Backbutton Focus..do you use it? Pros? Cons? How hard to get used to it?

[dswtan]

Serious hobbyist. Set to BBF a couple of years ago on 7D, then 5D2 and 3, and quickly came to like it.

But I also refined it further for me personally -- by swapping the AE lock (asterisk) and adjacent AF-ON buttons, since AE lock was bigger and more convenient to the right (and I seldom use AE lock, whereas the focus button was now used all the time).

Recently I've gone back to the default shutter combined mode for really fast moving things like flying insects and fast BIF, seeing if the advanced AF on my 5D3 would get more keepers that way. I'm not sure now. I think I'll be going BBF all the way at this point. The greater control is really nice and easy to use.

 

[sanj]

Cant imagine life without back focus button.

 

[Wilmark]

Got use to it in two days. Dont want anything else.

 

[pj1974]

"Back in the good ol' days" I programmed my 350D to use the * (AE lock) button as a BBF.

Then, how glad I was when I moved up to my 7D, as it has a dedicated BBF button. (And it's in the right spot for me).

It also only took me a few hours of shooting to become totally comfortable with BBF instead of shutter button. I use my personalised and 'Quick menu' settings to set the shutter button back to AF for when I give my DSLR to friends to use / shoot a photo of me with.

Definitely prefer BBF for any situation now. Landscape (no need for lens to refocus when I've nailed the focus and are changing composition, etc). Same with so many other applications, eg macro, wildlife (including BIF), still life, etc, etc.

Paul

 

[Skirball]

I just wish that Canon's wired remotes supported the function!

What do wired and wireless remotes do, revert to setting the focus with the shutter?

 

[ahab1372]

I just wish that Canon's wired remotes supported the function!

What do wired and wireless remotes do, revert to setting the focus with the shutter?

You actually have to set the Shutter button back to AF and AE if you want the remote to trigger the autofocus. Otherwise the camera will take a picture without focusing

 

[cheeseheadsaint]

I always use backbutton focus and am very glad I read about it not long after I first got my XSi(so i think its easy to get used to). like many of the others i used it with AF servo. I shot birds in flight, sports, portraits. Funny thing is, I actually didn't know that you needed to tap it for one shot. I've always held it down -didn't realize you could do otherwise! good thing since i mostly shoot action.

 

[cayenne]

Well,I'm gonna read up on it...and maybe give it a try this weekend.

Nothing like 'jumping into the fire' to get to try to learn how to do new things, eh?



cayenne

 

[Sporgon]

Personally I can't see why anyone who isn't using their slr as a point and shoot wouldn't want to use BBF. That method of focus plus improved AF in recent cameras and the all important AFMA has pretty well stopped me using manual focus now, which means I don't need as many L versions with their far superior manual focus.

 

[Kernuak]

It does take a little while to retrain, but I think it's worth it. There are some additional benefits aside from those already mentioned. It saves the step of switching between MF and AF mode on lenses for certain shooting when you want to manually focus. Also, if you have a subject which moves quite quickly in one spot, then it is invaluable. An example froma few years ago, before my swithover, was when an adult starling was feeding a recently fledged youngster. Every time the feed happened, using normal AF, the camera immediately focused on the grass behind, which was a bit of a pain to say the least.
It isn't so much a case of switching back button focus on, but more of switching the normal AF off, as the default is to be able to focus from the back button or the shutter, instead of just the back button.

OH, I thought it was just one menu setting to change all AF to the back button.

I'll have to dig out the manual and try to read up on this....I'll give it a try this weekend I think!!

C

It is only one menu setting, but it is switching off the shutter release AF. The back button AF is already set, it's just that you normally have two methods by default, back button AND shutter release. You know you;re in the right place when you have the diagram of a camera, under Custom Controls.

 

[Gary W.]

...I bought one of those RED Spot buttons that people put on their shutter button. Punched out the center part and put it on the BBF " * " button and the left over part on the shutter button...so now, by feel alone, I always know the difference between the AF and AE buttons... And the only time I gave my camera to someone else to take a picture all I told them to do is to "hit the little Red button first and the big Red button second"

Hey all,

What red spot button? Sounds interesting!

Gary W.

 

[bigmag13]

I shoot weddings and events. One of my favs about back focus is that it meters when you snap and tracks your subject. As far as handing my cam over to a person, I just put it in P or AUTO.

 

[Zv]

I've recently started using it. Takes a little getting used to at first but once you do it makes life easier. Great if you like to focus and then recompose. Also if your taking pictures of something with let's say people moving in front of you bbf will allow you to lock focus and then take the shot the decisive moment. It's hard to explain you just have to try it!

I dunno if there are any real drawbacks but there are some situations where the old method is preferable - maybe when there are no moving subjects or obstructions and you just want to point and shoot.

 

[FunPhotons]

I use it. I like separating out focus and shoot, not sure why. Throws off others when they pick up my camera though

 

[Krob78]

I only use it when I'm taking photos... I used it on my 7d and it was the first thing I set up on my 5d MkIII... I haven't found any other use for it if I'm not taking photos... :

Enjoy using it this weekend, like most of us here, you'll probably never go back!

 

[LetTheRightLensIn]

I don't like it at all. So no.

I may set the button to FREEZE AF and occasionally use that. I like the super tele where you can use the freeze buttons around the lens rim a lot more though.

 

[verysimplejason]

I love BBF. I used it and never turned back. Focus-and-click is much faster this way and apart from that, I can pre-focus then just click. This is also very good for panning and macro. It doesn't take much time to get used to it. After a couple of hundred shots, I'm more used to it now than the old focusing process.

 

[Hillsilly]

Hey all,

What red spot button? Sounds interesting!

Gary W.

I think they are referring to a soft shutter release button. They're not that common with Canon, as our cameras lack a threaded shutter release button for ye olde manual shutter cables. But as mentioned, you can DIY.

 

[Valvebounce]

Hi Guys
I switched over about 2 weeks ago, the day before my 17-85 iris ribbon failed! Lens fixed in 3 days once I decided to go ahead!
Only been back to taking pics for a couple of days and not had much opportunity to use it.
How long does it take before checking the first pic reminds you to focus! I have the camera set to one shot so I get a beep and the missing beep is the trigger to focus.
In theory (and in what little practice) I like it but I have not shot enough to tell if I will adapt, as an amateur I don't shoot regularly so I may not re-programme my brain soon enough to prevent missed shots, I do try to pick up the camera regularly to keep it current.

Cheers Graham.

 

[caruser]

BBF rules!