WHY the PROS use BACK BUTTON FOCUS and why YOU should too!

[@sclogse1]

Back in my Canon Elph 310 days, if I wanted to shoot macro and get more than one area in focus, I simply half pressed the shutter button aiming the camera spot focus to center that area, moved the camera back to my composition, shot, then repeated on another area. I then combined the multiple shots in Photoshop. No big deal for me even shooting hand held. So, I don't see the problem doing this with the shutter button.

[@KirkWilliamsonphotography]

BB focus is more for shooting in continuous focus AF. But can also be used in single shot to lock focus with AF on the shutter turned off.

[@Frank-yb9hf]

thank you for the helpful video and the professional insight!

[@KirkWilliamsonphotography]

Thanks Frank! Glad it helped.

[@jimgunderson6439]

I just got my new Fujifilm XT5 and thanks to your video I set up back button focus right off the bat. Thank you!!!

[@KirkWilliamsonphotography]

You bet Jim enjoy the XT5.

[@RickScheibner]

Thanks, this video is actually timely for me. I shoot middle school sports with an X-T4 and 50-140mm f/2.8. It's been frustrating to come home after a game and have to throw out some good compositions because of missed focus. Just this year, I reassigned the rear command dial to AF and it seemed to do wonders for my football and cross country shooting. Basketball has also been improved somewhat, but I sometimes still don't get the shots that I want. We have our last boys game tomorrow, then girls basketball starts in January. I'll keep working on it. Thanks again for the tips here.

[@KirkWilliamsonphotography]

On the XT4 the BBF button is raised and larger like the XT5. It works great for sports.

[@RickScheibner]

@@KirkWilliamsonphotography Thank you! Yes, I tried that button for awhile but the rear command dial feels more natural for my hands.

[@brucesmith9144]

You are right, once you go to back-button focus you never want to go back to using the shutter button to focus and snap the picture … that is until you give your camera to someone else to snap a picture for you. That’s the only drawback! As for using the back-button focusing in manual mode on my X-T30, I use it almost exclusively. Really great when taking close-up photos of lotus flowers here in Thailand 🇹🇭 (quite common) that I could put that square right on the spot in the center of the flower. It works great. Sometimes though, that square needs to be resized to accommodate your subject.

[@KirkWilliamsonphotography]

I’ve never tried BBF on my XT30. But yes using it in manual works great.

[@curtisb1824]

Never new that you could back button focus , while in manual focus , with Fuji cameras ! I am Definitely going to try this out ! ...Thanks !

[@KirkWilliamsonphotography]

A friend of mine clued me in a couple of years ago. I was amused I had not figured that out.

[@RichardGingrasPhotography]

Thank you for sharing this. You have made it so clear. I will change my settings right now. I didn’t know you could back button focus in manual mode.

[@KirkWilliamsonphotography]

It’s great when the back button focus lands right where your thumb hits.

[@jz4492]

Been using it for years. Especially useful for wildlife.

[@KirkWilliamsonphotography]

Yes awesome for that.

[@ajblitzstein7628]

Always enjoy you videos…Great reminder as I have been using BBF in many of my cameras. I have a Fuji XT5 which I have set back to BBF now. My other Ricoh GRIIIx mostly is set to focus & shoot by screen so that it is already set so anyone can use it for candid shots and I can as well use it for street photography!

[@KirkWilliamsonphotography]

Awesome. On my X-T3 the BBF is so small I use it for the level.

[@user-sh3kn9ov8v]

Pro level tip for a total beginner, and its simple! 🤯😹🖖

[@KirkWilliamsonphotography]

You won’t be a beginner after using it.

[@theboyfrombluesea]

Very clear & to the point! Thank you so much for sharing the tutorial :)

[@KirkWilliamsonphotography]

Many thanks!

[@iphoneography]

Nice video, very informative and great example with the figurines.

[@KirkWilliamsonphotography]

Thanks I use it everyday.

[@user-CJ1279]

Thank you very much

[@GeoffGrant2010]

Thanks so much! I’m going to reset the shutter button and then turn it off again just to try it! Merry Christmas!

[@KirkWilliamsonphotography]

Geoff - Merry Christmas! You will need to play with it for a bit to get used to it.

[@jrperezphotography]

Thank you pulled up your video on the sidelines of football game

[@KirkWilliamsonphotography]

Haha pretty cool. Hope it helped.

[@ajblitzstein7628]

I will just add on my Fuji XT5 I also have the rear wheel assigned to AF-ON so that I two choices to focus with. Sometimes I just push the rear wheel to obtain focus!

[@KirkWilliamsonphotography]

I like just moving my thumb across to the AF-On button instead of down. But hey two choices are better than one.

[@MrTonydiab]

Thank you, you have answered my question about back focus button

[@KirkWilliamsonphotography]

Great thanks I'm glad I could explain it for you.

[@raytbrown2]

I find that it's more effective for locking exposure vs focus as that can change more via the "old" method of half-click and move. That said, this method is awesome for keeping focus. TY!

[@KirkWilliamsonphotography]

Hi Ray - I just love using the BB focus method. locking exposure at shutter release works better for me.

[@SteveMcClanahan]

Thanks Kirk. Consider me inspired. I've been wanting to try Back Button Focus for some time now (I've only dabbled in the past). Living in San Francisco, there's a lot of high contrast shadow situations where I want to set my exposure for a bright scene but set focus on a moving subject in a dark scene but headed to the bright. I can see this being very handy in those tricky lighting situations.

[@KirkWilliamsonphotography]

Steve, try it out that sounds like a good situation for it.

[@1111undici1111]

Thank you so much for sharing this! This is very valuable info!

[@KirkWilliamsonphotography]

I’m glad you can use it.

[@jhlewis10]

Thanks I will try this. Attempted my first basketball game with my XT-5 and my Viltrox 75mm. Ok results. That lens was a little long when I was on the floor for close shots. Will try the BB focus next.

[@KirkWilliamsonphotography]

I use my Fuji 90 f2 for basketball from the first row of seats shooting vertically. I can get anything from half court to the basket. Under the basket you can usually only do in larger arenas. Around here they don't allow anyone under the basket or even off just to the side in high school gyms. For NBA I would use a 24mm or 35mm full frame. Or 100mm full frame right on the side even with the basket. Back button focus works awesome for basketball.

[@gringo19860]

Thanks. When you press & release AF-ON to lock focus, does it lock exposure too, or can exposure change as you re-compose (what I want)? My XT-5 arriving tomorrow! :)

[@KirkWilliamsonphotography]

Exposure is locked when you press the shutter button halfway down. Exposure is not affected by the AF-On button.

[@GeoffGrant2010]

I may have missed it, but did you show how to assign the AF-L button to focus? I saw you turn off the shutter button, but I think I missed the assignment of the AF-L button. Also, when you’re talking about using continuous focus after that, you’re referring to using the AF-L button, correct? Thanks. Keep up the videos! Geoff

[@KirkWilliamsonphotography]

Geoff - On the X-T5 the AF button is set by default. I did not do any assigning of the rear button. Yes in continuous autofocus I am using the rear button. Press once - release and it’s locked. Press and hold and it’s stays on.

[@SidBonkers51]

Ive just been trying to set this up on a new (to me) fuji camera, sauch a shame that the manual doesnt give the one tip you need to do this successfully. I feel pretty stupid that I never thought to look for a menu setting to turn off shutter AF until now!!

[@KirkWilliamsonphotography]

Sid I’m glad I could help!

[@stevengower7396]

I've been playing with back button focus, I see the benefit but changing habits are hard. I like using it manual mode best. Don't have to menu dive and gives you the option for manual or auto focus. It's like a "semi-auto" focus mode.

[@randyk1919]

I do the same thing -- for me it's the best of both worlds available simply by switching the focus lever.

[@KirkWilliamsonphotography]

That’s actually a good way to look at it.

[@reflux043]

Im using an x-t20, and if i decided to use back button focus, what do i set release/focus priority to? Also, if you flick the switch to full auto mode, does it go back to shutter release temporarily?

[@KirkWilliamsonphotography]

I just leave it set to focus priority and never change it. Even for sports. Having a bunch of out of focus images would drive me crazy. The cool thing is you can also never change focus modes from single to continuous and back and forth. Leave it on continuous since focusing only takes place when you press the AF button. Just make sure to set the shutter release AF to off.

[@reflux043]

@@KirkWilliamsonphotography Thanks, that's great. I'll need to try it out.

[@DavidMBanes]

For me on my Panasonic GX880 it's 'top button focus' as I re-assign the 4K button next to the shutter button and I can use my index finger to hit both as needed. Similarly on my OMD E-M10 I reassign the x2 zoom button next to the shutter, and index finger for both again. Can't do the continuous shooting tho.

[@KirkWilliamsonphotography]

David - sounds like you have it worked out on those two cameras. Great!

[@hubertcole1645]

Being doing this method for many years on my Nikons and now Fuji. I assign it to the front button because the button on back is too small.

[@KirkWilliamsonphotography]

I use the button on the front for review. The back button on the XT5 is raised enough and big enough for me.

[@hubertcole1645]

@@KirkWilliamsonphotography I started doing this with xt2 and continued with xt3, x100f, hence too late to change on xt5 now despite the button on back more capable. Only used in manual mode thanks to video I will give it a go on afc. 😊

[@martintolley9234]

Coming from Nikon to XT3 I couldn't hack the back buttons - my thumb never sat anywhere close. But I've reset the front function button as focus and my middle finger falls in exactly the correct spot..

[@KirkWilliamsonphotography]

Good solution I never thought of because I have that button set to playback.

[@kirklins8411]

Glad Back Button Focus works for you Kirk. Definitely does not work for me. I tried over and over because I have friends that do it and other videos online that suggest it. Having to use thumb then finger for every photo does not make sense for me. I just use half press to focus, I can re-compose at that point if I need to and then continue to full press to take the shot. I also have Pre AF enabled so my camera is already focused on whatever I'm pointing at and then half press to lock, then full press to shoot. I found Pre AF made focusing quicker to get the shot. I can still use the AF-L with a press to lock the focus if I want and recompose. With the AF-L lock the half press to focus is ignored so you get best of both. If using a tripod I will often use touch to focus on the lcd then shutter button to take the shot which will not re-focus because I alread selected focus on the screen.

[@KirkWilliamsonphotography]

Yup does not work for everyone. The benefit really is keeping continuous focus on while using it therefore when your subject starts moving you are instantly ready by holding the BB down while shooting.

[@kirklins8411]

​@@KirkWilliamsonphotography ah, I see what you mean. Thanks for the tip Kirk, maybe that will help with my birds in flight :). I just set my rear dial press as AF-ON (easier for my thumb) and my AF-L is still a toggle lock.

[@tukor]

Thanks but i dont completily understand it... If im doing portraits, the model is moving slowly... why i should use back button focusing? Actually im just using autoface autoeye focus and... its done... anyone?

[@KirkWilliamsonphotography]

Better for you to use continuous AF

[@arthurratcliffe1439]

Why wouldn’t you just keep the AF-C and AF-S On and switch to manual for back-button focusing

[@KirkWilliamsonphotography]

Arthur - I use BB focus all the time in AF-S and C. When I’m in manual focus which is not often, I’ll use BB focus as a starting point and fine tune with manual.