changing AF button?

I read in popular photography that some people like to change/set a diffrent button to AF. this sounds like something i would like to do. but i dont know if my camera is capable of doing it and if so how. i have a t2i. anyone know? thanks for the help in advance

Yes, you can change it so the AE lock button (has a * symbol) will engage AF, and the shutter button meters and actuates the shutter, but doesn't engage AF. It's in the custom functions menu, I'm not sure which exactly. It's commonly referred to as "back button focusing" which is popular among many

Edit - It's C.Fn 9, option 1 - good luck!

thanks a bunch greatly appreciate it

Once you get used to it, it is a great way to go. I'd recommend doing it. FWIW.

You can read more about Back Button Focusing here.

Do not use Option 1 though. That makes your camera do AE Lock every time you half-press the shutter release, which is going to cause some bad exposures in certain situations. You would be better using Option 3, which leaves AE Unlocked.

Doing this you lose the AE Lock feature, but that's okay. In situations where you would want to use AE Lock, just make a mental note of the exposure settings and switch the camera to M, set the shutter and aperture.