How to Set Up BACK BUTTON FOCUS - And my Preferred Autofocus Technique (Canon 1 DX)

In this Tutorial I explain what Back Button Focusing is - how to set it up and how to use it. I also show you the focusing technique that I prefer for wildlife photography. I'm using a Canon DSLR (Canon 1DX) to demonstrate but these tips will apply for a range of gear, including mirrorless cameras.
Let me know in the Comments Box below - do you use Back Button Focus? If so, what advantages do you find with Back Button? If you don't like BBF and use Shutter Button Focus, then how do you set up your camera for focussing and are you able to lock the focus in an effective way?
Watch this thought-provoking video on "Back Button Focus" from Taylor Jackson: • Why I DON'T Use Back B... One of his arguments is that taking your thumb away from a button makes you feel less engaged with the action - a very interesting take.
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This video was filmed with a Canon M50 and 15-45mm lens.
Equipment: Canon 1DX Mark i; Canon 500mm f/4 mark i lens; Induro CT404 tripod; Manfrotto MVH502AH fluid head
Music:

[@PaulMiguelPhotography]

Download my Photo Guides for Camera Settings and Focus Options: koji.to/k/9jxs

[@davidlawery6527]

Great Video Paul, Common Sense “What works for you”. People get hung up on Technique and Specs and miss the enjoyment of taking the Picture? Keep well & Stay safe 👍🇬🇧

[@PaulMiguelPhotography]

Definitely.

[@kilohotel6750]

I'm using double back button focus on the R5, one for animal eye AF and the other for single point. I can't imagine ever going back to shutter button focus for wildlife again.

[@AC-xh9wr]

The best explanation on KZbin I've seen that an amateur like myself can understand. Excellent. Thank you so much.

[@PaulMiguelPhotography]

Thank you very much .

[@laku4412]

I'm quite comfortable using both styles of focusing, however when I started using a mirrorless body with eye-tracking, I completely switched to BBF. This gives me the opportunity to assign a second AF mode (no eye-tracking) to a different button and thus enable me to still focus on tough subjects when the eye-tracking doesn't work.

[@JessicaUresti01]

Thank you because I like using the shutter to focus and these techniques you showed in your video are very helpful!

[@JessicaUresti01]

I have not been able to use back button focus,. I use single focus point, focus with shutter and then move the point around with the toggle or on screen if I have time. I only photograph about once a month. I liked the eye tracking last time I photographed an event. CAn I set a button to switch from eye tracking to shutter focus? I think that is what I want. Anyone know?

[@howardallen5390]

When you do a technical video like this it’s always well researched and presented. Geoff (or is it Jeff), the flying Penguin, is a great addition to your videos, he was natural in front of the camera with no sign of nerves. I’ll look forward to seeing more of him.

[@PaulMiguelPhotography]

Thank you so much Howard. I do my best. It's Jeff...

[@rogersteele9890]

Great explanation, those apples look delicious!

[@VivianLund]

Great idea to use the AF-ON button to shut AF off for those of us who don’t use back button focus! Thank you!

[@ronironi9236]

after being confused from other videos with the back button this one makes so much sence!!!! you are the king,i chose to customize like you did

[@PaulMiguelPhotography]

So glad this helped you, and thanks for the feedback. I'm currently testing BBF on my R6 but I think i will stick with shutter button focus.!

[@ronironi9236]

@@PaulMiguelPhotography i am using R10,feels better using what you wrote,i wrote you on another video about using the extention tube instead of macro,if you get a chance to recomend me one for my canon r10 on aliexpress i would realy apriciate it

[@robinbarnes3050]

Hi Paul. I have always been vague about when to hold the back button and when it locks. Did not realise it locks when i take my finger off the button. Brilliantly explained. Thank you.

[@ianpawson1356]

Startes to watch this and I thought heck, Paul's changed his mind about back button focus from when I had me session with you last year. I'm happy with back button focus, but it would be an issue to go back to focus and shooting from the one button

[@damo.hutchinson]

Looking forward to trying this with my EF 70 - 300 L. Focusing once and then moving the position of the image and take as many shots as I require without having to continously focus an potentially miss the shot.

[@LouisaLee63]

Yes, use what feels comfortable to you. Best advice ever! I use back button focus but not sure it’s right for all cases.

[@guyjackson4143]

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you! All I have ever heard is how great BBF is and for some people that's true. For me personally its BS why do I want to have an extra button to worry about when anything I want to accomplish can be done with the shutter button. Thanks for the video Paul.

[@PaulMiguelPhotography]

Yeah, you don't have to use it at all. There are so many options these days, you should be able to find the best way for you

[@daintyasia8152]

Thank you 🎉

[@paulgibbings9553]

I tried back button focus for the first time a couple of years ago. After using the shutter button for 20 plus years and being in my 50's I thought it would be a struggle. However, within minutes it felt so natural that I couldn't imagine going back. Like you say the most important thing is finding out what works for you.

[@bricoschmoo1897]

That's a great thing! It's always worth trying techniques we're unfamilliar with. Happy surprises happen more often than we anticipate!

[@ernestmfakudze]

​@bricoschmoo1897 same here, I love it! Trying it for the first time was similar to when I tried an automatic car after having driven a manual for 10 years. I just never looked back😁

[@gingerghost697]

Excellent video. Thanks so much for the tips. I always wondered about AF off or AF stop I think on my 5d3 and 6d2. On my 5d3 I use the depth button for one shot AF servo. 6d2 I use the AF on button for switching between one shot and AF servo. May have to give AF off a go. Cheers mate.

[@johnlocke7097]

Never used it but will watch the video again and give it a try, a lot of information to absorb. Thank you. First to thumb up.

[@PaulMiguelPhotography]

It's a lot of information. Worth a try if you haven't used it.

[@susanfirth2279]

Not going to name the penguin - then names is Jeff - that was good. I love BBF. It took me awhile to get used to it and I did try to go back to half pressing the shutter but now BBF is so much more comfortable for me. My hit rate is much higher. Very well presented and explained.

[@PaulMiguelPhotography]

Jeff was his Dad.. Glad BBF works for you. Sounds like it's best for you to stick with it

[@tinadorkin9564]

Thanks for doing this, Paul. Really useful tips, especially how to recompose using both methods. I currently use BBF but only started to as it allowed re-composing. I'll watch again & try using the shutter button & re-composing at some point too. Thanks again.

[@PaulMiguelPhotography]

Both way can work. Find what's best for you!

[@paulbaldwin2290]

Great tip Paul alot to take in need to watch a couple of times🤔 and will try but I prefer just shutter button only probably because it's easier 👍👏👏

[@PaulMiguelPhotography]

I prefer shutter button too. Just feels more intuitive to me.

[@colinb188]

Canon R5, back button in servo follows subject over full screen so no re-composing needed, great set-up and feels so natural.

[@PaulMiguelPhotography]

Is that with the animal/eye tracking function selected?

[@timd4524]

I've got a nikon so it's automatically setup as an auto exposure lock or I can switch it to back button focus. I've found the exposure lock more useful so far. Good to see Jeff is well. Nice video.

[@JoeMaranophotography]

The way I use BBF on my Lumix G9 is setting the AF on button to act as AF-S and the shutter is AFC. Another interesting "hack" I found is that the pre burst modes have a really slow focus speed with the electronic shutter using the shutter for some reason. Using BBF as AFC seems to speed it back up again for some really odd reason. So that's how/why I use it :)

[@davidbrice811]

Great video just reset my camera will try tomorrow as bbf doesn’t feel right. Thanks

[@PaulMiguelPhotography]

See how it goes.

[@TheNaturalAngle]

Using it since years. Made a video for my channel but deleted it as I personally wasn't happy with that. Now I think I should make again.

[@bricoschmoo1897]

Hi ! That's very intersting ! I tried something like this on my Panasonic G9 for a while, but found it didn't suit me. I prefer being by default in manual focus mode, and have the two customizable buttons at the front of my camera body set to engage autofocus. The one at the top is set for back focus priority (the camera tries to focus farther first), and the bottom one to front focus priority (trying to focus closer first). On this body, there's a very accessible switch to go to AF-C if I need. I like doing this because I always have in mind if my focusing point is in front of or behind my subject. That way, I can help the contrast-based autofocus of my G9 know in which direction to go in order to achieve focus where I want. It does save a lot of time and wobbling. Also, in cases of thick foliage, I can more easily move from plane of focus to plane of focus to find my subject, and use the focus ring to finish the job if needed. It's clearly not as easy as the method you use, but in my case I noticed a great gain in my keeper rate, even for birds in flight. Every piece of camera gear is different, and every photographer is different. It's always nice to discover and try new techniques, and find what works for you ! Thank you for this awesome video, Paul.

[@jeffolson4731]

I do use back button focus. I have never considered using the button to stop focus. I just might have to give it a try.

[@Jonathantuba]

On my Sony A1 I use AF tracking nearly all the time. To recompose I lock focus box on subject, recompose (box stays on subject) and shoot using shutter. Often eye AF will already of locked on anyway, so I don’t need to worry. I have not tried back button focus, and for me I don’t feel necessary. That AF-on button on back I have set to MF, so I can also hit that to lock focus, but more often use to focus when I find camera is mis-focusing due to twig, or such like in front of subject.

[@PaulMiguelPhotography]

Excellent.

[@tomscott88]

I use the shutter button to focus but have AF on to swap to AI servo. Best of both worlds, just a shame you can’t do this on all bodies. My 5 and 7 series cameras can my 70D you can’t

[@jasonogbourne5315]

Back button focus just didn't work for me. I kept forgetting and just missed focus on everything. The moment I did your trick of disengaging focus with the AF-ON button everything just worked! Great tip… very much appreciated Paul👍

[@PaulMiguelPhotography]

So cool that works for you!

[@derekbromage7334]

I too couldn't get on with bbf so I use fbf, front button focus. Specifically the dof preview button on the Canon R6. This button falls perfectly under my third finger and just feels natural to use. I do use the AF button on the back but only for single point focus when there are potential obstacles in the foreground. I think the issue sometimes can be hand size compared to camera body size that can make using bbf awkward, if this is the case it may be easier, if possible, to assign another button that is easier to reach. Just an idea.

[@PaulMiguelPhotography]

Love this! Might look into that.

[@mikes4408]

I used back button focus for a while but found I would have problem finding the button ( have three cameras) so returned to the regular focus.

[@jaheuk]

Is it really needed to remove AF from shutter button? I should think that BBF will override that ?

[@fionahaughton4912]

Hi. useful video as I am trying out Back Button focussing. However, a question. What about the camera's exposure metering? I notice you didnt half press the shutter button (I realise that with bbf it won't focus, but don't you need to still half press for the camera to work out the exposure?

[@PaulMiguelPhotography]

that's a great question. So usually I think you can assign the Back Button to Focus AND Metering. That's what I currently have on my R6.

[@fionahaughton4912]

@@PaulMiguelPhotography Thanks for taking the time to reply. Unfortunately, the Nikon D750 menu did not offer focus AND metering when assigning the back button.

[@CZOV]

With the new mirrorless is a bit more complicated as one have to switch different AF points as well and eye-tracking. Now people use 2 or even 3 buttons for focusing, rather annoying the way Canon configured the new focusing system and the options it left us for customization. However on R3/R7 is better but Canon keep on torturing the R5/6 users for unknown reason (or probably to sell them Mark II for a cheap software patch).

[@PaulMiguelPhotography]

Interesting..

[@messylaura]

That Penguin has issues, its got a note in its flipper something about Paul calling him Jemima late at night and rubbing its fur the wrong way.............🤣 yep, i use the normal focus, i have it in servo and leave the Q-set over the one shot / servo toggle, i also set the single point af size to the smallest as in servo on my camera it stays in the larger format but switches to the small one when i go into one shot i can then hit x5 focus aid this gives me excellent view point to pick a bird out of a tight set of branches for recomposing i just toggle auto focus to manual focus and hit the exposure lock then recompose

[@PaulMiguelPhotography]

Awesome set up! I can assure you the penguin has always been treated with the utmost respect..

[@ProcrastinatorsAnon]

I can't use the shutter button for focus because I don't notice my finger is half depressing when it shouldn't be. (my eyes notice, but my finger doesn't) BBF is a life saver!

[@PaulMiguelPhotography]

Very fair point!

[@doudou7241]

En mode Ai Servo, il n’y a pas les points de focus qui s’allument en rouge . Comment savoir si la mise au point est faite ? Merci

[@PaulMiguelPhotography]

If it's in Servo you just need to trust the camera is focusing. It might not give you confirmation.

[@CRobbins131]

Why don’t you just use the AF lock button?

[@user-tw2kw1ho3v]

1:38 0

[@kimpedersen]

The struggle of small hands and a big Nikon D4s :( cant reach unless i really try..so it feels unnatural

[@johnrus7661]

I've been shooting for 15 years the majority of it bird photography. I've been shooting so long with a shutter button there is no way I can switch at this point it's ingrained in my brain at this point. To me it doesn't really offer any significant advantage but the downside is a very awkward method of usage and way more dexterity needed to use IMO. I've had a handful of fellow birders insist I should use it, so just to be polite I tried it again and hated it. So I'm gonna stick with what works for me.

[@PaulMiguelPhotography]

Stick with it!

[@PotelinoSeven]

Dieu ne met pas quelqu'un qui parles francais, portugais ou espagnol pour faire une video pareil car ils veux que vendre de produits mais vous on vois que vous voulez partager votre savoir.

[@usernamemykel]

"Jeff"? How do you know it's a male? You PEEKED, didn't you?

[@PaulMiguelPhotography]

Haha!