Back Button Focusing and how to do it in Canon R5?

Hi everyone! Looks like a lot of our students haven't discovered this life-changing technique-- BACK BUTTON FOCUSING! So I'm filmed this tutorial to show you why you should use Back Button Focusing (or BBF). Even if you are not a Canon R5 user, you can still watch this tutorial to understand how it works.
The Outline
1) Life without Back Button Focusing (0:00)
-I often ran into two problems
-How BBF solved these two problems
2) How to set up Back Button Focusing in Canon R5 Camera? (3:50)
3) One minor setting in your menu that you should change to shoot smoothly (not quite about BBF)
(6:31)
4) Testing BBF using different subjects (don't judge on them, hahah!) (7:20)
a) Animal
b) Human
c) Non animal/ non human: Flowers
5) Bonus explanation: Will the current settings in AF Operation and AF Method override what you've set in the customize buttons menu? (11:28)
Promised to create a tutorial on Focus Mode:)
***
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[@robgerety]

Thanks for this. I moved to two button back button autofocus a while back. This is the clearest tutorial on back button auto focus and auto focus generally that I have seen. The problem with most other videos on this topic is that the author explains the issues from the perspective of a photographer doing their particular type of photography. Your explanation here is general - it applies to all types of photography. Great work.

[@photosprouts]

Thanks for letting me know, I’m happy to know that the video is useful for you ❤️🙏

[@boblewis4529]

The best BBF tutorial. Clear and slow over the menu screen. Oh, and I like your dance of joy at the end.

[@photosprouts]

HHahah! Thank you!

[@WesJones-jd5jr]

Thanks. I was beginning to think there was no one who could give a clear explanation of BBF for Canon. Yours is the best. Much appreciated

[@photosprouts]

Thank you! Glad that it’s helpful!

[@charlessichel-outcalt6164]

Such a great video! 100% clear, and not overly simplified or complicated.

[@photosprouts]

☺️ thank you🙏🙏

[@Nadine.22]

Sooo helpful! Thank you very much for sharing with us :).

[@43topspin]

Great job with the how to and explain action of what everything is!

[@tjle4900]

Wow. this is an awesome video tutorial, thank you very much for sharing!!!

[@MrDro1128]

That was really well done. Good job!

[@B4ndwidthBandito]

A comprehensive step by step guide with detailed explanations of why the settings are being used and what they do. It does not get much better than this. Can’t wait to start photographing with these new settings. Thank you so much.

[@photosprouts]

Glad it was helpful!

[@742vincent]

Thank you very much! Great AF settings tutorial. For me one of best practical settings.

[@photosprouts]

Great to hear!

[@matthewsequoyah2665]

Just got an R5. Wow, so much to figure out on these mirrorless cameras, thanks for the tutorial 😀📸👍

[@photosprouts]

Thank you! Glad that it’s useful!

[@chesterjohnson4504]

Very helpful! Thanks.

[@markslonecker5280]

NIce video explaining BBF. I just got an R5 and see up all 3 back buttons for different focus methods when I shoot birds and wildlife. AF-ON set for Zone [ ], * set for Eye AF, and the AF select button for Spot Focus. This arrangement works really well, especially for birds in flight. Nice jumping jacks btw.

[@ThisandThatNorthwest]

Very nice, thank you!

[@krobinson100]

Thank you!!!! You made my re-set up so easy. It was direct and to the point!

[@photosprouts]

Thank you! I'm glad that you found it useful:)

[@FunkTaFyde]

Hahaha … you are just the perfect blend of good humor and good info! 💞

[@photosprouts]

Thank you!

[@zacharypatsula9218]

Simply Amazing Thanks!!!

[@marcelloblanco5459]

This was great. Thanks!

[@photosprouts]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@ThomasDavies-ru3ql]

Excellent video. Many Thanks.

[@photosprouts]

Glad you liked it!

[@jjoor5757]

Fantastic! thank you so much!

[@KineticsReborn]

Thank you so much for this! Subbed!

[@photosprouts]

Thanks for the sub!

[@robinfader7824]

Great instruction!!!!!!

[@tomdoolin2415]

Thanks for sharing your excellent knowledge

[@photosprouts]

So nice of you

[@Barbara-ir9sx]

really great explanation many thanks from Germany🙂

[@georgevarghese8134]

Superbly explained. The tutorial was very useful. Thank you very much

[@photosprouts]

Glad it was helpful!

[@liew9574]

“Hahaha” - as requested! Just found your channel. Fantastic tips - please keep them coming!!! Thanks for making this video!

[@photosprouts]

Thank you! Will do!

[@scottpatterson7573]

Really appreciate this tutorial ❤

[@photosprouts]

My pleasure 😊

[@johnnyronces5166]

Hahaha excellent explanation ! Thank you 😊

[@Elephantsss]

You explain Back button Focusing really well ,straight to the point , most guys waffle on too much Thank you .

[@photosprouts]

Thank you Elephant:)

[@Rdavis6593]

This is a good video - very well explained. Thank you.

[@photosprouts]

Glad it was helpful!

[@RogerJones-mountfield]

Ho ho ho, well explained, thank you 🙏

[@photosprouts]

You’re welcome 😊, glad that it was helpful!

[@pmayh3m]

Thank you! You answered all my questions and a few more I hadn't thought of yet. I like your images too. Hahaha

[@photosprouts]

Glad that this is helpful, thank you!

[@hafizasghari6350]

Very good👍🏼

[@robertgrigg1183]

HAHAHA !! Excellent explanations!!

[@johnwheeler5271]

Thankyou for your advice and video.J

[@danburnski7867]

Thank you! I especially liked how the eye detect works on your figurine and Snow White. Have my R5 setup as yours (AF-ON and Asterisk buttons). Now to get out there and practice. Thanks again!👍

[@photosprouts]

Awesome, thank you!

[@tomsheehan4091]

HA HA HA, Excellent video! Liked and subscriber 🙂 I will be making these changes om my R6. Thank you.

[@mostlyqwerty]

This is an excellent instructional video. I have always been (40yrs) a "focus and recompose" photographer but having acquired a Canon R6 I wanted to take advantage of the amazing focusing options this camera provides. ThI have never been interested in using multiple focusing points as, for me, they interfered with the creative process. The focusing sophistication of the R6, particularly the eye focus, changed my perspective but the complexity was a little overwhelming. Your video explained the focusing options perfectly and has someone else mentioned particularly how the button presses work. This wasn't clear to me when watching other videos on this subject. Thank you and well done!

[@photosprouts]

Glad that it helps! Thanks for the feedback!

[@angelogarciajr5356]

Wow. Great video Christina. It is good to see you. I have not talked with you in a long time. Thanks for the AF class. This is very helpful for the R5 folks. For my R6 too. Thank you. Oh hahaha

[@angelogarciajr5356]

I wonder if I can use these settings on my R7 without causing any problems. I am worried some changes I already made might be causing my focus issues. Hahaha. OK, nevermind. I use the opposite buttons for my bbf. I also dont have the Q button on the R7 so this video setting does not apply to the R7. Time for you to make another R7 setting video lol

[@edwinho4897]

I am currently own the5D Mark III and already using BBF. Very likely I will be purchasing R6 II soon (after further research). Came across your video on two-button BBF. Great instructions and this is what I need - option to be able to use either of the two buttons.

[@photosprouts]

Thank you! Glad that you found it useful!

[@wonghoyuen]

Hahahaha, good job Christina! ❤

[@photosprouts]

Thanks Danny!

[@Steve-xn6hm]

Well explained but very few pros use bbf. R5 is a pro camera that has excellent fast eye focus and tracking so splitting into 2 functions and 2 buttons will just slow you down especially at events

[@sturley187]

Thanks. I have watched other videos on BBF but they failed to explain the need to hold the button down continuously and when to single press.

[@Revi200x]

Hahaha 🙌 thank you😊

[@bladechucker]

Ha Ha Ha, Great information and delivery. Thank you.

[@photosprouts]

Glad you liked it!

[@MikeNovakPhoto]

Great video well done. i use back button focus but in a more simple way since i shoot landscapes. So essentially my workflow is have the shutter button just take the photo and the af-on button do the focus. But will adopt your method for when i take photos of my two nieces if and when they allow me to take their photo.

[@photosprouts]

Thanks for your comment! I can’t boast enough the eye AF of canon r5~ You will love it when you take pics of your nieces! Have fun!

[@MikeNovakPhoto]

@@photosprouts I started using it for landscapes few years ago when I fell in love with long exposure photography. I would attach my filters and using the remote shutter release it would try to focus and then take the photo. I hated when that happened. So I switched to BBF and problem solved. 🙂

[@photosprouts]

@@MikeNovakPhoto thank you! This is a fantastic sharing! Thanks for telling everyone how bbf can be applied in long exposure landscape photography!❤️❤️❤️👍👍👍

[@toshiokobashi4538]

hahaha, thank you!

[@moviewalker]

haha Thank you!

[@photosprouts]

Welcome!

[@birder268]

Hahaha, love it,

[@suebyrne7739]

I think you are first focus video I’ve watched that clearly states hold button down. Others just say press. It has been so confusing. I’m going to use this and hopefully no further missed focus shots

[@photosprouts]

Thank you so much! Enjoy BBF❤️

[@photosprouts]

And yes, in the old days when eye af didn’t exist, press once for single servo and holding it for continuous servo. Now, one button in r5 still works in the same logic; another button is for eye af and it’s more convenient to keep holding it for single and continuous servo❤️

[@forsterl.stewart414]

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 center) 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... 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.

[@HarryTimmermans]

Great video thanks. But do you have a left handed R5 I saw in your video?

[@photosprouts]

No I don’t, it was a mirrored image from the IPhone selfie mode~

[@fanaticproject]

hahaha, helpful!

[@tobyz.3452]

HA HA HA .... good video! Thank you,

[@prasanthk1768]

Hahah im still watching. 😅✌

[@peterconnor7885]

Does the focus/recompose with one touch of the star button still work with the latest firmware updates? I can’t seem to get it to work.

[@parkside3236]

Hahaha. Nice video.

[@Webrisernl]

Is it also possible to focuspoint tracking for recomposing? Like I did with my old mk3?

[@photosprouts]

It is possible to do focus tracking on human/ animals/ vehicles in R5 when recompose. Might need filmware upgrade for other types of subjects, but I cannot guarantee because I haven't done so. It is based on an inference drawn for the 2023 Canon R50 which can focustrack on any type of subjects when recompose. Hope it helps!

[@lmanthe]

ha ha ha, this is a excellent tutorial.

[@gerardolomeli3727]

Can I do this with my canon 77D?

[@a-train8636]

Ha ha ha! Thank u very much!

[@ishanagarwalphotography]

what focusing point to choose while in product photography should i turn on to none option instead of people animal . got my first mirrorless R5C few day back

[@photosprouts]

Try expand flexible spots

[@ishanagarwalphotography]

@@photosprouts thank you i will try so.

[@RogerJones-mountfield]

The second menu on * doesn’t seem to be available on the R6 Mkii, a shame 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@photosprouts]

Oh no! Maybe they try to cut cost…

[@smaruzzi]

Thanks. For unknown reasons the * button doesn’t deliver what you showed in the video. When I press and release it, the Expand AF area doesn’t stick on the viewfinder. What am I doing wrong? Essentially, with the * button I do it get the mode to switch to OneShot. Makes sense? Thanks, Stefano

[@photosprouts]

Hi there! Thanks for asking; the focus point (which is Expand AF area) will not turn blue or stay there when you release the button because you were doing single servo. By pressing the button and then releasing it, you are doing single servo and can move the camera to recompose the shot as long as the distance remains unchanged; what you have focused before releasing the button will still in focus. This is exactly what we want to achieve in backbutton focusing and the beauty of using it. And if you keep holding the button without releasing it, you are doing continuous servo, and you will notice that the focus point will be updated continuously as you move the camera. Hope this helps!

[@smaruzzi]

@@photosprouts Got it. Thanks. Stefano

[@marindacoetzee6760]

Can I switch the two buttons…i.e. general focus + AF-ON button and * for eye-AF focus?

[@PhilipDrown]

Secret phrase activated: Ha ha ha! 😊

[@photosprouts]

Thank you! You cracked the code, congrats!

[@debjyotinayak3342]

In today's scenario with mirrorless cameras having advanced tracking and autofocus system,it's a myth now which doesn't need to be carried forward from the dslr era.Af and tracking are both instant now on subject detection without any time lag,hence no added benefit or convenience is derived by focusing through a back button instead of the shutter

[@georgedavall9449]

Ha Ha Ha No Joke, you’re one beautiful lady! *swoons*. 😍👍✌🧡🙂

[@patricialamoreaux]

Ha Ha Ha great video

[@lindahamlin3157]

Haaa haaaaa❤

[@nowakgrzegorz]

hahaha huhu hihi

[@TheNewMexicoMan]

HaHaHa Thank you!

[@phyllisnaccarato5313]

Ha ha ha thank you

[@GrundmeyerLeadS]

Hahaha! :)

[@brianargyle7344]

First of all, your shutter button normally does THREE things---on the half-press, it focuses and determines the exposure (unless you are in full Manual mode). On full press it takes the picture. BBF was popularized back in the DSLR days when cameras did not have a lot of focus points. The photographer could focus on the subject and then recompose the shot for a better composition before taking the photo. When I used to shoot with DSLR's, I used BBF a lot, in fact most of the time. Since 2015 I've been shooting with Sony mirrorless but the current models are all similar, no matter who makes them. There is usually no reason to be using BBF unless you are are so used to it that it seems unnatural to do otherwise. There is the odd time when it's nice to use it, potentially in the winter when you're shooting with gloves on and are insensitive to the half-press. Or when you're taking a bunch of photos that all need to be focused the same, to save you from switching to manual focus. But I can honestly say, if you haven't been using BBF and you're shooting with mirrorless cameras with eye autofocus and focus tracking, etc.--then there is ABSOLUTELY NO REASON to start. If you're missing shots it's not because you need to use to use BBF. It's either your settings or your technique...

[@photosprouts]

Thanks for your opinions!

[@brianargyle7344]

@@photosprouts And the sheer volume of KZbinrs making videos on the subject is frankly getting ridiculous. But you did a job of presenting it, so kudos. It's kind of like the videos of people saying you can't be a REAL photographer unless you shoot everything in Manual mode. Not so!...

[@victordemelofernandes1815]

He he he ha ha ha ho ho ho hey hey hey hu hu hu

[@SergiiStarodubtsev]

And how to use joystick? I guess one can not keep pressing * button and moving the joystick at the same time

[@photosprouts]

The joystick is for moving the focus point to your desired spot so that it is on the subject. And then you press * button to focus: once for single servo, keep pressing for continuous servo.

[@SergiiStarodubtsev]

@@photosprouts yes, but the point is one can not move a joystick and pressing the focus button at the same time. And just moving joystick 🕹 without pressing anything doesn't move a focus becasse there is no focus yet, because the focus back button is not pressed yet.

[@photosprouts]

@@SergiiStarodubtsev yes you cannot move the joystick and keep pressing the button at the same time. That’s why you use the joystick to move the focus point and then press * (or whatever button that you have set the camera to focus or tap on the screen) to focus. Some photographers set the focus point first and then recompose instead of using the joystick to move the focus point. I think everyone’s habit is different:) Check out other videos on KZbin on the focusing in r5, hope this helps.

[@SergiiStarodubtsev]

@@photosprouts then I can not point to what I want to point, using back button focus button strategy? Kinda draw back of this approach? Like one can shoot faster but not precisely what he/she wants..

[@photosprouts]

@sergey oh when I learned bbf many years ago I had the same question. Just tried out and then you will see the beauty of bbf~ You point to focus using the joystick or just tap on the screen, the camera is not focused YET. Then you press the shutter half way down to grab the focus (traditional method) or press * once (bbf) and then take the shot. That’s it~ if you want to slightly recompose, RELEASE your thumb after pressing * once to do so. Hope this helps~

[@RollSeekers]

hahaha

[@nigellambert1965]

haha

[@gerardolomeli3727]

Hahaha

[@paulransom2127]

Ha ha ha

[@kennethtong1669]

Haha

[@erikbratlie534]

Ha-Ha-Ha

[@MrX-dh5ji]

Ha Ha Ha!

[@jackrantowich1989]

Hahahahaaaaaaaa ha

[@kevinclelland8017]

Ha ha ha 😂

[@sprayfe]

Hahahaha

[@52701970]

Great tutorial. It is nice to have eye tracking. However, I think that will be the downfall of some professional photographers. It would seem that anyone could capture a photo with eye tracking. No skills needed.

[@photosprouts]

Good point!

[@iadventureoutdoors5623]

Hahahahaha

[@linnaecarlson4546]

ha ha ha

[@Elephantsss]

Ha HA HAAA

[@zdnvck]

HA HA

[@barrabas1962]

Ha Ha Ha

[@amanra1595]

HaHaHa

[@RogerZoul]

HaHaHa.

[@photosprouts]

Thank you for staying with me❤️

[@iosuser1174]

Eye af is not 💯 accurate

[@phyllisnaccarato5313]

Hahaha

[@PrendosNewZealandLimited]

hahaha

[@Ellenshorts]

ha ha ha

[@AlexRodriguez-qs4yq]

Hahahaha

[@photosprouts]

Thanks Alex for staying with me!

[@PonderThisSmile]

Ha ha ha