back focus

**dougieazar** · 04-22-2021, 12:31 AM

I would like back focusing explained to me very simply. I have watched some videos on Youtube but they are sketchy at best. Help!

Unregistered User 8 · 04-22-2021, 12:51 AM

Very simply put, the actual focus point is different to the focus confirmation point seen in the viewfinder (PDAF). Fine tuning AF can usually fix the problem.

Fixing Front and Back Focus - Introduction - In-Depth Articles

LittleSkink · 04-22-2021, 01:16 AM

what they said ^

its usually fairly obvious when you have it, for example you take a picture of something (duck, deer, human etc) on some grass. They are not in focus, but the grass on the ground behind them is. Front focus is the opposite, the grass in front of the object is in focus

AfterPentax Mark II · 04-22-2021, 01:19 AM

Originally posted by pjv

Very simply put, the actual focus point is different to the focus confirmation point seen in the viewfinder (PDAF). Fine tuning AF can usually fix the problem.

Fixing Front and Back Focus - Introduction - In-Depth Articles

On the other hand it is quite difficult to see in that small viewfinder on which part of scene the focus confirmation point was shown. The focus confirmation point disappears immediately and the green hexagon light comes on.

Unregistered User 8 · 04-22-2021, 01:35 AM

Originally posted by AfterPentax Mark II

On the other hand it is quite difficult to see in that small viewfinder on which part of scene the focus confirmation point was shown. The focus confirmation point disappears immediately and the green hexagon light comes on.

Agreed, but the OP wanted simple......................

But seriously, when focusing issues occur, there is a conflict between where the actual focus is and where the camera is registering/recording focus, which can be remedied 99.9% of the time with AF fine tuning.

wkadruje · 04-22-2021, 02:28 AM - **1 Like**

just to be sure: BF not back _button_ focus, right?

Sidney Porter · 04-22-2021, 04:13 AM

If the question is back button focus. That is a technique of decoupling the focus from the shutter. You remove focus from a 1/2 push of the shutter and assign focus to a different button, typically a button on the back of the camera operated by your right thumb.

The benefit is it allows you to lock in focus and change composition w/o it refocusing when you press the shutter. In af.c it will also track the subject as long as you hold the button

**DWS1** · 04-22-2021, 12:59 PM

Back focus simply means that actual focus point is behind the focus point being displayed in the viefinder.

04-22-2021, 12:31 AM	#1
dougieazar Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2020 Photos: Gallery Posts: 103	back focus I would like back focusing explained to me very simply. I have watched some videos on Youtube but they are sketchy at best. Help!

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04-22-2021, 12:51 AM	#2
Unregistered User 8 Closed Account Join Date: Mar 2015 Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,694	Very simply put, the actual focus point is different to the focus confirmation point seen in the viewfinder (PDAF). Fine tuning AF can usually fix the problem. Fixing Front and Back Focus - Introduction - In-Depth Articles

04-22-2021, 01:16 AM	#3
LittleSkink Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: t'North Photos: Albums Posts: 166	what they said ^ its usually fairly obvious when you have it, for example you take a picture of something (duck, deer, human etc) on some grass. They are not in focus, but the grass on the ground behind them is. Front focus is the opposite, the grass in front of the object is in focus

04-22-2021, 01:19 AM	#4
AfterPentax Mark II Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2021 Posts: 1,461	Originally posted by pjv Very simply put, the actual focus point is different to the focus confirmation point seen in the viewfinder (PDAF). Fine tuning AF can usually fix the problem. Fixing Front and Back Focus - Introduction - In-Depth Articles On the other hand it is quite difficult to see in that small viewfinder on which part of scene the focus confirmation point was shown. The focus confirmation point disappears immediately and the green hexagon light comes on.

04-22-2021, 01:35 AM	#5
Unregistered User 8 Closed Account Join Date: Mar 2015 Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,694	Originally posted by AfterPentax Mark II On the other hand it is quite difficult to see in that small viewfinder on which part of scene the focus confirmation point was shown. The focus confirmation point disappears immediately and the green hexagon light comes on. Agreed, but the OP wanted simple...................... But seriously, when focusing issues occur, there is a conflict between where the actual focus is and where the camera is registering/recording focus, which can be remedied 99.9% of the time with AF fine tuning.

04-22-2021, 02:28 AM - 1 Like	#6
wkadruje Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Posts: 145	just to be sure: BF not back _button_ focus, right?

04-22-2021, 04:13 AM	#7
Sidney Porter Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Columbus Ohio USA Posts: 353	If the question is back button focus. That is a technique of decoupling the focus from the shutter. You remove focus from a 1/2 push of the shutter and assign focus to a different button, typically a button on the back of the camera operated by your right thumb. The benefit is it allows you to lock in focus and change composition w/o it refocusing when you press the shutter. In af.c it will also track the subject as long as you hold the button

04-22-2021, 12:59 PM	#8
DWS1 Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2018 Location: Arkansas, USA Posts: 1,169	Back focus simply means that actual focus point is behind the focus point being displayed in the viefinder.