Back focus advantage 60D

Hello again,

I have a 60D. I have heard of the back focus feature but wonder what are the advantages of using it on a 60D? Is there a downside too?

Your thoughts would be appreciated.

Why use back button focus <<< link

Back-Button Auto Focus Explained at http://www.learn.usa.c​anon.com …ckbutton_af_art​icle.shtml

Then go to http://www.learn.usa.c​anon.com …s/eos_60d_tutor​ials.shtml and you will find a series of on-screen tutorials by Canon and specific to the 60D. The link will take you to the main page and you will have to scroll along the topics at the bottom to find the "Back Button AF" topic. Other topics will likely be of interest since you have a 60D.

You can also download all these tutorial and stick them on an 8 GB memory card (minimum) for replay right from within the camera. Sometimes helpful to have these for review.

The advantages are the same regardless of what model camera you use. Thats the ability to split the exposure lock and the focus lock into separate actions/buttons rather than have them both happen together when you half-press the shutter button. So you can expose for one area of your scene and focus on another.

It is going to depend I think on what your shooting and what modes you shooting with.

I shoot alot in Manual - and for the times I do shoot in Tv/Av having seperate functions to focus and meter are an advantage especially in some changing lighting.

I have been scouring the threads on this subject for over a month now - and I haven't seem to find a definitive answer to one question:

If you are using a back button for AF start -are you supposed to let go of the button before taking the shot -no matter what you are shooting? If you never release the back button -does the focus completely lock?

My experience with this back button setting has been tracking/ taking pictures in AI Servo of fast moving objects such as race cars/ motorcycles coming towards you. Holding the back button down the entire time while taking the shot once your ready, The shots -to me do not appear as in focus as using the half press shutter also for focusing ( or the factory setting CFnIV -0)

And there's the option of setting one of the buttons to lock focus as opposed to start focus.

There are a ton of threads in here on this subject. There are a ton of people swearing
by it. I am not convinced it is better in my particular situation as a "set it and forget it" setting. My .02

I use back button focus on my 30D and leave it on AI Servo all the time. I find it focuses just as fast and accurate as using the shutter button. Works great for tracking moving subjects as well as still shots. In my case, I see no disadvantages to using it.

i use back button focus on my 60d all the time.
I have literally thousands of bird photos that are sharp and beautiful.
check the bird section or search my username to check some out.

im not sure if it is better or worse at focusing than the shutter button but I know its easier to focus and recompose quickly using the back button method which helps in composition.

EricTolton wrote in post #14343947
It is going to depend I think on what your shooting and what modes you shooting with.

I shoot alot in Manual - and for the times I do shoot in Tv/Av having seperate functions to focus and meter are an advantage especially in some changing lighting.

I have been scouring the threads on this subject for over a month now - and I haven't seem to find a definitive answer to one question:

If you are using a back button for AF start -are you supposed to let go of the button before taking the shot -no matter what you are shooting? If you never release the back button -does the focus completely lock?

My experience with this back button setting has been tracking/ taking pictures in AI Servo of fast moving objects such as race cars/ motorcycles coming towards you. Holding the back button down the entire time while taking the shot once your ready, The shots -to me do not appear as in focus as using the half press shutter also for focusing ( or the factory setting CFnIV -0)

And there's the option of setting one of the buttons to lock focus as opposed to start focus.

There are a ton of threads in here on this subject. There are a ton of people swearing
by it. I am not convinced it is better in my particular situation as a "set it and forget it" setting. My .02

check out this post. https://photography-on-the.net …+back+button+fo​cus&page=4

I think it explains what you are asking.

Granted, the newer models with the AF-On button present different options but this is how it worked with the 5D and 400D I have. And I think for the most part this advice is still valid.