My Journey To BACK BUTTON FOCUS - with the Panasonic Lumix G9

[@hilarylee5332]

On the G9, so long as AE/AL is set to AF-ON, as you are using now, set the Focus Switch to MF and you can use the back button auto focus together with manual focus (assuming you are using an auto-focus lens). You might be even more convinced that back button focusing is a good way to work

[@naturesimagephotography]

Thanks for the tip Hilary.

[@HviteVinger]

This is one of the best features of the G9, especially for video.

[@ive595]

First video about BBF that actually explains exactly how it works with demo. Now I see a benefit, the continuous mode is the one I see me using most. Just got to retrain my fingers! Thank you.

[@bretth8292]

You have explained it really well Andrew and finally given me the incentive to give it a real try. Like you, I expect the real challenge will be unlearning old habits. I've seen a few videos on BBF and yours is the best explanation WITH examples that I have seen. Thanks again. I love your work too.

[@stuartsilverman3797]

Thoughtful, complete presentation. You’ve convinced me that it’s worth a try. Thanks, Andrew and have a great week.

[@robertavery8002]

Many thanks Andrew - a very helpful explanation and demonstration of BBF. I'll give it a try.

[@markwitzberger326]

To back up what Hilary said, I too use back button focus with manual focus to quickly get there. But then with focus peaking on I look for any small adjustments I can make. And now, thanks to your second G9 settings video, I set my F4 and F5 buttons as you did and I can't wait to see where this takes me! I haven't used the AFC setting much, and as I didn't realize about holding the back button down, hope to use more as well. Good stuff again! Thanks!

[@houserhythm]

I like to use BBF on a button that's not actually on the back, namely on fn4. Also the main reason for me to use BBF is to have it paired with half press shutter release, especially on the G9, where the half press is so light. It allows me to take much better hand-held shots, by not moving the camera at all on shutter release. I mean it's still moving a bit of course, but it doesn't get that jolt from the button press. Only downside for this is you can't use pre-burst anymore since it only activates on half pressing the shutter button, but then you're already taking the shot(s); but I keep a custom preset with half press release off, so when I switch to burst mode, I also switch to C2, both switches being right there on top of each other.

[@rudolffamiev2188]

Nice video! Thanks. I am using the BBF from the film days, starting with Nikon F100 and continued with all digital bodies as well. I would like to note one detail in camera configuration that could affect the configuration you showcased. Not sure for G9 - but usually for AF-S and AF-C in camera configuration we can select either FOCUS or RELEASE. Default settings - FOCUS for AF-S (shutter disabled until focus is acquired) and RELEASE for AF-C (shutter enabled even without focus acquired). I like to set both modes to FOCUS - this way the burst in AF-C will not be up to the max, but you can expect more frames in focus. So if in my case I set the AF-C (with mode set to FOCUS) and try it in the way you explain - it will not work, as camera will not fire if focus is not acquired. To solve this - you need to switch back to the RELEASE mode. This is very minor as RELEASE is the default setting for AF-C. But no harm to mention this in case somebody have an issue with that.

[@Greggie_D]

I use both front and back button focus setups depending on the situation I’m shooting in. Super easy to set BBF up as a custom mode! Just change your focus settings back after saving your custom mode. Also I’ve set up af-on as well to one of the front buttons on the front of the camera body (next to the lens) for vertical BBF shooting making it Front front button focus I guess. And a pro tip set the top function button on the rear dial to af-far and the bottom dial button to af-near and you can rock your thumb to focus if anything potentially gets in the way of your focusing eg. a branch (wildlife shooting) or person (sports shooting). I guess you could also set up the right or left dial function buttons for af for vertical BBF shooting too.

[@naturesimagephotography]

It's amazing how many options you can customise. I have AF-Near and AF-Far set to the two function buttons on the front of the camera. I don't mind your idea of using the rear dial, might give that a try.

[@robinbarnes3050]

Thanks Andrew. Great video. I learned two things I've not seen anywhere else. First to hold down the back button all the time to track. Second is to half press the shutter button to use the high burst mode. Thanks again for clearing up these two things.😀

[@marcphillips3543]

As usual a very informative video Andrew, thanks. I use BBF and standard focus together. I just set to AF/AE lock to AF and leave shutter release to on. BBF overrides shutter focus but if not turned on G9 operates normally. BBF does not work in AFC mode but shutter does. Kind of best of both worlds.

[@naturesimagephotography]

Great tip! No matter how much I think I know, there is always more to learn. I did want this video to be suitable for people with any kind of DSLR so I kept it general on purpose...but clearly there is more to explore.

[@Cubasenet33]

Great explanation! Since I made my way unto BBF I never thought of coming back. BBF gives me flexibility and freedom. Learning curve was short and easy.

[@nancypearson8580]

Another great video along with explanations on BBF. Thank you so much.

[@sue.Hoo123]

Great explanation and demo of BBF. I have it set up on a Custom mode I use for wildlife shooting, I find it easy in AFS to focus on a perched bird, then use Point Scope (fnc4), for checking the focus. As you say I can then recompose without interfering with the focus. I don’t find it a problem switching between both methods. Regarding portrait mode, I found getting the battery grip helps a lot, you have all the buttons duplicated in the same place, in the UK it’s easy to pick one up 2nd hand from a dealer in mint condition for around £80.

[@timothykieper]

I was a late convert to BBF, until I found that BBF works when camera body is in manual focus mode. This is helpful when your budget AF lens that does not work in AF + MF mode.

[@pokharel_puru]

nicely explained, a concern about BBAF all the time is, if you are continuously tracking a subject (thumb on the BBAF button) then it will keep you from quickly adjusting exposure or moving focus points around and many other things that need the thumb to be used... you need to let go of the BBAF button to make those adjustments thus loosing the AF-C tracking of your subject, it is more of a situation specific style of focusing, not necessarily set it and forget option...

[@BarryBeckhamVideos]

Maybe technology is now overtaking the need for BBF - Great Video

[@paraagshah4153]

One more thing one can do when using BBF. Below Shutter AF is Half Press Release, which by default is Off. Switch it to On. Now when using BBF, one can click by just a half press on the shutter thus requiring less pressure on the shutter and reducing camera vibration when taking a picture and reducing blur.

[@Stone1108]

Nice one, BBF AFC great for sports, also stops you tilting the camera when pressing the shutter button, I find it balances the camera when pressing both, especially handheld. Great demo, the G9 is great for sport especially with the latest focussing FW updates. Thanks, great vid as usual.Celina is a star. 👏

[@jackoneil3933]

Thanks Andrew, I just found your channel and all the great information such as this excellent segment on back-button auto-focus. I just moved to the G9 from the GX8 and found BB-AF to be essential on the G9, especially for video as trying to use the G9's Hair-trigger shutter release to engage single-shot AF often results in the video being in inadvertently stopped so when shooting video I have to stay well away from the shutter release. I went to back button AF years ago with the GX8, and when at 12:00 when you said shooting vertical with BB-AF was harder, I noticed you hold the camera grip from the bottom with your right hand while I grip it from the top with my right hand and don't experience what you mention. If you are right-eye dominant you might want to try shooting with the camera held from the top as it would leave your left eye un-blocked with the camera body. I'm a bit left-eye dominant so and typically place my left eye to the EVF which blocks my left eye, some photographers seem to like to have their left eye open to observe the scene. I do that when shooting video.

[@naturesimagephotography]

Thanks for the tip. If you watch a few moments longer into the video, you'll see I concluded that holding it with the grip at the top (as you are doing) is the way to go. I have now been doing it that way for a few years. I'm so glad you are enjoying my channel.

[@jackoneil3933]

@@naturesimagephotography Indeed... After Posted I saw you mention what I suggested. I recently had an interesting chat with a professor who explained that for many people it's not as simple as being right or left handed, left or right brain, or eye dominant, and many people can have a mix of left or right side dominance, and the way people hold a pen when writing, such as 'overhand' with a pen more vertically, as well as holding objects in a unique way often indicates an ambidextrous or left-hand dominant, person who was taught or adopted right handed writing. The professor mentioned there's been some research that shows some people are left-brain dominant and also left hand dominant rather than left-brain-right-handed as most people are. Observing how you hold your camera and being artistically inclined, perhaps you as some artists seem to be, have a unique hand-brain wiring. A friend who's a professional photographer and owns a camera store, and teaches photography, and like myself is right-handed but uses his left eye for photography. He taken tally of customers who are left-or right eyed and left or right handed, and noticed that many artistic photographers are right handed but left-eye dominant.

[@dunnymonster]

Long term BBF user here. I'd feel very strange using the shutter button to acquire focus and it throws me when I am using a friend's camera. Conversely my friend who has never used BBF really struggles to operate my camera lol. Regards vertical portrait orientation, I've got the G9 with its vertical grip so BBF is no problem given the AF lock button is duplicated on the grip.☺️

[@Kiwicruiser355]

I use BBF on my dslr, but shutter button focus with my FZ300. Reason being, if I am holding the camera down at ground level I can cup the right side with my hand and have my thumb reaching forward to activate the focus and shutter release. Much easier than trying to fiddle to find the BB with my thumb and activating the shutter with a finger.

[@nicholasellam3282]

Hi Andrew, many thanks for a really clear video. I am torn over the use of BBF. In the past I have used the back button set to Focus Lock. I like this because once it locks focus, you can recompose the picture and the focus area stays green as a reminder. The front button focus is automatically disabled until such time as you release the focus lock by either taking a picture or pressing the back button again. I need more practice to decide!

[@naturesimagephotography]

Having so many options is amazing but it can also open up lots of grey areas. In the end, whatever works for you is the best way to go.

[@jerzysilberring3220]

Many thanks for this, and other informations. The story does not end here, as Lumix cameras have many other, a bit hidden AFC options. Please have a look at the brochure Lumix AF Guidebook (pick the one for G series) and I will be grateful for your comments and practical applications of all possibilities you may find there (and there are many!!). Best wishes.

[@toxophillus72]

All your videos Andrew are clear and precise, well done. Not sure yet if I will use BBF but interesting video. With Human and Animal recognition + AFL also tracking and the Advanced AF settings. I have C1,2,3 set to different situations , I cant see that I will ever need it.

[@williambell3036]

Thanks Andrew another great teaching video.I have been using BBF shortly after I bought my G9 two years ago,didn’t know about using AFC for single shot,tried this and found the only problem I have with that is it reduces battery life,when you are focusing you can hear the focus mechanism operating,not so with AFS selected.

[@naturesimagephotography]

Thank you William. Yes I have considered that as well battery life will definitely suffer using AFC all the time. It's also true (as my friend Barry likes to remind me) that with the number of AF Area Mode options available these days, BBF may not be the game changer it once was. As I said in my long introduction, I tackled this mainly to fill a gap in my skill set...yet to decide if I really need it in the long term.

[@ÁzsiábaSzakadtam]

It would have been great to see how to use it for video shooting

[@Bakin]

Great video and the G9 proves itself a great customizable camera yet again.

[@buyaport]

Thanks a lot for sharing. Using BBF on my DSLRs I was wondering how others experience it on the G9. To me it seems to be needed here, as the shutter button has virtually no pressure point to speak of -- which, speaking of habits, I am not fully used to yet.

[@CC3GROUNDZERO]

The important takeaway is that BBF *only* makes sense in AF-C mode (regardless of the camera used). In AF-S mode, shutter button focus is much more sensible since you're refocusing anyway.

[@robdalziel7056]

I too was thinking pre-burst wasn’t working when I was trying to capture bees taking flight a couple of weeks ago. Now I know why - thanks for the explanation! Also, in portrait mode, I always support the camera with my non shooting left hand on the basis that if my right hand is squeezing the trigger while also supporting the camera it could impart some movement to the camera. Think I read it in an instruction book when I was first learning. Whether or not that is a genuine concern I don’t know!

[@paulmerhaba1969]

Thanks very informative, was struggling with high speed mode not working.

[@traintrambus]

Excellent informative video. Many thanks.

[@Orbs081]

Great video Andrew going to give it a go. Love your photos at the end of the video :)

[@Fantomas-HiTech]

Thanks for this tip !

[@laurentyarp514]

This is a very detailed review of BBF. Thank you. I always find it difficult to shoot in vertical mode. Having a lot of troubles moving the joystick in the right direction :) As for BBF there is another usage of the button. It is to use the back button as Focus Lock. It locks the focus when pressing the button and unlock when pressing again. When focusing has been difficult you may lock the focus and recompose mind free.

[@naturesimagephotography]

Thanks for the tip. And isn't it interesting how many different ways we can use the G9? I hardly ever use the joystick at all so that has never been an issue for me.

[@laurentyarp514]

@@naturesimagephotography Yes, the G9 is a rich featured camera. > I hardly ever use the joystick I see. When watching the video I have been wondering how you were dealing with BBF and the joystick.

[@mdb230169]

In the menu try moving to AF lock also than just AF on ...locks you into your subject even less problems especially in vertical shot taking

[@Garrus4Spectre]

Great video, thanks so much.

[@davidpope8389]

Well done Andrew, a very considered and great in-depth review of BBF. I have been using BBF for some time, but certainly learned from your video why some of my photos are have not come out as expected. As 'dunnymonster' mentions below, you can use the LUMIX DMW-BGG9E battery grip which makes using the rotated camera easier to use. Thanks for your time and experience, great job.

[@RollTideUK]

I shoot mainly wildlife and I find BBF extremely useful even if it did take me a while to get used to it.

[@bricenoh]

FWIW, without BBF, if you hit the shutter and NOT fully release it, it will take a picture and keep focus, though also takes practice.

[@nickcarneyphotography]

Hi Andrew, quick question on this to make sure I'm understanding it correctly. With AF-ON set to the AF/AE Lock button, Shutter AF off, and using AF-C, you can press AF-ON once to lock onto a stationary subject (then you can re-compose), and if the subject is moving you hold down the AF-ON button as you follow them? For example, the first option could be used for mountain gorillas sitting down or an elephant standing in place, and the second option for BIF or a lion walking in the grass. Am I understanding this correctly? Hope that all made sense. Thanks! Learn so much from this channel!

[@naturesimagephotography]

Yes it sounds like you have it right. It's like having AFC and AFS all in the one function. Give it a try with a friend posing for you to test it out. You will find it works brilliantly most of the time...but as you said in your other message, human/animal detect can sometimes get distracted by other objects, especially when the subject is not moving.

[@nickcarneyphotography]

@@naturesimagephotography Thanks so much for your replies. This channel is a godsend to G9 users!

[@JoshsPhotoJourney]

Great info! Thank you for sharing 👍

[@danferrel9612]

That has got to be the most unintuitive way to enable BBF that I've ever seen. Thank you for showing it to me. I was nearly ready to sell the camera as it was nearly unusable. It's still not working like how you show it, but at least I don't have to be stuck with the hair trigger anymore.

[@vikkitempleton9157]

Super video, thanks

[@twist1ne]

Any reason for not using the grip? I love mine for the extra battery and dual controls that can be turned off when you're not using them. You'd still have to hold the camera a different way (and the ergonomics still aren't perfect) but it works ok.

[@naturesimagephotography]

I have never had one and never felt the need. Although I know a lot of people love them. I always have a spare battery in the camera bag, and very happy with the handling of the G9 just as it is.

[@IanPerry]

A very nice video, Andrew! I too have converted, with some hiccups on the way, to back button focus on my G9. Tried the same on my Canon M50, but, the buttons on the back are quite small, and difficult to hit consistently. Stay safe! Ian :-)

[@hanzkilian1806]

try saving BBF to C1 that way you have two ways to shoot especially with SH1

[@oscarbavi7886]

great video with g9

[@rayjenkins2754]

I appreciate your detailed analysis of this BBF operation. I've used it for awhile now on my G9 & it's automatic. I've thought on the issue where the Pre Burst feature requires a half press of the shutter button in order to work. I decided to add ' Shutter A F ' as a selection in ' My Menu ' so that when I'm going to shoot birds at our feeder using the Pre Burst I can quickly turn on the Shutter A F. I've practiced with the Half Press Shutter to sensitized my finger so that when the ' Half Press ' is off I don't over press. Also, this way I only use my index finger for both focus & shutter. Have you used ' i ISO when shooting birds or played with the 'A F Sensitivity settings ' ? Thanks again.

[@naturesimagephotography]

Thanks for all the info. No, despite trying to learn as much as I can about the options on the camera, I still have a bit of an old-school approach. I still just set the ISO myself manually and haven't looked into advanced options. I get a lot of comments about the different AF settings in the menu and will probably start looking into them as one of my next projects.

[@robinbarnes3050]

Hi Andrew. Coming to you with another question as you are the Lumix man!!!! I have learned so much from watching your videos. I am struggling with picture clarity. Wondering if I am not close enough to the wildlife I am trying to photograph. When I crop up the picture on the back of the camera or in Lightroom have a blurry picture. Am I expecting too much from cropping. Or is it about settings? I think I have the right shutter speed and iso etc. Should I be less than 30feet from a bird to get a good image? Bare in mind we in the UK don't get the sun you do. Help Please. Robin

[@naturesimagephotography]

Having the smaller sensor, photos from the G9 can't really take a lot of cropping unless they are VERY sharp. So yes you really need to get as close to the subject as possible. Also, take note that while the screen on the camera is very good, when you enlarge photos on that screen they lose resolution so they never really look sharp when blown up in camera. It's only on the computer that you can really get a sense of how sharp they are. Finally, when you look at them on the computer, I think it's a mistake to always look at them at 100% size. If you look hard enough for faults you will always find them. Unless you are making large high resolution prints, it's often better to consider how they look in the size your other viewers are likely to see.

[@ArnaudSiemons]

Great.

[@spudwas]

Does the Back Button focus also works with video? (I know, it's a dumb question...but still) official 600th like here.

[@naturesimagephotography]

Thanks for number 600! I will use BBF to get the initial focus at the start of a video. But using AFC, once the video starts shooting the focus will follow the subject without me needing to keep my thumb on the button.

[@chhil]

Having enabled back button focus,shutter button disabled for focus and in AFC mode and ficus in human animal detect.... Whether I keep the back button pressed or not the focus changes. I can't seem to replicate the behavior you show.

[@naturesimagephotography]

Is that for still photos or video?

[@chhil]

For photo. Why does your menu item under the AF-ON not gray out?

[@naturesimagephotography]

@@chhil OK I have had more time to consider your questions and look back over this video. The answer to your second question is this: the menu item you refer to does grey out, but only after I set the AF/AE Lock item to AF-on. You can see it happen in the video...it's there before I change the setting, and then it's greyed out after. Back to your original question. If you are using Human/Animal detect, I believe the AF will always be seeking a subject and will put a box around potential subjects. So it might appear to be focusing when really it is only identifying subjects. It's only when you press the back button to focus, that the focus actually locks on...the box or focus points should turn green and you should hear a beep. Unfortunately it has been raining here all day so I haven't had a chance to test things out and see if I can come up with a better answer.

[@chhil]

Thank you for getting back. I don't have animal detect and I can see it the different objects coming in focus. So say I initially focus far and press the BBF. Then I change the position to something close and it gets focus. Now for whatever reasons after tinkering with AF lock etc. When I try the BBF setup and it behaves as you describe it. I am confused and hope the previous grabbing focus setting I was on never comes back :) Sorry for wasting your time.

[@rerun_van_pelt]

Have you tried setting the "Quick AF" option to "OFF"? I had the same behaviour on my G9. I activated BBF exactly like Andrew described it in this video. The camera re-focussed after a few seconds even though no button was pressed. When I changed "Quck AF" from "ON" to "OFF" the G9 stopped re-focussing and behaved just like demonstrated in the video.

[@AnwaarAliOfficial]

Someone please help. I got the new G9 camera with the Firmware 2.4 installed, but there's no Autofocus in MOV 8bit HD. Autofocus only works in 4K and HD 10bit, but the 10bit HD MOV files are not playing back in PC and Adobe Premier Pro.

[@naturesimagephotography]

Sorry I am not an expert in video formats. Not even close. There is a very good Facebook group for G9 users full of people willing to share their knowledge...you might try posting your question there. facebook.com/groups/PanasonicG9

[@AnwaarAliOfficial]

@@naturesimagephotography Ok, thank you

[@ostoer]

I never really got the advantages of BBF and with this video I still don‘t get it. From your explanation it works best if you focus and then recompose your shot. Since I first compose the shot and then focus I don‘t see any benefits from using BBF.

[@naturesimagephotography]

As I said in the video, the advantages are slight. And obviously not for everybody. For wildlife photography, the ability to go from single-shot to continuous all in the one function is a real benefit. Other commentors on this video seem excited to give it a try. For me it was just a frustrating gap in my skill set, and I didn't want to pass judgement on it without first learning properly how to use it. Now that I have...it is certainly not the big deal that some 'experts' make it out to be.

[@chcomes]

my issue is that keeping bbf and c-af sometimes when i take out the finger from the button, it is actually off the subject because i interrupted one of the re-focus cycles. that did not happen to you? what did i do wrong?

[@naturesimagephotography]

I'm not sure. The focus point (whether you are using one-point, human detect etc.) will turn green when the focus has locked on. So perhaps you need to wait for that moment when the square turns green before taking your thumb off the button.

[@Paul_C]

Yep, tried that, just, too old and set in my ways. Moreover, I see why a professional would take the time to train both methods. Just, not a professional and that would mean unlearn 51 years muscle memory.

[@rogerblackie9906]

Six months later. Have you stuck with BBF?

[@naturesimagephotography]

Wow has it been six months already? Yes I am still using it on the G9. And I stick with what I said in the video...it is a small advantage some of the time...not the ground-breaking, must-do technique that some experts claim it to be. The truth is I have stuck with it only because once I got used to it, I saw no reason to switch back.

[@ggmtv1394]

I'm afraid that you lost me when you kept saying "on the button" without saying which button.

[@naturesimagephotography]

Comment noted, and sorry for the confusion. Nobody else has mentioned this. I went back and watched through the video. So just to clarify - pretty much anytime I was talking about front button focus, 'on the button' referred to the shutter button. And when I was talking about back button focus, 'on the button' to the AF/AE Lock button.

[@ggmtv1394]

@@naturesimagephotography it may be me...