Do you Back Button Focus? Let me know here in the comments! 😁👍

I'm new to the Sony environment and this video absolutely blew me away with how to use and interact with the focusing elements in the A7iii. Content was useful, explained well and demonstrated perfectly. Thanks Mike 👍

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 centre) when necessary, by simply letting go of the AF-On button on the back of their camera. 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. Moreover a more important use of a rear button is to have it programmed to One Shot/Ai Servo switch, or on Canon to Register Recall Function. Besides all that: Why use two fingers to do what can be accomplished with just one finger.

I've just configured my a7m3 to these settings, tried them and already got used to them, they are really convenient. Thank you a lot for this such an usefull tutorial! Quick and informative - I so admire your work! Keep going! 👍

That was very interesting, I didn't know you could do that. I just tried it out sitting here on my couch and I genuinely think this is going to boost my low amateur efforts to at least mid amateur. Well done Mike.

It works really well for landscape photography and I use it for that. I have however set up both shutter and back button for wildlife, and have great results with that.

Some great tips here Mike. I'm on the a6000 and so the focussing isn't as good as it is with the newer Sony bodies. I did experiment with BBF for a while but found it didn't work too well for me. For landscapes etc you've usually got the time to set the focus for each shot. For sports/wildlife I've usually got a lens on that has a focus hold button so I'll get focus with the shutter button and then hold the focus hold button. I do have the advantage of relatively big hands so this isn't too much of a stretch.

I have used back-button focusing for a few years now which I find is a great tool to use when focusing. Excellent video Mike, very informative on focusing.

I started with Back Button Focus when I bought my first mirrorless camera (R6markii) at the end of September. It was a bit frustrating to use BBF in some situations because I was not able to compose the photo like I wanted, so I went back to focus only on the shutter button after 1 month. I found it so much easier when I only had one button for focus and capture. It was almost like going back to my old Canon 5D mark ii.

Been a back button focus user since the first time you brought this up ! Loved the video my friend well done !

Great Video Mike! I always get confused on the focus modes for landscape. Thank you!

Thanks for the clear presentation on back button focusing. I also appreciated that you offered ways to use the focus with flexible spot, wide and so forth. Thanks again.

My man. Nice to see the channel growth. Now I’m seeing your videos of you on popular photography sites. As always, great content and no faff

Thanks so much for sharing the best content Mike, its always a joy to watch your videos and learn at the same time 👍🤗🏆

I just found your channel today. You explain the different ideas and tips very well! Can't wait to go through all your videos to keep learning. Well done!

great Video again, as usual :) I use my Smartphone more and more to check the sharpness after I took the image, the Display is bigger and of course much sharper than the Camera Display.

Thank you for the great video on improving focusing methods! I've been using BBF for a couple of years and really like it! On my Canon RP, the A+ mode on the dial takes the focusing back to the normal mode, so someone else using my camera doesn't have to worry about BBF.

I'm not a fan of back button focus. I much prefer to use the flexible spot and the touch screen on AF S. Works for me with a good success rate. I occasionally use DMF! Get to the woods Mike, the bluebells are out, just spent the day at my local woodland, absolutely stunning😀😀

I shoot moving subjects more often than landscapes and don't really experience problems with "focus and recompose" technic using shutter button half-press. So I played with BBF for a bit and returned to classic option, with AF-S as main focus mode. But at the same time I set up back button as "Tracking On+AF On", so it instantly changes mode to AF-C and tracks my subject if I need it to.

First! I needed this so thank you!

I have used BBF from time to time I leave it on most of the time. I have the star custom menu set to switch it no/off so it’s easy to find.

Excited to try this! Thank you!!

i tap the phone screen for focus 😅 nice video 🙂

Thank for the tip on back button focusing, change my setting on my Sony 7R4 find it much better for landscapes

BBF is very nice on Sony a6400. Nice video.

Iv just learnt so much , thank you 🙏🏻

Good timing on this video, Mike. I am trying to decide on a long lens to purchase. I borrowed a 100-400GM lens from a friend this week and have been playing with bird photography. I used to like birds, but they are not my favorite things at the moment. I have loved the lens, but would probably also need to add a 1.4 teleconverter if I wanted to do more of this type of photography. I am giving the lens back tomorrow, so I just rented a 200-600 to see which one I prefer. I also have in my rental cart the Tamron 50-400, which I will try out after I use the 200-600. Anyway, back to focusing, I started using back button focusing years ago after watching one of your videos and have not looked back. I hope all is well, brother. Have a great week.

Thanks!

I changed to back button focussing as my main subjects are sport and wildlife and it was widely recommended. At first I found back button focussing quite awkward, but I persevered as I could see the benefits and now I wouldn’t do anything else.

8:30 I use back button focus all the time. I mostly do it because if I don’t press the AF button, the camera is automatically in manual. Before I did BBF I was always flipping the AF/MF toggle, which I’d often forget and mess up my shot. I don’t know how other systems work - mine is Pentax. It looks cumbersome having to toggle AF/MF even with BBF activated.

BBF is the only way. Changed everything for me.

Thanks👍

Good summation of focusing methods and tips, material often covered on YT. Collection made up of far more than “3 Tips” of title. I use BBF all the time, mostly with AF-C. BBF issue w/Fuji is that touch screen is programmed to match shutter button actions. So, you can’t set the screen to have touch and focus with a tap unless you have shutter button also set to focus and shoot, if that makes sense. AI features like eye/face detect are good until they jump to unintended subjects (face in tree that’s not a face, or face of someone who wandered into the frame.) IMO, we should expect focus misses from time to time, despite our best efforts. Good point about lens performance - some lenses just “hunt” far too much. What, no mention of focus method for astrophotography?😊 BTW, inching closer to 100K subs. Will you post something celebratory when you reach that level? Cheers!

Thank you again 😊🎉

All my cameras are set to back button focus,, except my 35mm film cameras, far faster far better getting the focus when and where you want it,, also good for focusing and reframing depending on what the subject is. It's the business, thanks Mike good video as per , it's good to share knowledge.

Another great video, Mike. Once more I can see the jump in video production and all the effort you are putting in. Don't feel good about you pointing out all my mistakes, though. HAHA. Stay safe and warm out there.

Love when you throw in the motocross bikes. Loved that vintage Yamaha.

I haven't used BBF on my A6600, I am still learning other menu items lol, that said i may at some point set up the BBF function & give it a try with my new lens (Tamron 17-70 f2.8

I never got used to back button focussing. I use front button focussing instead with the remapped front function button under my right middle finger.

Hey Mike Well done video. I tried back button focus several times, especially on older cameras, as you mentioned in the video. However, it never felt right to me, did not fit my style and slowed me down. So I use it in normal mode or switch to manual or use the hold button on my lenses, when I need it.

Good explanation on BBF. I have to laugh when you talk about handing your camera to someone else to take a photo. Anyone who knows me knows not to even think about touching my camera! LOL! That's why God created iPhones!!

BBF is what I used extensively in the DSLR days. Mirrorless: now with Face and Eye Priority and Focus Tracking it’s no longer relevant for me. DSLR: I even took it off from my D850 and D500 in favor of 3D Tracking with Face Priority (yes indeed). Doing so, I have another AF-method available, which is Group AF on AF ON and even D9/single on the multi selector. On the DSLRs I have AF Lock on the Pv button, in case I need it (I rarely do).

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Great tutor Sir

Thank you very much, Mike! I use BBF for quite a while but I must confess I never took DMF in consideration. Maybe because I didn‘t really know how it works. Now I do and I will try it, I think it could help shooting water surfaces i.e. waves, couldn‘t it? Kind regards, Martin

Thanks Mike! I've recently just been turned on to this. Now I am experimenting and finding some difficulties. Currently I am using a 50mm 1.8. When I use the back focus on a non moving object 1 meter away with aperture setting on at 10, the green focus box shifts in and out trying to find a focus point. At 2 meters it does a bit better. I shoot in the ocean of moving waves and water and am concerned how this focus will do when i am out in the sea? Are my settings incorrect for my distance and aperture setting with this lens? Wave photography is very challenging, as every aspect is changing and moving. I want to get really clear, sharp images of the whole frame and am struggling to do so. Appreciate your channel and all your info. Thanks!

Is it really necessary to disable the AF w/Shutter functionality in order to use the BBF? I see no reason given that there's a dedicated AF-ON button on my A7III (that I am new to), So am I missing something? Can't we have it all at once at the same time?

Can you please make a video about the Group f/64 and how to take photos like them? Thank you

I've tried BBF twice before and I could never get used to it, so I switched back. To me, it's just one extra button to press to get my shot. I haven't used it in conjunction with AF continuous yet, so maybe I'll give it one more try. BTW: Try setting your camera to full green AUTO if you need to hand it to someone. On some cameras, that overrides the BBF and reverts to all-points AF using the shutter button.

I'll have to check my Fuji for the back button focus option. I know it can do it as I've used it, though I think I need to keep my button pressed in for it to work. Yours seemed to be an on/off operation when you pressed the button. Camera familiarity is something I need to get on top of 👍🏼😉

If deciding to use back button focus, is it better to customise the button to just be pressed & held, or to be an on/off switch (if pressed it will stay on, until you press it again to turn off)? Im unsure. Im using a fujifilm x-t20.

Thanks for another great video, I will give BBF a try. What's your opinion on focus peaking? I'm not yet sure if it is too distracting (especially combined with zebra), or really helping with focusing.

The advantage of AF C I have found is that is it much nappier that AF-A. Question/thoughts, why not just have a button for focus hold? Still don't get what advantage you have other than your focus not changing and if you have focus hold you already control that when needed.

I’m just starting to use my R6 II (coming from 5D III). The AF situation is reversed: when I want the camera to STOP focusing, I use one-shot AF and hold my AF-ON button. Still not used to it. If you do not use the AF-ON button, the camera may keep trying to focus. Probably not a big deal for landscapes on a tripod when nothing in the frame is moving. If you’re hand-holding or if there’s something moving in the frame, the R6 tries to account for it, even in one-shot.

Sir can we set a single button for both Back button Focusing and activating Eye AF as well?

For landscape shots is good to use autofocus or manual focus ? And what autofocus mode are you using ?

I enjoy watching your videos but gotta disagree this time, Mike! .. i don’t see a reason for AF button these days .. at least for recent cameras and from these examples, I still can do everything you mentioned when using focus with shutter I find faster and easier way to engage shutter and also more dynamic for burst shooting than using 2 buttons .. even for recomposing i see no problem with that just keep holding the shutter and change your FOV, personally I think it’s old school technique that it’s still popular because it’s something many photographer used to it.. even thought I use Sony cameras since 2008 and I did everything from BIF to sport and landscape, One more advantage to using AF with shutter is you get to use one more custom key to recall some settings that I might need in a hurry than using it just for engaging AF.

I don’t want to sound like a Panasonic fanboy, or insinuate that one manufacturer brand is better that another however I have discovered that the concept of BBF is an outdated obsolete concept for my cameras. I’m guessing that the processor inside my camera is powerful enough to easily take responsibility for focusing and taking the shot with the shutter button. I can not comment for all Panasonic cameras but I can safely say that my second-hand aging photo centric G9 and video centric GH6 almost never miss a beat either with still subjects or incredibly fast moving subjects where I only get a second to get the subject in the frame before it’s gone. An example would be a small Wren landing on a branch, seeing me and then zooming off just as I raise my camera to it. Even when panning with fast moving subjects and taking 20-30ish stills a second, the shutter button locks focus throughout while taking shots. I did experiment with BBF but it gave me no noticeable visual improvement. It just meant that I had to use a finger and thumb to focus and take a shot. When I used older generation Nikon DSLR cameras with older sensors and processors then BBF was essential. My mate, who is a pro photographer, has just moved from his very capable and competent Nikon d850 to a Panasonic full-frame S5ii. He no longer uses BBF because there is no need for using it. The powerful processor makes it an outdated and obsolete feature. With Panasonic’s form factor, there is a switch positioned beside the viewfinder that I can flick with my thumb to go between auto focus and manual focus. BBF is still a useful feature, which I have successfully used. It’s just not needed for my choice in cameras any more.

I've been using BBF for about 3 years now.

I recently maybe 2 months go set my A7iii to back button focusing and I’m still getting used to it. I’ve been shooting my son’s football games using that set up. Some of my images come out sharp and some not so sharp and yes the shutter is fast enough for the fast action of a football game. Do I need to hold down the back button focus while pressing the shutter or do I press and release it then fire the shutter? Like I said I’m still getting the hang of it.

I have not tried back-button focus but with the conventional setup tend to hold the half-press position to lock the focus and go back to the half-press position after a shot to keep that focus point for a subsequent shot if needed. I only go to full release and repress to the half-press point when I want a new focus point. Not sure what BBF would give me that this technique doesn't. What about the hurried shot where you only have time to hammer the shutter fully down? Doesn't BBF just make this a sure miss?

Hello, I have an A7iii and have just bought a 100-400 GM lens. When I video aircraft and use the telephoto , it looses focus for a split second as I zoom in or out. Is there a setting to keep focused all the time? Hope you can take a few minutes to reply. Thanks Mike.

hi, I watched the video and did not understand what is the difference between AF-ON and FOCUS HOLD BUTTON

If you need to focus on a moving target why not just use the autofocus continuous? If you want to focus somewhere specific in a static shot why not just use Flexible Spot area? It's even easier than with the back button focus. With the back button focus you have to target an area you want to focus on, press the back button, then recomposition. It's much easier to just use the joystick and select the spot on the screen you want to focus on.

I wanted to change to back button focus on my A6400, but realised it does not lock the exposure settings, which makes it a little difficult in my case in Aperture mode to use it.

Hey, Mike quick question. if you can answer this it would be great. When I put my SD in my computer and load the picture up it loses its quality. Do you know why

Does BBF work with 3rd party (all manual) Lens?

My camera doesn't do any of that stuff

Menu 43 of 53 🤪🤪 I’ll stick to Canon.

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