Finally, Back Button Focusing

I'm also a relatively recent BBF convert. Mainly for the facility of being able to focus/recompose without changing out of AF-C focus mode.

Regarding the Nikon AF-ON/VR relationship, since I didn't use it before I can't speak to how the old bodies worked. I currently own D4, D800E, D7100 and all three activate VR when the AF-ON is pressed. But I would prefer VR only activated with half push on the shutter. My reasoning being that I frequently watch/track a critter for quite a while before taking a shot or in between shots. While tracking it is often necessary to refocus multiple times but no need to activate VR until ready to make a capture. So it is wasted battery power and unecessary wear and tear on the lens to activate VR until ready to shoot. If anyone figures out a way to dissable VR with AF-ON, speak up.

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Originally Posted by NorthernFocus

If anyone figures out a way to dissable VR with AF-ON, speak up.

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Replace your D7100 with a D7000, as the earlier model's AF-ON button will not activate the VR. :D

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Originally Posted by Mike Buckley

Replace your D7100 with a D7000, as the earlier model's AF-ON button will not activate the VR. :D

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Doh :confused:

Or do the obvious and use manual focus when just looking I guess. I've become a slave to technology :(

I was interested to read this thread and it seems that even on my humble Canon G2 there is an option to do a form of back button. Looking in the manual you focus on an object at a similar distance, press the shutter button half-way down, then press an MF button this then locks the focus. You can then re-compose and take images with that focus set until you press the MF button again. This could be very helpful when doing sports type shots. It is an area that I have found frustrating in having to keep on pressing the shutter half-way down to re-focus every time I was taking a shot. This might be a solution. Thanks Richard for starting the subject off and setting me off on a bit of research to see if it could work for me!

Cheers for now

Gary

I tried the back button focusing a few weeks ago with my Canon 5D MkIII, without much success - lots of out of focus shots. Then I had a devil of a job trying to figure out which custom function I had to re-set to get back to the default focusing system. After all that I noticed a button labelled AF-ON on the back panel. All the manual says is it exercises the same function as pushing the shutter button half way. Does it lock the focus or does the camera re-focus when you press the shutter button? There are no answers to this question in the manual. If it doesn't lock the focus then what is the point of this button. Do you have to hold it pressed in while you re-compose and press the shutter? If so, it is definitely a matter of chewing gum and walking at the same time, as mentioned above, and I am obviously a typical male who cannot multi-task. Does anyone have any idea what the purpose of this button might be.

Grant

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Originally Posted by mastamak

...Does anyone have any idea what the purpose of this button might be.

Grant

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It's just another way to accomplish the same thing. Typically used by people who prefer continuous focus but have the occasional need to focus and recompose before the shot. If it is to be used, first, one has to go into custom settings and turn off focusing when the shutter button is depressed. Then the idea is that when continuous focus is needed, you hold the button down. When single focus mode would be more appropriate, you can accomplish the same thing without changing modes by focusing, taking your finger off the button, then recomposing and taking the shot.

It does take a bit of time and a few missed shots to retrain one's eye/hand coordination. At least for the average guy like me (let's see if using that word pisses everybody off in this thread like it did in the other one).

I've heard there are several possible button reconfigurations that will permit back button focusing in my Sony A77 and A99, but of course the topic is not addressed in he user's manual.
Any help out there?
Dave

I've set up Back Button Focusing on my D7100 as a result of reading the initial posts on this thread and I have not looked back. It is ideal for insect photography in just the same way as BIF. I found several U Tube videos showing me how to do it - but I then read the manual. The videos were helpful in understanding the principles and helped me understand what the manual was talking about. The language in the D7100 manual is not instantly clear in that several functions need to be addressed. i.e. changing the operation of the shutter button, selecting a custom function for the "back button" (whichever it is) and selecting an appropriate focus mode. You will probably find videos covering the Sony in the same way.

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Originally Posted by NorthernFocus

It does take a bit of time and a few missed shots to retrain one's eye/hand coordination.

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My worst failing is picking the camera up after a spell not shooting, using the half press of shutter button, which starts the VR and just assuming it has also focused, start shooting. Completely forgetting AF-ON is enabled, then wondering why the first few shots are all soft as heck :rolleyes:

I am now shooting with AF-ON permanently, to see if this aids my muscle memory.

Repeat after me; fore finger exposes, third finger focuses (I use the Fn button, not the rear one)

After reading Hammer etc I am glad my camera doesn't have back button focusing ... at least I have not found it yet.