Back Button Focus is GREAT

Back Button Focus is GREAT
In this video I'm going to explain how to use back button focus on Lumix cameras and why it may be good for you.
My name is Matti Sulanto, I'm a photographer and a Lumix ambassador based in Helsinki Finland. I'll publish a new video twice a week.
Subscribe also to my monthly newsletter and get a free preset and camera profile that you can use with LR or PS (ACR). Of course you'll also get my best picks of the latest in the camera and photography world. sulanto.fi/newsletter/
I make my content using Panasonic Lumix cameras and lenses. Some of the equipment I use is my own and some is on loan from Panasonic.
My Instagram: / sulantoblog
My website: sulanto.fi

[@robinwong]

I will make a video soon. "5 Reasons Why You Should Not Use Back Button Focus".

[@mattisulanto]

You are such a rebel, can't wait to see your video😀

[@peterlemke3468]

We dare you Robin. You're saying that from the safety of KL l notice not from Helsinki lol.

[@aengusmacnaughton1375]

Robin vs. Matti! The epic photo-technique battle royale! :-)

[@pasadenapsych44]

@@mattisulanto I think it might be a little trickier on my Olympus camera, but I guess Robin won't be helping me out on this one! :)

[@AnandaSim]

@@pasadenapsych44 sites.google.com/site/olycameras/af-mf#TOC-More-Reading The links at the bottom of my info webpage

[@SKLAD_UMA_18]

Absolutely agree! I use it for years!

[@CamillaI]

Started BBF a couple of years ago never looked back

[@joec.1030]

Thank You. This is the best explanation of BBF I’ve come across! 📷✌🏻

[@mattisulanto]

Thanks! I hope this is not the only explanation you've seen😅

[@davebellamy4867]

Robin Wong sent me here - even though he doesn't use BBF!

[@mattisulanto]

Robin is a dear friend. Thanks for dropping by.

[@claudioporcellana1216]

I think there is another reason to use the back-focus: the shutter button in G9 is too much sensitive to me, and it often happens I push the shutter in the wrong moment; with back-focus I feel I have more control

[@yogi_perfect]

Hey Matti, thanks for the clear explanation! Your tone and accent are fantastic. Subscribed to your channel and newsletter 👍

[@pbziegler]

Back button focus is a way to do pre focus for street photography. Use focus locking to the distance you want to be focused. Make sure you have an aperture that gives you good depth of field. Now when you lock your focus at whatever distance you want to set. This gets around the fact that manual focusing on the GX85 is not really usable with auto focus lenses.

[@hoggif]

That' a great tip. AF lock with HOLD on combo really seems nice. I've tried similar features on other but there has been no lock or back focus has disabled shutter focusing when you need a focus with shutter button in case it is not locked. My GH5 does not seem to focus on back button when on manual focus mode though. That is a real pity, as I take a lot of video I'm almost always in manual focus mode. For occational photos that feature would have been great. Without a hint I'd not have tried that out. After few years of use I tend to not test items in menus I've already forgotten about. Perhaps I should every now and then.

[@johnbeavin9170]

On my Panasonic G2, I focus normally on a perch where I know a bird is coming. I have previously set my AF AE set to AF AE and also set it to hold. (found in the custom menu) Having Focussed on the perch I press the AF AE button which locks both focus and exposure (Shows on screen) I can now take as many shots as I like until I press the Af AE button again. Hard to explain, but easy to do.

[@borderlands6606]

Worth noting that when the lens is switched to manual mode, the AF ON button still functions for autofocus. This is the case whether the camera is set to MF or S. You can focus manually and snap to AF when needed.

[@MarkoKoskenoja]

Thanks for posting this excellent instructional post Matti. I had no idea about those features and functionality - I will try them out. Please consider going through the rest of the G9's buttons and features in future posts. I realized I learn much better from videos like yours than wading through written manuals.

[@mattisulanto]

Thanks! I'll keep that in mind when I plan my future videos.

[@AverageatMostThings]

I’ve been looking for this explanation for the last month since I bought my LUMIX G9!!! This was great!!

[@mattisulanto]

Glad it was helpful!

[@HviteVinger]

Thank you for this great explanation. Really like your channel 👍

[@mattisulanto]

Thanks!

[@OliBaitsMedia]

I’ll definitely be doing this 👍🏼

[@letni9506]

Had my Gx9 three months and didn't think about using it. Although I had heard of back button focus. But now I understand the benefit so will hopefully try it out this week if the rain stops.

[@mattisulanto]

Thanks for watching and I hope the BB focus will works for you. I'm sure the rain will eventually stop😀

[@kurts_aviation]

great review I use back button focus it is fantastic for wildlife and aviation photography, it is the first thing I set up when i purchase a new camera

[@mattisulanto]

Thanks!

[@ytr8989]

I started using back button and find it to be very useful. Mine is set to use the back button to focus and the shutter button does what it supposed to do, release the shutter. Once the focus is set with the AF button, I’m set to take picture. Easy, fun way to get sharper images. It’s also fun to use in tracking your subject, by holding in the back button and the camera does a great job following your subject - never missing a shot.

[@mattisulanto]

Thanks for commenting.

[@mikesabran]

I have been using BBF for years and I think it is great. The only thing you have to remember is that if you hand your camera to someone else that is not into photography, maybe to take a pic. of you, you have to remember to change it back to focus the other way. That is my two cents. I liked your video, keep them coming.............Mike

[@mattisulanto]

Thanks! That is a valid point and I've been there.

[@tordandreasson]

When shooting subjects in motion such as birds in flight I use the AF/AE lock to lock the exposure, not the focus. The rationale behind follows. First of all anticipate where the action will take place, at what angle you will be shooting for best results and then lock the exposure with the camera pointing in that direction. Then locate the subject, frame it and with a half-press engage the C-AF on the subject. Then start shooting as the subject is about to enter the area where you plan to get the shots. This helps a lot in achieving correct exposure, as an alternative to using manual exposure, or assessing how much exposure compensation will be needed as the background brilliance may be very different over the course of tracking.

[@mattisulanto]

Thanks! What you say makes sense.

[@lvca.avellino]

I have been using the gh5 only for making videos for many years. Now I also use it for photography and as I do with other Olympus cameras I set the back button for AF-ON. However, in semi-automatic modes A and S, even if I block the exposure with a half click of the shutter button, the monitor does not block it visually (the photo comes out exposed as per block). In manual mode yes, but with preview button.

[@mattisulanto]

I'm not quite sure what you mean, but since I'm no longer a Lumix ambassador and I only use the GX880 and GX9, I don't think I can help you. If you need some help, that is.

[@zayacz123]

I like it for hand held landscapes. I can lock the focus and only have to worry about the exposure. Point the camera more toward the sky or more toward the ground depending on the exposure you like, lock it in with a half press of the shutter, recompose and take the picture. It’s very fast.

[@mattisulanto]

Thanks for sharing.

[@hermannschmidt9788]

The AF Lock Hold is my favorite. Out of convenience I still like to have the shutter button trigger the AF in most cases. Just when I need more control, I use the lock. Especially with very long lenses, the AF wanders off sometimes. Sadly, this setup has no effect in manual mode.

[@mattisulanto]

Thanks for your comment.

[@marklaurendet1861]

Just watched robins video as well, good to see the two points of view

[@mattisulanto]

Robin is always worth watching😀

[@maryedwards3583]

Hi Matti. Good video. I've been using BBF for some time and love the separation from the shutter. But I have lost the ability to lock exposure. I've often wondered if it's possible to actually lock exposure in some other way, other than half pressing shutter?

[@mattisulanto]

Yeah, it's a minor downside that you can't assign the AE and AF lock to separate buttons. You can of course use manual exposure, but it's not exactly the same as AE lock.

[@adrianwhareham8921]

Back Button Focus works for me , I also set the button to half press release which I think cuts down possible camera shake from over pressing the button .

[@mattisulanto]

Thanks for sharing.

[@lichtloper]

I'm a left-eye photographer; and I wear specs. I find that for me it's physically impossible to fiddle with buttons that are placed near the right eye-glass of my specs. This is also the reason why I don't use touch screen; my nose will activate focus function when I use the EVF; touch screen functionality simply is useless for me. [I wish touch screen function could be switched off for whenever I use the EVF, but I have yet to find such an option in the camera's menu.] PeterK (NL)

[@mattisulanto]

Unfortunately all modern cameras are made for right eyed and right handed.

[@melaniechenier1969]

I did not know about the BBF. Thanks, I just tried and it look interesting. I will practice for a while to get used to it. On question : You did not mention the AFC. Pierre Chénier Québec, Canada.

[@mattisulanto]

What about the AFC? It works normally when you press the button.

[@henrikw377]

Great video, thanks! Just got a GX9, my first real camera, so much to learn. When would you use both AE and AF lock, and not just AF lock?

[@mattisulanto]

Thank you. Your question is not a simple one, because it depends on your style to use your camera. The fundamental difference is, that if you use both AEL and AFL, you lock both at the same time and if you only use either AFL or AEL, you only lock one. So, if you want to control both individually, you lock only one, but if you want to control both together, you lock both.

[@henrikw377]

@@mattisulanto Thanks for replying so quickly. I realized as soon as I sent it that I knew the answer - "it depends" :) For me I think it's mostly about understanding and getting comfortable with when to manually "modify" exposure. Focusing with autofocus is the easy part :)

[@rayjenkins2754]

I have a slightly different way for my BBF. With my FZ2500 I have reassigned a top function button - which is next / close to the shutter - as my Focus. I've made a nylon loop ( 2 in. ) & it also has the plastic clip for a neck strap - which I've then attached to the metal grommet of the camera. I put my 2 middle fingers through this loop. The back of these fingers now add support at holding the camera while at the same time freeing up my 1st & 2nd fingers. I use my 1st finger to press my focus button ( on top ) & then fallow with my 2nd finger & press the shutter. My thumb & the other 2 fingers solidly hold / grip onto the camera. Try taking your 1st & 2nd fingers & alternately move them up & down - like a trumpet player. I find this more natural than pushing with the thumb ( on the cameras back ) & then the index finger on the shutters top button. I've enjoyed your videos.

[@mattisulanto]

Thanks for your detailed comment.

[@rayjenkins2754]

@@mattisulanto Hope to have my own channel someday so I'm practicing here !

[@mattisulanto]

@@rayjenkins2754 You have to start your channel, because no one else will😀

[@rayjenkins2754]

@@mattisulanto Touche !

[@Mixxwizard]

Nice explanation Sulantoblog, Which one of the methods out of the 3 of them do you find to be the most effective one?

[@mattisulanto]

Thanks! When I press the back button, that activates the AF and shutter only takes the photo.

[@Mixxwizard]

Ok cool, thanks for the reply back.

[@shoaibakramchaudhary]

Mr. SULANTO when are you coming to Stockholm.. I am huge fan of your videos and learn a lot from you about mft and photography.

[@mattisulanto]

Thanks! I was there briefly about two months ago, but I'm not sure about the next time.

[@shoaibakramchaudhary]

@@mattisulanto it's such a pity that you were here and I didn't even know that. Boss next time you are here please let me know and spare at least an hour of your precious time for some Fika.

[@aengusmacnaughton1375]

Thanks Matti -- I knew what back-button focus was, but got confused by the many different "AF ON/OFF" options in the menus of my G85 camera (still stuck in those 35mm methods of the 1960s/1970s cameras!) -- the AF-lock option -- to use the AE Lock button to temporarily lock AF, looks like it would be very useful to me when out with my daughters and taking pictures of them as we are out and about. It just feels unnatural to me to have my thumb on that button right between my cheekbone and the back of the camera....

[@mattisulanto]

That's why I mentioned the lock option, for people like you😀

[@aengusmacnaughton1375]

@@mattisulanto -- People like me??? Because we're slow and have trouble with modern technology and all of those menu selections? Or because were special? :-) Thank you -- actually tried it out today with my G85 and my two teenage daughters at a free "Christmas Painting" class at a local craft show -- it was handier as my distance was very much the same while walking around the girls and I kept the aperture stopped down a bit to get a decent depth of field also. But it was nice not thinking about making the camera autofocus with each shot....

[@mattisulanto]

@@aengusmacnaughton1375 No hidden meanings. I understood you prefer the AE lock on the button and that's why I said what I said.

[@aengusmacnaughton1375]

@@mattisulanto -- I was just joking! Always appreciate your videos, you sharing your knowledge and experience -- and your comments!

[@jonpg1jsf118]

Hi Matti I also use a sort of hybrid ‘back button focusing’. On my G9 I have set the Fn5 custom button to AF-ON and use my ‘ring finger’ to lock the focus, leaving the AE/AF Lock set to AE LOCK. This allows me to just point and click on the Shutter release to take the photo, and if I need more control then I have separate buttons for both exposure and focusing.

[@mattisulanto]

Thanks for sharing, always nice to hear about another approach.

[@JeffBourke]

BUT I don’t like the feeling of a 2 step shutter if it is not focusing on the half press.

[@Trezo12]

I like that

[@spcherub]

Hi Matti - I have a follow-up question about BBF and light-metering. Without BBF, the metering and focus are set to the same "spot". With BBF enabled and if I do a focus/recompose so the focus spot is no longer the center of the frame, what location is used to do light metering? The original focus or the center of the frame, or something else?

[@mattisulanto]

I can't see any difference with light meter whether I use shutter focus of BBF. Besides, you can see how the exposure changes in the viewfinder anyway, so I don't think it really matters what the light meter is doing.

[@kemerthomson]

There are lots of BBF videos out there, but you manage to simplify it to the essentials: well done. On a separate topic: when I go to your newsletter page, I get a pop up message, but no way to enter the email ... at least on an iPad.

[@mattisulanto]

Thanks! I wonder what's wrong with the pop up, because I just tried on my iPhone and I could enter my email. However, there is a dedicated page on my website where you can also sign up, if you first ignore the pop up.

[@mgr5550]

I got the 25mm f1.7 this week. Mounted it on a slider, need to do a push in shot of a coke bottle. Now theres no way to focus manually. Turning the manual focus ring gives different play results each time (due to fly by wire) so you cant even have a focus lever and mark in and out points to maintain focus as i push in. Fixing a focus lever and memorizing 12-oclock to 6 oclock or 3 oclock does'nt give repeatable results. Which means moving from 12-3 o clock gives completely different results each time and at the end point its still out of focus, hasnt even moved or flys past the focus point. It depends on with which speed you rotate also. This makes it impossible to have marked focus pulls. Anybody got any ideas ? Subject moving VERY slowly towards locked down camera on tripod, camera moving in towards subject VERY slowly, in both these situations which mode do you use on this camera ? Tracking mode (turns out it cant track for nuts) ? Single Area focus ? Most dont seem to work for me. Do chime in guys.

[@edwardrook8146]

Mr Sulanto, can you please explain why the lumix S5 changes the actual aperture when changing settings in manual mode but in aperture priority it doesn't close to the set aperture until the shutter button is pressed?

[@mattisulanto]

You change that behavior by changing Preview mode. Program one of the function buttons: cog menu > Fn Button Set > Setting in REC mode > choose button and press menu/set > second page > Monitor / Display 1 > choose preview option.

[@agrafernando]

Once you go BBF ...you wont look back :-). It's my go to for wildlife and sports. Pretty much the first thing I set on every new camera. Thanks for making this video!

[@mattisulanto]

Thanks!

[@agrafernando]

Instagram.com/ffotografie82_imagery ...always keen to connect with Lumix Shooters 😉

[@peterlemke3468]

Ditto once you've set it up and acclimatised to it there's no going back.

[@agrafernando]

Some people will argue that you get finger cramps with bbf etc...this fortunately is not a problem at mm with that G9. Best ergonomics in town.

[@leoho4317]

Do I need to press and hold the BBF button to take photo with a moving object before I press the shutter button? Do I need to put the camera to Continuous-AF mode?

[@mattisulanto]

Continuous AF is a good idea for moving things, but the camera does not focus unless you press the button. Please, do some testing for yourself.

[@WhoIsSerafin]

Have tried using it over the years but just find it slow and limiting for me personally.

[@mattisulanto]

Something for everyone and the main thing is that you find the perfect set-up for yourself.

[@symzg5995]

Silly question, but what would happen if you select AF-ON but don't deselect the focus from the menu???

[@mattisulanto]

If you have the AF on both the shutter and the button, they both activate the focus. Try it for yourself and see.

[@evenaicantfigurethisout]

Does this work while shooting video? While the video is recording I mean

[@mattisulanto]

Yes.

[@rendermanpro]

Did you get how to use Near/Far Focus Shift that you can assign to buttons from cusom menu? It is kind of not obvious it works....

[@mattisulanto]

I didn't want to touch that in this video, because I thought it's too much. Basically the Near Focus will focus on near subjects and Far does the opposite, but you need to have more that one focus points selected. I you are shooting through some kind of a structure or a fence, for example.

[@rendermanpro]

@@mattisulanto Its obvious that is suppose to do, but not clear how to use it.

[@mattisulanto]

@@rendermanpro Understand, you just have to find suitable situations, I guess.

[@bjornahs3830]

I have à Little problem with the back button focus. I have both a g80 and a gx9 and the camera still refocus When i have the camera in afc mode even if a don´t press on the dedicated back button focus. Does it only work in aff/afs mode? I had a canon 6d mark II and it didn´t do that.

[@mattisulanto]

You probably have the Quick AF on. Menu > Custom Spanner > Focus/Release Shutter > Quick AF

[@bjornahs3830]

sulantoblog your the kring! yes i hade. What solved the "problem" thanks a lot👍👊

[@bjornahs3830]

sulantoblog Your the King! Yes I had. That solved the ”problem”, thanks a lot 👍👊

[@artistjoh]

I must be odd, because I always wish there were two buttons beside each other so that I can lock AE and AF totally independently.

[@mattisulanto]

You can program separate buttons for the AF and AE.

[@majaisakszon1475]

I have tried it but just not working for me. Been a photogesoher for more then 20+ years. Am used to the srandard focussing. Can't seem to get used to back button focus. And I gave up on it.

[@mattisulanto]

No problem, you have do it your way and what feels comfortable😀

[@KhaledFrad]

I'm a bbf user on my lumix, the only thing that I can't figure out is how to lock the exposure when I focus and recompose on a subject against the light. I usually use the single point focus

[@mattisulanto]

You can lock your exposure by half way pressing the shutter or you can assign both the AE and AF lock to the back button. Of course you can use manual exposure as well. Unfortunately there's no way of assigning the AE and AF lock to different buttons.

[@KhaledFrad]

Thank you for your help. I was wondering if it's possible to assign AE to an another button. In the g85 I guess you can't configure the half press. No worries AF/AE can do the job 😊

[@LarsKiel]

👍🙏

[@simmo303]

Thumb and forefinger do to the job that a forefinger can do?

[@mattisulanto]

This is an option for some, not everyone likes it. See Robin Wong's video where he says why he doesn't like BBF.

[@simmo303]

@@mattisulanto It's no good on low level snaps using a flexible screen.

[@justjeepin]

Why do they call it back button focus? It's not, it's using the Auto Focus Lock button.

[@mattisulanto]

That is good question indeed.

[@bjnslc]

Located on the back of the camera, not the top. Accessible to the thumb, not the forefinger.

[@osomax]

WAS great. Today it has no sense...