Do you use Back Button Auto Focus on your DSLR?

[scorpio_e]

Lets say you have trouble locking in focus. The camera finally finds it. Halfway press set up, you start the hunt all over again.

I find it GREAT but it is one more button to press. If you use the back button,you can not just hand the camera to someone to take picture.

[snakeman55]

I'm right handed and left eyed. So I always ended up with my thumb dug into my face and couldn't do it.

[AbPho]

I sometimes use two back buttons to focus with. Each one assigned to a different manually selected focus point. Typically, one on the left, and another on the right of the frame. Eg: wild life, depending on what way the subject is facing.

Doesn't add any extra effort to taking a picture.

I found it cuts down on how much the camera hunts for focus between shutter depresses. This will depend on the situation of course, and the pace of the action.

Handing the camera over to someone does cause problems. But BBF would not be the only thing to consider. I mostly shot full manual with manually selected auto focus points. That's enough to screw anyone up. If I need to hand the camera over I put the camera into full auto. There is a much better chance a good picture will be taken by someone that does not know how to operate a Canon 7D fluently.

[nicksan]

Back button focus all the way. You just have finer control over focusing. I switched over years ago. Once you get used to it, you don't even think about it.

[SOK]

Tried it. Don't rate it personally.

[highway0691]

Just found out where it is and what its for. There's a few others as well that I wouldn't have a clue about. I can see how one could get used to it, will give it a try at my next wedding.

[S.n.a.f.u.]

Originally Posted by highway0691

Just found out where it is and what its for. There's a few others as well that I wouldn't have a clue about. I can see how one could get used to it, will give it a try at my next wedding.

id recommend trying it out before your next wedding so you aren't fighting muscle memory and missing shots or fumbling to remember where the focus is lol

[Christina]

Originally Posted by snakeman55

I'm right handed and left eyed. So I always ended up with my thumb dug into my face and couldn't do it.

I'm also right handed and left eyed... but, I have really small hands. Small enough that I use the * button - I think many others use the AF-ON button? The * is more comfortable for me.

It does take some getting used to, and I definitely wouldn't make the switch in a high pressure situation!

And I certainly would never say that this is the only way or the right way or those that don't do it are inferior. There's no one perfect solution for everyone!

[emelvee]

I totally do! I didn't really understand what it did or what the purpose was at first, but now that I've learned how to do it and have used it, I could never turn back. It took next to no time adjusting to it, too. Even though I love the autofocus on my 7D, sometimes even though it would look like it was focused when I pressed the shutter halfway, it still wouldn't take the picture. In what I do, I can't afford to miss moments ... so I use the * button to focus and it's worked very well for me. It's also nice to be able to manually focus if I want without having to use the switch on the lens.

[picturecrazy]

I use back button, and I'm another right hand left eye shooter.

Back button just gives you a better degree of control. It makes sense to separate focus and shutter release because they are two independent operations. There are times when you want to lock in your exposure but not focus. There are times when you want to take a picture but not focus. This is impossible without back button focus, unless you flip the AF/MF switch on the lens for each shot.

If things are moving fast, it is important to watch the focus confirmation to tell you exactly when it's ready to press the shutter release. With enough practice, watching the focus confirmation is second nature and you'll be able to shoot just as fast as a half-press operation. In fact, in most cases, back button focusing will speed up your ability to get the shot at the right time.

I wouldn't dismiss the back button because of one or two areas where it's more difficult to use, because there are so many more advantages. With enough practice, there really are no situations where single button is actually better.

If you really aren't gonna perfect your BBF technique, you can save a custom setting in one of your C1/C2/C3 banks that will let you revert back to single button for those odd instances. Set your camera to something very generic like Program mode ISO800 with BBF disabled and save it into C1. When you're in a crunch and want to revert back, just spin your dial to C1 and you're good. Then switch back to your regular mode when you're done.

[jkim05]

Once I started using it, I can't imagine shooting without it. The biggest benefit for me is in shooting servo, without it you can't focus/recompose at all when on servo mode.

[facedodge]

I find it easier to use the AF-On button as a focus lock button. This way, I only need one finger to shoot continuously and if I want to recompose I hold the AE-On button to lock focus. I have also gotten the hang of holding the AE-Lock button at the same time. Works Great.

[Drewlim]

I use the bbf. For reason stated above. What im trying to get a better hang of is after focusing, i hope to be able to use manual focus as the subjects move forward or backwards. Havent gotten the hang of it yet though. So more things to practice for me. Hehe

[Peacefield]

I'm a shoot-and-recomposer. It makes sense for me if I'm doing portraits and need to bang out 3 or 4 exposures of the same thing; no need to recompose each and every one.

[umphotography]

Ive tried it. Tried to make myself do it. but for some reason, i always go back to the button. I have my cameras set for BB. But i keep going back old school. Go figure. I like the beep and i like my finger on the trigger

I guess what i dont get is even with BB, you still have to hit the shutter. So for my simple mind, BB was an extra step. If BB would lock and fire the shutter maybe for me.