Why I Back Button Focus...

[@JamesPopsysPhoto]

Please mark my David Brent out of ten..

[@JamesPopsysPhoto]

haha!

[@kingbov6250]

6 👌

[@Harlequin565]

6.5

[@SethPay]

James Popsys hmmm of all the impressions I’ve seen... 7.5. Above average! 😉😆

[@jakedooom]

1

[@AndrewPowerTower]

The dog blends in so well with the snow that it looks like a floppy bird flying toward you.

[@JamesPopsysPhoto]

haha!

[@brentgoodwin3133]

I love the SIMPLICITY of this video, gets right to the point and is informative. And yeah the shutter is the second most important because I often sit there jamming the back button on my camera just for fun, no need to take the photo.

[@ryans_life]

Best and easiest BBF video explanation that I have ever seen. Great video and dog :)

[@JamesPopsysPhoto]

Cheers mate :)

[@CookedLight]

Always a joy watching your brain work things out. And Pebbles.

[@w0lfyovi294]

The soundtrack is spot on with the style of your videos, goofy but lovable, would like to see more like that in the future

[@MyVisualNote]

The way how you explain things is basically how would I explain something, so that's how you get that audience you were talking about on the other video, thanks for the info and keep up the good work

[@BonnersCreate]

Side note. If you don't like these videos prior to watching I highly suggest that you do. Great job as always my friend.

[@JamesPopsysPhoto]

Cheers mate :)

[@steveg4iwr]

Tried BBF in the past and it was a Marmite moment. Hated it every time I picked the camera up (G9) so took it off again. Good luck with it.

[@giselesmith7795]

I love your music! I also love watching Pebbles in the snow. Keep sending out the nice videos.

[@Dreyno]

Been using back button focus for a few years now. Would never go back. Also, I find fingerless gloves to be good for photography. Apart from the Steptoe connotations. And I’ve recently come to believe the delete button is the most important button. Have a proper look at the screen, consider the composition, check focus and............it’s crap. Delete.

[@JamesPopsysPhoto]

haha, I hear you David :)

[@jeremycaldecoat1699]

Wind stopper cycling gloves I use. Not the extreme fat fingers type though. No chilled tips. Just don't work on touch screen.

[@waxwingsphoto]

I always love your music choice

[@JamesPopsysPhoto]

haha, cheers mate :)

[@Leberkasbepi]

Thats the first video what explain the best reason for the BBF. Now i know it what benefits it gives. Thanks for this!

[@lidge1994]

Kinda glad I learned about Back Button Focus before even getting my camera! Now that I have it I use that constantly, I just need to learn everything else!

[@lylestavast7652]

Cute dog btw... fun watching it play in the snow..

[@bevleaross8736]

nice to see you and nigel out together... LOVE pebbles

[@suew6307]

James, love all your videos.. .this is a good one too as I was not aware of this button on my camera....well I probably saw it but new asked anyone what it was for....I like the idea and am going to try it out! I enjoy the humor and realness of your videos/info! Thanks!

[@jonpg1jsf118]

I have done something similar on my G9 (brilliant camera by the way) but have customised the buttons so that the AF/AE LOCK locks the exposure, and the bottom front custom button (Fn5) does the prefocus and focus lock (pressed by my ring finger). This separates the two functions giving me total control.

[@raulsuhett]

James and Nigel and Pebbles in the same video is a great treat!

[@danielhamilton2157]

Best explanation I've seen to date.

[@JamesPopsysPhoto]

Cheers Daniel :)

[@markzelinskiphotography3768]

Another classic Popsys Production.

[@yazid222]

That is what I use in any camera that I shoot with. If someone here wants to understand why it is useful to set your camera for back button focusing, I would suggest for them to watch Tony Northrup's video about the subject.

[@shutterbug1076]

Great video! I always recommend back button focus. It took me going back and forth a couple of times trying it before I switched completely, but I wouldn't have it any other way now. It's so convenient to have continuous or single auto focus instantly, lock it and recompose. I leave exposure lock on half press so I can also check exposure easily at the same time if needed.

[@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 centre) 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...very few professional photographers use back button for focusing. 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.

[@spidersj12]

Love your dry sense of humor James! And I use back button focus on my Canon EOS R.

[@veraluciacampos3776]

Great vídeo! Glad to see that you and Nigel are friends, I really 💜 the both of you! And once again the star of the vídeo, Pebbles!!!

[@ive595]

A year later, I come back to this, not needed back button focus until now. G9 has a very delicate shutter button, especially in gloves.

[@lylestavast7652]

The most important button on a photographers camera, or computer keyboard - is the "delete". It'll up your game results substantially if you never spend time trying to rescue shots which are only really viable in the bit-bucket. Good video - I do the exact same BF button setup with AFC and take thumb off if I want it to lock... it's really handy.

[@JamesPopsysPhoto]

True! :)

[@bradzaruba9686]

Pebbles is a rock star! Your assistance on understanding back focus is much appreciated. I also hope you do some collaboration with Nigel!

[@JamesPopsysPhoto]

Hi Brad, it's in the works :)

[@bill3641]

Good tip, Great view, Cute dog, Nice keyboard, Thanks.

[@johngeorgo]

I ve tried this technique and found it very annoying when u want normal focusing on shot after shot. Therefore I assigned my button to stop focus, so when I am pressing the button assigned to do that (ex zoom out button), no matter what i do with the shutter button it wont change the focus.

[@sander5086]

Looking forward to the next Pebbles video and of course the one about the on/off button, that will be briljant!!!!

[@JamesPopsysPhoto]

Haha, thanks :)

[@JohnDrummondPhoto]

Last night my camera club shot at a Brazilian jiu-jitsu school. They mostly grapple on the ground, so I found myself holding my camera overhead often while pointing down at the combatants. Only way to do this easily was in live view with back button focus. BBF was clumsy at first, but now it's second nature.

[@JamesPopsysPhoto]

Me too :)

[@gillyb44]

Ive recently switched to BBF still getting used to it, but I am getting more consistent in focus shots. Love your humour

[@dallasgrant]

I've heard of back button focusing but never had a camera that could do it, now I do so i'm going to give it a shot, I like to recompose probably a third the time and it can work but it's frustrating, this makes so much more sense, I have a custom button beside my shutter button, lets hope I can make it do focusing.

[@ju2705s]

Good points. I was knowing about BBF but never tought on wear gloves. Nice 👍

[@clasijuls1]

James you are sooo funny ,and your tips are awesum .Very entertaining .love your channel .Thank you

[@andyoaf]

Might not be the most important button, but it's the best button. Landscapes, portraits, sports etc, etc,

[@ThomasDutour]

I use back button autofocus but I have noticed I sometimes miss focus by being in continuous mode as the camera's autofocus keeps hunting. So now I prefer switching from single to continuous depending on my needs. Pebbles looks like a bird in the snow!

[@mikeyoungmedia]

Been going back through your video list. Happy to find someone with a similar camera as me(gh5). I do mostly concert work and I never even thought of using AFC 😬😬

[@hidekigomi]

I didn’t have to wait until Sunday, a nice surprise!

[@JamesPopsysPhoto]

haha! :)

[@Robin-bk2lm]

Really excellent explanation. Thx

[@carlosvanvegas]

Fabulous video gotta love Pebbles

[@longbord1]

best explanation yet. legit.

[@Terrytheartist]

Just subscribed recently James and gone through loads of your videos, love the way you put in plenty of humour and make what is or could be quite a complex hobby a lot easier to us mere mortals known as amateur snappers! I’ve just retired from 8 years as a wildlife Artist and decided to put aside my Sony Bridge camera and buy a Canon 80D plus a 150mm-600mm lens to spend my time photographing wildlife, so cheers for making an old geezer with a sense of humour happy to watch a young bloke with the same sense of humour teach me how to go about it! 👍👊📷😆

[@JamesPopsysPhoto]

Awesome to hear - thanks :)

[@quartzimaging]

Hey, interesting idea. I see how you can use bbf when you want to focus on an certain subject(item), then recompose while keeping the subject in focus. Okay, fine. It seems an obvious alternative is to start with desired composition and then use the joystick to move the focus onto the desired subject. Isn't that why the focus area can be shifted to anywhere in the fov? It seems you have gained very little, but meanwhile you have disabled (lost) the ae lock functions! I wonder what I am missing here...?

[@Rayanjai]

I just discovered you through Nigel's channel and I love your vlogging style! Humorous and informative. Subscribing!

[@Archibald_Quincy_Stanton]

Best vlog ever on the third most important button👍and having a cute well known dog that you don't have to feed do a cameo is brilliant as well 😉

[@JamesPopsysPhoto]

haha, cheers Tony :)

[@paullouis547]

Please make a video about the On/Off button !

[@JamesPopsysPhoto]

haha, That's not a bad shout! Although imagine the abuse I'll get :)

[@Clickumentary]

I've just added "play with back button" to my long list of things. Thank you James.

[@JamesPopsysPhoto]

Awesome :)

[@jshariff786]

Hilarious and informative as always! I've already been using back-button autofocus on my Canon 80D for months, but I watched the video anyway, because I knew it was going to be good. Plus it's always great to get different people's perspectives on the pros and cons. Keep the content coming!

[@JamesPopsysPhoto]

Thanks mate :)

[@clifflean]

Just wondering if you can use back button focus while you are using mirror lock up

[@karyleianawildernesscapes]

*Pebbles* !!! 🐶😍 "she's got more energy than the sun...do you feed her rocket fuel??" 🤣🤣🤣 Haha your humor! & agreed yet again, back button focusing = game changer! I typically manual focus 90% of my shots, but for those rare occasions when some thing happens quickly, back button focus saves the day!

[@karyleianawildernesscapes]

& I swear I've been subscribed to you for over a year now, but on my other account 🤦🏻‍♀️ so now you've got another old-new sub lol!

[@JamesPopsysPhoto]

Sweet! Thanks :)

[@stevemozzie6497]

Morning James. Managed to set up my D500 for BBF. Your SIMPLE explanation of how to use this has penetrated my brain successfully. Hmm. I was keeping my finger ON the BB instead of pressing just the once. MAGIC! Question: You have a load of runners, or in your case … sheep and you want to focus on a particular runner/sheep. If you hit the focus on one particular runner/sheep, then recompose … will the camera continue to track the subject and keep them in focus? Locking the focus point in the centre of the camera and using BBF would be magic. Might try it out this weekend at a "Doesn't matter Park Run" Does this make sense?

[@JamesPopsysPhoto]

Hi Steve, that's certainly possible with tracking :)

[@BlackRain_]

Do you have any tips on photographing birds?

[@AlainCarAudioManiac]

Thank you very much, pleasant video

[@JamesPopsysPhoto]

Thanks for watching :)

[@aaronberwitz5319]

Great tip, great vid, great Brent impression 7/10👌

[@JamesPopsysPhoto]

haha, cheers mate :)

[@Chris-NZ]

Nice simple explanation and love the dog at the end :)

[@JamesPopsysPhoto]

Cheers Chris :)

[@NewMediaServicesDe]

You're so damn funny! There are way too many good videos on youtube to watch them all, but watching a video that is good AND funny is always the reason making me subscribe.

[@JamesPopsysPhoto]

Thanks so much Susanne :)

[@zakhey]

Why not just shift your focus point via touchscreen input when composing? That way you wouldn't need to lock focus on intended subject then recompose. This BBF method is more for DSLR cameras where the focus point coverage is pretty much only in the center, as compared to most modern mirrorless systems where the coverage is almost the entire screen.

[@JamesPopsysPhoto]

That's an option! :)

[@alangeorgebarstow]

You're not seeing the Surprise View at "Surprise View" because you're not a local. If you're referring to the Surprise View in the Peak District you need to drive along the A6187 from the Toad's Mouth rock (just down from the Fox House pub) and continue past the car park to the sharp right-hand bend that commences the downhill gradient into Hathersage. The view is over the wall, looking down into the Hope Valley, at that right-hand bend. It is quite staggeringly breathtaking.

[@paulasimson4939]

Thumbs up just for the cameo appearance by Pebbles! But seriously, very helpful explanation.

[@JamesPopsysPhoto]

Thanks Paula :)

[@JoeMaranophotography]

Maybe you could do a video going into back button focusing a bit more as it could confuse people who set their camera to AF-ON instead of AF-LOCK and vice versa. For example in the wildlife community back button focusing is common for birds in flight so if you set the camera up that way and then tried the focus and recompose technique you might end up scratching your head.

[@markdbey]

Really happy to see how your channel is growing man! Keep up the great work! You are hilarious! 😆

[@JamesPopsysPhoto]

Thanks buddy! :)

[@Jigsaw407]

I love backbutton focus, I've been using it for years and don't wanna go back. It's only a problem when you hand the camera to others to take a picture... always requires a short explanation combined with confusion. Or you just switch it to Auto for a second... a least on Canon cameras it goes back to half-press focusing in that mode.

[@kungfool69]

today was the first time i had ever touched that button on my Lumix GX8 :D THANK YOU

[@zulufoxphoto3822]

Worth it for the outro music!

[@JamesPopsysPhoto]

haha!

[@birgitsmetana]

Nice video - have heard a lot about back-button focus now ... wonder how long it’ll take to get out of the life-long habit of half-press shutter button ? 🧐

[@JamesPopsysPhoto]

It might take a while - but it's worth it :)

[@birgitsmetana]

I'll give it a try when I switch camera - which should be rather sooner than later ...

[@markknoernschild8436]

How about a Nigel and James collaboration? Anyway, thanks for this one about back button focusing.

[@JamesPopsysPhoto]

Sounds good Mark, we're plotting :)

[@martingriffiths5209]

hmm the 'disjointed' video explains why focus and trigger functions should be dis jointed tbh :) thanks its helpful

[@MrSheepmaster]

Great video as always.

[@HarvyDangerFilms]

Could you do one on the fourth and fifth most important buttons please? ;)

[@JamesPopsysPhoto]

Deal! :)

[@MrParraPaul]

Sweet drone footage mate!

[@FourKnown]

Hey James, when I do back button focusing on my GH5, I have to put it in manual focus mode. Otherwise when I hit the shutter button it just refocuses again. I'm not sure I would want it the way you described because it would take away the half-press to focus in the AFS mode. Explain please? Thanks. I always enjoy your videos. Now I'm off to order a Weebill Lab gimbal :)

[@JamesPopsysPhoto]

Hey John, you can switch off shutter AF in the settings if using back button :)

[@FourKnown]

@@JamesPopsysPhoto But then if I want to shutter AF I have to go into the menu again. The way I have it now, all I have to do is switch the focus mode switch on the camera from manual to AFS. Seems easier...

[@soupdragon12345]

Hi James , do I have that on my T6 ?

[@GarethPuckey]

Place is opposite surprise view, near bolehill quarry

[@ashstubbings2603]

All the back button focusing stuff was very good..but I NEED THAT MUSIC IN MY LIFE!! Who is it and where is it from?

[@JamesPopsysPhoto]

Haha, somewhere in the epidemic sound archives :)

[@RobJorg]

lets go mirrorless and 3/4 sensor , it saves weight. then popsys comes with a huge gearlist. how big is your backpack ? or should i say team to carry it all ?

[@robbie288]

Can you do a video on the forth most important button, people will definitely flock from all around for that :)

[@JamesPopsysPhoto]

haha!

[@RS.Outdoors]

Good stuff mate and back button focus is so handy. One thing I am wondering is if Panasonic have given you any new camera gear to review or try? Atb

[@JamesPopsysPhoto]

Hi mate, not yet but hopefully in the not too distant :)

[@WhiteWulfe]

Ooooooooh, he's got two of the PanaLeica primes! Sooo can't wait to see what you think of them, especially the 15mm f1.7!!! ...And your commentary on the autofocus of the 25mm f1.4 :P How's the Three Legged Thing tripod treating you?

[@JamesPopsysPhoto]

haha, looking forward to checking them out :) And for a tripod, the TLT is pretty good :)

[@zwheels654]

Back button focus is life.

[@AllenandAndy]

Thank you very much, I finally understand the benefit of using afc and still be able to recompose. Would it also be the same benefits and concepts if I mostly use 3D tracking on my Nikon? Since I shoot street photograohy, I find tracking my subject works best

[@polmacdhomhnaill3021]

Nice. D800E will throw a fit if I use AF lens and fall out with me. You've made simple a video on back button focusing, where others have failed and confused the viewer.

[@JamesPopsysPhoto]

Good to hear, thanks :)

[@jonberg3703]

I love back button focus and always use it. But can you please make a shortened and simplified 5 second video on how to use BBF that I can quickly show to a non photographer who is only in possession of my camera for 30 seconds after I have passed it to him and asked him to take a picture of me!

[@mikesphotography7185]

Just got a G9 and checking it out. I may or may not?

[@Tuzaflip]

You had my thumb up at the moment the dog shown up

[@JamesPopsysPhoto]

Haha - they seem a good assistant for youtubers :)

[@stevebrowning5081]

How did you make the transition where you zoomed out of your clip to the clip where you were editing that same clip? Does that make sense?

[@JamesPopsysPhoto]

Nothing clever, just overlayed the edit clip and matched the sound timings :)

[@dieseldavey]

Excellent video. That cheered me up 😆

[@JamesPopsysPhoto]

Glad to hear it David :)

[@ellenr5435]

I think Pebbles the dog should have her own KZbin channel. Great video too. Strange to see snow when we are having the hottest summer on record here in Australia 😜

[@JamesPopsysPhoto]

I've heard! Stay hydrated :)

[@stevemozzie6497]

My favourite spot apart from the parking fee. Can't do BBF when I shoot runners, not literally that is. My fingers and brain can't change the habit of LIFETIME. BUT, I will have another try.

[@JamesPopsysPhoto]

Haha, I get that Steve! :)

[@CarsonsVids]

Been unable to figure out the continuous auto focus while holding back button to focus trick, at least on my specific camera. Camera changes focus even when not pressing it.

[@CarsonsVids]

Figured it out. Had to turn off a settings called pre-AF

[@TravelRocksOurWorld]

Great video James more info I can apply to my camera work. Finally started following you on Instagram great work.

[@JamesPopsysPhoto]

Awesome - thanks :)

[@laurae83uk]

Hi James, are you tempted by the new Lumix DC-S1/S1R??? 🤔 Another great video btw 👍🏻😊

[@JamesPopsysPhoto]

Possibly, time will tell :)

[@ipedros7]

Totally disagree with your title! The most important button surely is the shutter! ;) The combo BBF/AFC is for me super flexible and helpful in many genres: landscape, bird, people photography. After my first couple of months with a DSLR, heard of it and tried it for a couple of weeks. Had disaster after disaster- not only photos were really bad, most weren't even in focus... because I'd often forget to press the BBF button! At the time, I went back to defaults for a couple of days, trying AFLock instead.Then just braced myself, committed to BBF+AFC and never looked back. Four years later still love it. You press once its AF-S, you maintain button depressed, its instant AF-C. Only downside.. anyone who picks my cameras... without instruction, end up with blurry photos :) Keep the content going. From GM area.

[@lorgar87]

Fiiirst! Edit: on a more serious note, I agree! And I prefer this button to be on the topo right corner like in my old pentax k-r or the gx8 that I bought today ;) ps: lovely music at the end!

[@mattlo1661]

Second 🎈

[@JamesPopsysPhoto]

Thanks! :)

[@lorgar87]

@@JamesPopsysPhoto AHAH I have just realised I wrote TOPO! In italian it means mouse! There you go, fun fact!

[@ethanwan3005]

You got a new lens?

[@JamesPopsysPhoto]

25mm & 15mm mate :)

[@GoneToHelenBach]

BBF in conjunction with C-AF is the only logical way to have a camera set, it's the best of both worlds.

[@dmitryledneff2267]

Thank You.

[@peterg3021]

OMG, just gave myself a forehead slap. Leave the camera on continuous instead of switching back & forth from single focus. Life change moment on this date :-D

[@JamesPopsysPhoto]

Glad to hear it mate!