,
Today most professional photographers use back buttons for many other options.
I never use back button for focusing
generally, I leave tracking on and Eye Detection off, since most of my Wildlife is moving. On the R7 at least, I've found that Eye Detection isn't as consistent as it is on the R3/R5, so for Birds in flight or rapidly moving animals it's better to be able to quickly get on target and let tracking follow the subject. I get a higher keeper rate this way. For static/perched animals, I usually have time to toggle Eye Detection on and if it is still having difficulty latching onto the eye, I can always turn tracking off.
Today the main advantage of decoupling autofocus from the shutter button is so that the photographer can leave the camera in continuous autofocus, yet still be able to focus and recompose (with the subject off center) when necessary, by simply letting go of the AF-On button on the back of their camera.
Option to eliminate the above unnecessary back button focus:
I have been perfectly capable of locking focus and recomposing through the years. The “magic” simply comes from the AF-Lock button, or in my case, the AF-On button, that is configured to serve as a dedicated AF-Lock button instead.
With normal use of your shutter release button, let's say a subject is stationary all you need do,is press rear button with thumb to disable a.f. Then if it moves just release the rear button to start focus tracking. Easy peasy...very few professional photographers use back button for focusing, just change some settings in the A.F. as following:
Moreover a more important use of a rear button is to have it programmed to One Shot/Ai Servo switch, eye detection on/off,start/stop subject tracking or on Canon to Register Recall Function.
Also possible to program a rear button to a single point a.f. selection or any one of the cluster boxes.
With today's DSLR'S / MIRRORLESS the possibilities are numerous.
My r3 has numerous options for a.f. operational interfaces. Using my eye , rear lcd touch screen, joystick or top and rear dials to select movement of where to start focus.
My r5 and r7 have quite a few options as well.
Besides all that:
Why use two fingers to do what can be accomplished with just one finger.
"Besides all that: Why use two fingers to do what can be accomplished with just one finger." Bingo! Moreover, pressing down on the shutter button, while pressing forward on the back button, can throw off a steady grip on the camera. Down with BBF!
You've missed the entire point...@@robwinklerphoto2189
You can just half-press the shutter button to trigger autofocus, then recompose your shot while holding the button in that state, and then press the shutter button all the way to take the picture. No need to use the back focus button to achieve this.
You could do this if you have the camera set to AF-S focus mode, but not when you have it set to AF-C. In AF-C it would be continually trying to find new focus as you move away from your subject.
AF-C always attempts to refocus when you press the focus button. The release priority setting just means the camera will take a photo regardless of whether it has attained focus or not, but doesn't mean it won't try. So in your example, you'd focus, let go of the button, recompose, but then have to press the shutter/focus button again which would refocus in the wrong spot.
I see! Thank you very much for the explanation. I learned something new about my camera today! 🙂
Cool. Thanks for watching. 😊
This is what I do