Most photographers are aware of back-button focus, yet not everyone comprehends how to utilize it to its maximum potential. I have been producing photography guides and interacting with camera fans for many years, and while many individuals assert to appreciate or despise back-button focus, I have observed a significant amount of bewilderment regarding why it provides such a considerable benefit compared to the conventional shutter button technique for activating autofocus.
You know what? I suspect the photography media is at fault. Far too frequently, I’ve referenced back-button focus in instructional articles without properly outlining the nuances of it. I should know better. When I initially began to experiment with back-button focus, I found it unappealing because I didn’t grasp why I was employing it and even ended up using it incorrectly!
Therefore, if you’re unaware of the benefits of back-button focus or have attempted it previously but dismissed it quickly, keep reading. I hope to assist you in viewing it in a completely different light.
If you do not know how to activate back-button focus, I have also created a tutorial for that.
Digital Camera World’s How To Editor has been enlightening individuals on photography for years and previously served as Deputy Editor of N-Photo: The Nikon Magazine. Mike transitioned to using back-button focus years ago and is now so accustomed to it that he can’t envision reverting to the shutter button!
What is back-button focus?
Back-button focus is exceptionally straightforward. Normally, a camera’s autofocus is activated by a half-press of the shutter button. Back-button focus reallocates this action from the shutter button to a back button. This is typically the AF-ON button, but cameras that lack this button may utilize an alternate button. For instance, the Nikon D3500 does not include an AF-ON button but permits you to assign back-button focus to the AE-L/AF-L button as an alternative.
The advantages of back-button focus
- Eliminates refocusing / hunting
- Quickly alternate to manual focus
- Concurrent AF-C and AF-S
- The focus and recompose approach becomes simpler
By transferring AF responsibility away from the shutter button, it only performs one function: releasing the shutter. This allows you to trigger the shutter without ever activating AF, which has numerous advantages. Perhaps you’ve found yourself anxiously pressing the shutter button without it firing because it’s hunting (reacquiring focus).
Or maybe you invested a lot of time setting up a robust neutral density filter, overlooked switching to manual focus, pressed the shutter button, and realized your camera had refocused or began hunting. Consequently, you would have to remove the filter and refocus from scratch. Such occurrences would never transpire when employing back-button focus.
focus because pressing the shutter button will never activate AF; it solely releases the shutter.
This implies you can seamlessly transition to manual focus without the need to inform the camera. As long as you don’t activate AF by pressing the back button, you can comfortably achieve focus manually and then press the shutter button without any concerns about triggering AF.
Here’s the aspect I believe many photographers overlook. Back-button focus enables you to alternate between AF-C (continuous AF) and AF-S (single AF) at your discretion. Conventionally, you would use AF-S to secure focus by half-pressing the shutter button and would not reacquire focus until you half-press the shutter button once more. This necessitates that you keep the button half-pressed with your finger if you wish to avoid refocusing.
When utilizing back-button focus, provided you consistently maintain your camera set to AF-C, you can emulate AF-S simply by releasing the back button and refraining from touching it. This secures focus. As long as you refrain from pressing the back button again, the camera will not try to reacquire focus, since the shutter button will merely release the shutter.
This is extremely beneficial when employing one of my preferred focusing techniques: the focus-and-recompose method. In this technique, you keep a single focus point centered, focus on your focal point, and then – without altering the camera’s distance from the subject – recompose. When done effectively, the focal point is preserved, while you can take your time perfecting your composition. This approach is particularly advantageous if you possess one of the top DSLRs, as the center focus point of a DSLR is the most precise.
The drawbacks of back-button focus
The primary drawback of back-button focus is the adjustment period. I’ve met numerous photographers who share that they’ve attempted it, didn’t resonate with it, and quickly reverted to the traditional method of activating AF. While it’s vital to stick with what feels most natural for you – several exceptionally successful photographers steer clear of back-button focus – I believe it merits a solid attempt before you decide to give up.
It’s important to understand that muscle memory will initially work against you. However, I assure you that once back-button focus finally clicks, the opposite will occur. I’ve utilized back-button focus for such an extended period that if I’m handed someone else’s camera to snap an impromptu photo, I’ll instinctively press the back button multiple times and wonder why it’s not focusing.
Why you might be misusing back-button focus…
So, I cheerfully focused using the back button and refocused again upon pressing the shutter button. This may appear absurd to many photographers, but without proper explanation, this is an easy error to make. Thus, always ensure that the AF activation of the shutter button is turned off when employing back-button focus. Otherwise, the entire process becomes redundant!
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