Leica Q2 Back-Button Focusing and Back-Button Light Metering Tutorial

[@Bloggerky]

Very clear and helpful. I’m used to a dedicated AF-ON button on my Nikon Z8, and this shows how to set up the Q2. The button used, however, is pretty darn small.😊

[@donjagoe]

Great video-in a muddled world, you are impressively clear!

[@davyf7620]

This was very interesting and very helpful! It’s a great camera and I appreciate all of your Leica equipment tutorials!!! I visited the Leica Store in Zurich while visiting Switzerland and I mentioned watching your videos to the very nice and helpful staff there! 🙋🏻‍♂️

[@chrisbogart687]

Love to see this video and find out how to get back-button focus on my Q2 Monochrom. Thanks for showing us how you can get it. 🎉🎉

[@simonbnyc]

Thank you so much for this. I've had my Q2 for over a year and found this to be extremely helpful.

[@mathphotographer]

Glad it helped, thanks Simon. Small tricks on these cameras can make a real difference in your workflow with the camera.

[@1946gsp]

Thank you. It would seem so obvious and yet it didn’t occur to me. This solves many problems!

[@mathphotographer]

Thank you Geoff, it is a good feature and a tiny little trick which changes a lot in the usual photography workflow once you get used to using it.

[@hedydd2]

Thanks for that. The Q2 has a deceptively simple user interface but most of everything one needs from a 28mm lens camera is there to be found and used when required. Thanks also for your firmware 5.0 upgrade demonstration video.

[@mathphotographer]

Thank you Huw, I am glad to hear that the content us useful.

[@samker5491]

Wow wow wow, what a tip! Now I can adjust my light metering in bright locations! Great tip on Q2! Do you have full tutorial on Q2?

[@lpark8]

Very helpful. Thank you! Leica makes back button focus, and the other options you go through very easy to use

[@PGfotografie]

is this function also available in AF-C and refocus if the object has moving towards the camera? is this option also in the Q3

[@hedleywrightphotography]

Pleased to see that Leica have made an improvement here by removing the one photo limit to the AF lock. If you assign focus to the zoom button will it continue to focus while pressed in AF-C mode or is it simply a focus lock at the first press point please?

[@bobmcadams3951]

Thanks for explaining the mechanics of these features. Would you consider a follow-on video explaining the practical applications? Why, how often, and in what circumstances would one need to separate exposure metering from focusing?

[@mathphotographer]

Hi, the most natural situation where you want to separate focus from light metering occurs if you are in spot metering and the part of the scene where you want to focus on is too far away from the average light in the scene. You then can point the spot metering field to somewhere else in the scene where the camera finds a better light metering reference point, then lock the light metering with the back-button, recompose back to where you wanted to focus, half-press the shutter button for focusing and then taking the shot.

[@manostroulinos1726]

Great explanation, thanks very much! There is a little more there, I think. The "problem" with the AE/AF Lock override on this back button is that it only works once (or so it seems). After you take one photo, the shutter button reverts to focusing/AE again. So if you want to take multiple photos in quick succession, without every time locking AE/AF with the back button, and without re-focusing again, it seems that you cannot. The camera re-focuses between the shots. The trick is to keep the shutter button half-pressed between the quick repeated shots. In this way the camera keeps the AE/AF lock you had with the back-button and the shutter just takes the pictures without reverting to focusing again. Once you fully let go of the shutter button, the AE/AF lock with the back button is lost. This takes some getting used to and honestly it is not very convenient at all, especially with the back button being flush with the camera body. I often find myself "hunting" for it ("where is the button?"). But it works. It would be great if you could make a short video about that, perhaps there is even more that I missed - especially how this combination works in different focusing modes, fro quick multiple shots shooting. Many thanks again!

[@fordfanjpn]

Many thanks! This is the one thing I was missing on my Q2.

[@mathphotographer]

And its there :) Just a little customisation and you have back-button focus on the Leica Q2 :) Glad the video helped!

[@lhuhnphotography]

If you set the back button for the focus function how do you use the digital zoom? Can you program another button or wheel for digital zoom?

[@LorenzoSavoini]

Thank you for your very useful videos! I have a brand new Q3, and tried to implement af-lock on f1 button and ae-lock on f2 button, but... it doesn't work! You can use only one of this functions a time, you can't simply focus on subject, expose on a middle-gray spot and ricompose... Am I right or there is something I'm doing the wrong way? Bonus: a pity we can't have a true AF-ON button...

[@craigcompoliphotography1235]

Awesome video! I’ve been wondering about back button focusing and focus lock since I bought my Q2 over two years ago. Thank you!

[@mathphotographer]

You are very welcome, Craig.

[@gordw6402]

Thank you for another great video. I wish we were able to program this button with other options.

[@mathphotographer]

Thanks Gord, the options for customising the back-button are rather limited indeed: its (1) digital zoom, (2) AE-L and AF-L (3), AE-L, and (4) AF-L. Other functions cannot be assigned to this back-button at this point in time. And you can also not choose other functions for this button by long-pressing it - as you can on other functions buttons like the FN-button.

[@endlichbilder]

My main question is: is it possible to release the shutter totally from autofokus? To decouple Fokus from the shutter? So it’s true back button Fokus?

[@thomasclark631]

I noticed that during the illustration of back button focus with the zoom/lock button the Q2 was in AFs mode. Can this setting be used when the camera is in manual mode?

[@jean-claudemuller3199]

When spot meetering the light source, I have to compensate exposition to place this source as a highlight by +2 + IL, this is easily done by programming also the thumbwheel for exposure compensation.

[@mathphotographer]

Thanks for pointing out.

[@jaylee8406]

훌륭한 설명 감사합니다 👍👍👍👍👍 아쉽게도 Q3에서는 AE-L, AF-L이 단일 프레임에 고정 되어 있네요, 두번째 프레임에서는 버튼을 다시 눌러야만 AE-L, AF-L이 다시 활성화 되네요, 왜 Q2에 있던 기능이 Q3에서는 후퇴됐을까요…😢

[@kindface]

You have great instructive intelligence, sir. Meaning you have excellent empathy of what practical knowledge your audience/student seeks and actually provides the answer(s) just before he asks the question. In addition, you answer in a very concise and easy-to-understand language. All brilliant teachers have these qualities but still it’s rather rare to find them in the far majority of teachers/coaches. I have a Leica Q and greatly appreciate your lovely tutorials. Thanks!

[@mathphotographer]

Wow, nice feedback, many thanks. Makes my day :)

[@DAVE_WHITE]

Are you sniffing glue? he could have done this video in under 3 minutes he just loves to hear his own voice..

[@endlichbilder]

Hey Danke! :) sag mal hat die Q2 die Funktion „AF Punkt in die Mitte“ packen? Meine Sonys haben das - meine Q1 hat dies leider nicht …

[@johnwheelwright799]

Very nicely done! Thank you.

[@johnkasianowicz6536]

It looks like when the button is programmed for AF lock, there is no AF indicator on the screen as there was for AE when the button is pressed.

[@mathphotographer]

Yes John, and the reason is that there is no need for an indicator symbol since focus indication comes from the color of the focus field. If you back-button focused, the focus field changes from grey to green color so you know that your focus is locked, not need for an additional symbol on live screen like you get it for AE-L.

[@johnkasianowicz6536]

@@mathphotographer Thank you.

[@kieulannguyen1193]

Thank you.❤❤❤

[@albertknapp2740]

excellent video.... as usual!

[@mathphotographer]

Many thanks, Albert.

[@ArminHirmer]

thanks :)

[@mathphotographer]

Pleasure :)

[@LucyS565]

Well done Math! Thank you so much for this valuable information! 👍

[@mathphotographer]

Thank you Lucy. Hope all is well.

[@CalMukumoto]

That was a great tip. Thank you!

[@mathphotographer]

Pleasure :)

[@vannoz66]

Dear Mathphotographer I like your videos very much, but where can I found some infos on you personally? I’d like to know who you are and if possible to see your portfolio. I couldn’t find anything on you except that you live in Zurich. But maybe I missed something. Best.

[@marksisco5222]

This is still not true back button focus like most other cameras. It is only locked for a single frame. On the second frame the shutter button actively refocuses unless you refocus with the back button again. On most cams, the back button focus point remains locked until the back button is used again, and the shutter button is completely inactive from focusing. I LOVE my Q2 cameras, but this is THE one very annoying function that falls short for me. I prefer what other cams do. Lock once with the back button and focus remains fixed on this point for as many frames as you like until you deliberately back button focus again. In any event, great explanation on the way it works.

[@mathphotographer]

Thank you Mark. I actually just took my Q2 with the newest firmware and your statement "... On the second frame the shutter button actively refocuses ..." is not correct, I just tried it out. Maybe I also misunderstand your comment, but here is what happens: if you back-button focused and do not release focus by pushing the back-button again, the focus stays locked for how many frames you want if you shoot them with the shutter release button. As said, I just tried it out. Once you locked the focus via back-button it stays locked until I release focus by pushing the back-button again. In-between I can shoot as many frames as I want with the shutter release button. The shutter release button does not unlock focus if focus was locked via back-button. Works like a charm and is in line with other cameras in the usual way.

[@marksisco5222]

@@mathphotographer This is fantastic news! I am so thrilled about this! I just now installed 5.0 and confirmed this, and I also found this in the release notes: "The focus/exposure setting will remain stored for the focus/exposure lock via the Zoom/Lock button (AF-L, AF-L + AE-L, AE-L) until the button is pressed again". Thank you for taking the time to respond to my comments, and thank you also for the excellent videos. I have been a subscriber for a couple of years or more. Your approach and content are excellent.

[@mathphotographer]

@@marksisco5222 Thanks Mark, you are very welcome :)

[@tonyvokey7607]

Brilliant ❤

[@mathphotographer]

Thanks Tony.

[@KavybBoy]

thank you

[@georgedemetriou1496]

You didn't mention that when set to AF-L, back button focus will only work if the camera is set to autofocus mode. If you are in manual mode nothing happens when your press the back button. It would be grat if it also worked while in manual mode.

[@mathphotographer]

Hi George, your statement is spot-on and correct. The reason why it does not work in manual focus mode has to do with the mechanics of the prime lens fixed mounted on the Q2. There is this little button on the lens which you push, then turn the focus ring and then you are in manual focus mode. With this mechanics - which differs from other lenses - the autofocus gets mechanically disabled and that's why your back-button focus will also not work if you are in manual focus mode. Thanks for pointing out.

[@RS-Amsterdam]

Great video, well explained, nothing to complain about, .... only some things to add: I chose to set the Back Button for "Focussing only" cause setting Exposure is IMO a tricky business especially when you have light source(s) just out of the frame so when moving the camera (reframe) the Exposure could be serious off if one o r more of those light sources are in the frame. Also, when you set it to Back Button on Focus and you focus on a subject with your aperture wide open, when you move the camera in an angle the distance from the sensor to the subject changes what coul result in blurry subjects. Now with apertures smaller than about 4 (higher numbers) this will be no issue. But in case of wide open (or near0 the focus pad will give you a better result. This of course requires some "fingerspitzengefühl" to do this without moving your eye from the EVF. Since I have this under control I have to admit that I hardly use the Back Button anymore. Thanks for sharing and a great weekend !

[@mathphotographer]

Thanks RS, I fully agree with all your additional points on using this technique. Have a great weekend too!

[@miguelangelruiz7293]

❤

[@jean-marcgrenier8676]

Great but sadly, even with BBF the touch screen is always on. As a left eye shooter, my nose refocus. I love my Q2 and I'll keep it but I will not invest in a Q3 if it will be the same problem. Leica : beautiful gear but not as practical.

[@GodOfWaaar]

Yeah, good explanation, but shitty function. Is there no way of only starting the focus process without locking it?

[@Dpul945]

why has it taken them so long to do this? The original Q had it. Does the focus stay locked even if you take more than one image?

[@mathphotographer]

Yes. If you back-button focused and do not release focus by pushing the back-button again, the focus stays locked for how many frames you want if you shoot them with the shutter release button. Once you locked the focus via back-button it stays locked until I release focus by pushing the back-button again. In-between I can shoot as many frames as I want with the shutter release button. The shutter release button does not unlock focus if focus was locked via back-button.

[@Dpul945]

@@mathphotographer so at last proper BBF instead of what it was before

[@mathphotographer]

@@Dpul945 Correct - BBF now works as it should work.

[@richardswinscoe5764]

@@mathphotographer This not true BBF, just a standard AF lock. Nikon has true BBF as do the other major brands and is activated by the AF On button which is separate from the AF/AE lock buttons. The beauty of properly implemented BBF is that it does not require the shutter button to be pressed until the shot is taken. Great you have a twitchy finger while trying to hold the the shutter release half way down! As you correctly explain, the custom setting is for separating exposure from focus. Thus for example the Q2 cannot, when in AF C mode, lock focus on a subject moving towards or away from the camera using "BBF" as you describe. The only option would be to use one of the tracking modes - while holding the release half way. Just one niggle with the Q2 which is otherwise superb.