BACK BUTTON FOCUS | Sports Photography Tips

It may take a couple of shoots to get used to, but once you make the switch to using back button focus, you'll wonder why you were using shutter button focus for so long? So let me share with you, the top reasons why you need to decouple your autofocus from your shutter button, and use the back button ASAP!
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[@forsterl.stewart414]

There are so many options with today's modern cameras customizations. You can set up your own personal prefferences. I believe back in the film days the Canon 620 was the first film camera to have such features. OTHER OPTIONS FOR THIS BUTTON SOME OF YOU MAY NOT BE AWARE OF. SUCH AS A.F. OFF THIS IS MY PREFFERED METHOD OF USING THIS BUTTON. Using this method I use my top trigger button to focus and meter and in Ai servo mode. If my subject stop moving or if I wish to change my subjects position in the frame. I simply press the back button to stop a.f. From performing. Take my shot. But if my subject takes flight or starts moving again I release my back button and my a.f. behind tracking Ai servo again. Detailed auto focus settings: Another option for both back buttons on some pro grade cameras like the 7d mii, 5d miii, 5d miv,5ds,5Dsr,1dx,1dx mii and 1dx miii. From the Metering and AF start selection in the lower left corner you'll see INFO Detail set. PRESS the info button when you see this and you'll get a much more useful control of your back button. DUAL CUSTOM DETAILED AUTO FOCUS SETTING. This is how they work. You can change four parameters And both back buttons can be set up with two different set of parameters. After you press the info button you'll have the four parameters you can choose from just select whichever one you wish to change or leave them blank at default setting. Press SET MAKE YOUR SELECTION PRESS:SET MOVE DOWN TO NEXT PARAMETER Press:SET Continue this process until all parameters have been set to your personal custom settings. Parameters are as follows: AF start position AI Servo AFcharacteristics AF operation AF area selection mode You can set up three different custom settings using this method. AF-ON back button AE-LOCK back button DEPTH OF FIELD PREVIEW back button My most widely used method: This is how I set mine up my AF-ON is set to AF-OFF custom one setting. And my AE Lock button at my second custom setting. With this back button set up if I am shooting in AI SERVO I just need press the AF-ON button with my thumb and A.F. is stopped until I release my thumb. At wish time I can resume focus tracking my subject. And AE- LOCK as my second method if I'm shooting in one shot I can press AE- LOCK and instantly be set to AF tracking. Plus depth of field preview can be set with a little different configuration. And I call it my "oh crap" set up. When I need all my focus points active this can be life saver.

[@JerryTLai]

Great post, Foster! Hopefully other viewers will find your comment helpful so I'm going to pin this to the top. The back button focus is a very common customization, but you are correct many of the other buttons and locations can be re-configured to a user's liking.

[@monkey555500]

brilliant.....so clear

[@zacharypatsula9218]

Great tips thanks !!!

[@iveGOTtheRUNS]

Great explanation! Thank you Jerry! I'll be photographing a running event, and this should come in very handy.

[@natestain7103]

love the editing in this video!

[@Ahayu-lindo]

Great tips thank you for the video, this helped alot

[@JL-vk1rs]

Jerry I really appreciate your content. The is quite a lack of videos and information from sports or other photojournalists on KZbin I find, when you compare to other areas of photography. It's really insightful to get tips from people who do it professionally as Im someone trying to break into the field. Thanks a lot!

[@saulmirandaaliaga]

Thank you very much, Jerry! This channel is amazing, the content is great, keep up the good work and God bless!

[@JerryTLai]

Hi Saul, thanks for watching. I'm glad you find these videos helpful. Much more to come!

[@scorpio4230]

Starting using back-button focusing simply taking pictures of small objects around the house then out and about on a leisurely of snapping pics before moving on to sports photography. By doing it this way, I trained myself to back-button focus naturally. Great tips Jerry

[@JerryTLai]

That's a great tip as well! Thanks for sharing and thanks for watching!

[@Lammdogg]

Jerry, really really really good stuff

[@kerrybelser]

Thank you

[@tamerragheb4234]

Thanks Jerry I don't remember trying this technique before but seams it's worth trying. I'm a bad memory guy.. haha

[@Twobarpsi]

I think it's worth it to learn how to use back button focusing. A lot of pro photographers are recommending people to do this and I think I need to make the next step!

[@timelessphotoshoot5347]

I love the way u explain back button focus thanks

[@JerryTLai]

Glad it helped. Yes it's funny you mention that. I think the first or second shoot I ever did I was simply told to use back button, I don't think I was ever explained WHY to use it lol.

[@musicbrain313]

Jerry this is a great tip. Honestly I have been frustrated with the auto focus and capture combo, and have been manually focusing because of that, but as you would imagine there are times that manual focus just wont cut it. Thanks for sharing

[@JerryTLai]

Glad you found this helpful. It may take a few shoots to get used to, but it will be helpful in the long run. The more you are eventually able to get out and shoot, you'll get better with knowing when to activate AF and when not to - but this is only possible by decoupling the AF from the shutter. Happy shooting!

[@tokyoinpics9346]

Brilliant stuff here Jerry. Another really good video. I'm going to practice with back button focus and it'll definitely be a big help with this coming Friday night. This is extremely exciting!

[@JerryTLai]

It will probably take a little bit of getting used to, but I bet once you start you won't ever go back to shutter button focus. Thanks for watching and supporting the channel!

[@tokyoinpics9346]

@@JerryTLai I photographed that basketball last night (not Friday as I said earlier). It seemed to work really well. Now, I want to try it with other sports. Thanks very much for this video! Looking forward to seeing what else you produce :)

[@JGZphotography]

The AF servo Case setting becomes important to understand when using back focus. For one it's important to know when to press and release the back button focus as an event evolves. If single point focusing, as most sports photographers do, holding down the back button focus too long using a fast tracking AF while moving off the focus target will refocus on the new target maight result in focusing on the foreground or background, or worse, the camera gets confused and no focus at all. Fast AF tracking (+1) quickly refocuses on the target, as the camera sees it, but this requires a lot of tapping on the back focus button. By slowing down the AF tracking to -1 or -2 holds the last focus point longer to enable to get the focus point back on target again. The downside is to let go of the back botton and press again if moving the focus point to another adjacent target, otherwise the focus is delayed onto the new target. Using the back button for focus takes a bit of practice and patience and picking the right adjustments to the Case # to be used. Once acclimated, keep the Case setting unchanged and keep the same tap dance on the back focus button.

[@ukejem]

Thanks. So many explanations of how to set up back-button focus but not an explanation of when to press it and how long for. I’ve been struggling with my R5 and getting it to stick on one person among many. I think it’s because I’ve been holding down the af-on.

[@ahmikjones]

I will have to try this as well. I just upgraded from a 7D to a 1D X. The deals you can get on an 8 year old camera are amazing, but it is going to take me a while to get familiar with the new controls. I am a learning a lot from your channel and look forward to your future videos.

[@JerryTLai]

Thanks for watching Ahmik. I can't believe it is 8 years old now, but I still use the 1Dx regularly. It is an extremely capable camera and you will be thrilled with it.

[@kerrybelser]

Thank you 😊

[@JerryTLai]

You're welcome 😊

[@pascalkesselmark7529]

I’m using BBF since the 90‘s with the Canon EOS 1N-RS. And this is the first setting I do when I get a new body… When I read some other comments, the I think some people do not understand why it’s so good. It has nothing to do with mirrorless or not and how good the AF system is. With BBF I’m able to set the focus on the object I want to photograph, reframe my picture and then take the photo.

[@JerryTLai]

I think you're right about the comments :-) They can take it or leave it. But first thing you and I will always continue to do is disable that shutter focus button! Thanks for watching!

[@jeannettenicoleshipek4476]

Ok, so I recently switched to using back button focus and I really like it, I shoot canon. I also use the one spot focus mode and use AI Servo. My QUESTION IS... For example, shooting a bride down the asile, do I hold down the BBF to track her in AI servo, or do I press it and release. I think I have been doing it backwards. SO which is it? Thank you!!

[@MrTotalSense]

I appreciate you video instruction. I just started watching. I have a Canon 1D Mark IV and I am getting some good high school football shots. Recently, I shot a JV game, many of the photos were into the sun--the color was lost and washed. Any suggestions on maintaining some color vibrancy when shooting into the sun? Thanks, Scot

[@JerryTLai]

Hey Scot - That's a good question. So that is the trade off. When you shoot into the sun (and be backlit), you will be able to expose for the shadows and bring out faces, but you will lose vibrancy/saturation in your images. If you however shoot with the sun at your back, you will have better color saturation, but you lose facial detail in many sports. It's sort of a choice you have to make when shooting on a sunny day. That said, my usual choice if I have one, is to shoot into the sun. You can recover some of the color by increasing contrast or adjusting your black slider in levels.

[@debmalveaux1360]

So glad I found your channel! I take photos of my daughter’s club volleyball team. A 15s top ranked team so they are fast! I recently started using back button focus and I like it, but a couple silly questions: if I have focused on a player I assume I have to keep the back button depressed the entire time because they are moving, is this correct? I also noticed that I will sometimes get a clump of shots all blurred. I’m guessing this is because a player got in front of my focus point, is this correct. Just trying to see if I’m using the button correctly. Also, any volleyball video tips??? Thank you!!

[@JerryTLai]

Hi Deb, thanks for watching. Volleyball is a challenging sport! Re: back button. Yes it needs to be depressed the entire time they are moving, so that the camera will continue to track. However, if the net or stray arms cross in front of your focus point, it could throw off the tracking. There is a setting that will slow down the "jumpiness" of your AF setting, I forget what it's called exactly but if you turn it slower (I know it doesn't sound very intuitive), the camera will try to lock onto your initial subject instead of locking onto whatever crosses in front. Another tip for volleyball is try shooting it from the stands above. This will give you a better chance of seeing the faces of the players as they go up for the ball. Hope these help!

[@debmalveaux1360]

Thanks for your reply back. This past weekend I was shooting at another tournament and I used the method you described and ended up with much better overall results!! Thank you!!

[@bifftanner2190]

What focus mode ? AF C? AF A?

[@onlyeyeno]

Thanks for this short and clear, video. Though in my opinion it would have made more sense if this "method" was just called "decouple AF from Shutter button"... I mean the "main point" has nothing to do with "which button" You use when Your focus, rather just that You decouple the "focusing" from the "snapping", something that has been possible using different "procedures" "for donkeys years" ((You can even do it with mobiles "4 crying out" and they some of them don't even have a single actual button.... And if You can't "remap the AF" You can get the same "effect" by learning to use Manual focus ((if You feel really adventurous ;)) Best regards.

[@JerryTLai]

LOL true, but "decouple AF from Shutter button focus" just doesn't roll off the tongue!

[@propertylaneimages1261]

New to sports photography - question do you hold af on button down the whole time while taking photo ? or focus take thumb off then take image with release button ??

[@JerryTLai]

Yes, you will have to hold down the AF on button the whole time while taking the photo. If you take your thumb off the AF will stop tracking.

[@juanrmartinez6598]

Once you go back button, you'll never go back. I've been using it exclusively for everything I shoot, everything

[@truthseeker6804]

i appreciate your effort but it seems its only essential for DSLR and not mirrorless. i dont need to focus and recompose, i can just compose and drag the focus box to the corner or where the subject is. similarly in canon i can set the focus tracking be sticky and it wouldnt easily switch to a new subject that passes infront of my main subject. ive really tried to use back button for sports but i always find it two steps too much, to do one thing and can make you miss an image as you have to press two separate buttons instead of one. also ive not found a need to focus on a specific zone as i could just track the subjects as he moves through the scene and the focus is fast on the new mirrorless. therefore back button seems to be unnecessary.

[@alkinsonjrstafford9965]

hey . which camera is that you have in your hand at the start of the video

[@JerryTLai]

Hey thanks for watching! I believe in this video and also in my regular "intro roll" is a Canon 1Dx (the original Mark I version).

[@kenjiyamamoto5996]

nah R5 Eye AF can do that job for me, every milliseconds count,.

[@JerryTLai]

Hi Kenji! I will say that Sony and now Canon's eye AF has been pretty impressive. We've seen other organizations use eye AF for remote cameras at track and field, and it's something we are looking into as well in other sports. I never thought of eye AF as a case of replacing back button focus in some situations, but you're right, that is a possibility. I'll have to explore more if I can get my hands on an A92 or an R5/R6.

[@bryang4856]

@@JerryTLai I can't speak to Canon's AF system, but I can tell you that the Sony Real-Time tracking is insane. I have shots of my erratic toddlers sprinting toward me and then suddenly changing directions and I'll have 10 frames in a row in perfect focus. The system along with the 70-200 GM lens rarely misses. Amazing how far camera tech has come along in the last few years.

[@klausen22]

Exactly, shooting is different now with a R5/R6. I am using it with Eye-AF and the Center Starting Point. Works great! Maybe 10 shoots not in focus out of 2500-3000 shoots for the whole soccer match.

[@natestain7103]

But how do you program one of your focus buttons to focus in AI servo? If your back button is set to one shot (which allows prefocus and recompose) and you disabled your shutter button from focusing, how do you quickly switch to AI servo?

[@JerryTLai]

That's the beauty of back button with AI servo - there is no longer a need for one-shot mode. You hold the back button (AF) down to continually focus. If you want to focus & recompose, then you just release your thumb from the back button. Hope that makes sense!

[@nadeenoja8175]

Where are you looking at 🤷

[@Carl83839A]

Go wild cats!

[@jaydropsvapereviewvlogbisa1261]

I'm sad sir jerry lai 😥

[@chrisflight6436]

This is very much personal choice. I have never found this to be any benefit at all. Simply because why do two things at once? Use front button AF and shutter and use the joystick to move the af point around the screen. Use the back button to lock focus when needed to recompose. Using using front button af- if the shutter is firing then it is focussing. If you are not pressing the back button by mistake then the camera will fire and not be focussing. Camera processors are so fast these days that using the front button only for AF and shutter activation saves time. If just focussing, such as when panning, with the shutter half pressed you know it is focussing because the AF point changes colour. I used back button for approx 10 years and then a new camera made me decide to use front button. 20 years later I still think front button AF is faster and leaves your thumb free to move the back dial or the joystick. Sorry bit of a long comment. So. Simply put.. why do two things when one will do. Keep up the good work 👍

[@deb8183]

Jerry when doing your videos can you please cancel the background music? It inly causes a distraction from learning. If you think about it there is no reason music is necessary. Thank you.

[@NancyH25]

Great reasons to use the back button focusing but extremely annoying to not show how to set it up.

[@AndyMillerPhotoUK]

The af-on button is useful but choosing to change your camera to only trigger focus by pressing this is like wearing a hair shirt - dumb

[@AndyMillerPhotoUK]

Why - I like to change my focus point with my thumb while af-is-on. Show me how to do this if only using back button

[@AndyMillerPhotoUK]

I get the point about decoupling but for me I don’t need this

[@JerryTLai]

I think Canon and other camera manufacturers are trying to address this with new features like head/face detect and eye-AF like in the upcoming R3

[@351linzdoctor]

I shoot Sony and I don't need it!

[@4score]

Why not?

[@351linzdoctor]

@@4score Because with Sony's Mirrorless or Canon's Mirrorless you just turn on Subject Tracking along with Face Or Eye Tracking with AF-C and instantly the camera locks onto what you point the active autofocus points at! kzbin.info/www/bejne/mKfRZ6dsocZ-jtU