How many of you use back-button AF?

**Kerrowdown** · 06-30-2015, 05:26 AM

Originally posted by savoche

your own whirrr-click

Oooooh I think I want one that does that... I obviously missing out at the moment then.

comprock · 06-30-2015, 05:50 AM

The only time I've found back button focus a pain was recently when trying out a battery grip on my Pentax K-5ii. That was annoying. I kept hitting the green button. It took a few days of shooting to overcome though.

BBF sure makes shooting action easier. I just put my auto focus red square in the top right or left third of the screen, keep the targets face in focus via BBF and press the shutter as needed. With half shutter press, I'd not get as high of a hit rate as I do now.

To the half shutter press folks, try BBF if you want. It may or not work for you. It's worked for me and I'm happier for it.

Pentaxians · 06-30-2015, 05:50 AM

After selecting Back-button AF. I can't seems to change my focus point as it's selecting my default central point....coming from K-S1. Not sure if it's a norm?

Fogel70 · 06-30-2015, 06:06 AM

I rarely use anything but AF-S, so I have not seen much advantage of switching to "thumb focus".
But I have set the AF button to disable AF, for quick disabling of AF, or quick switch to manual focus on quick shift lenses.

---------- Post added 30-06-15 at 15:09 ----------

Originally posted by arnold

Most of my pictures involve a routine; I want my exposure set by 'this' part of the scene, and the focus on this 'other' part. Just like the manual days, I use single center focus point (after all, one can only focus on one point no matter how many we have). Light meter is center or spot. So, first I hit BB focus, then AE button, then if necessary, recompose and shoot.

If I want to do like this i usually use manual mode and use green button for metering. Then I can choose when to meter with a press of the green button, and I don't have to meter for every shot.

Stone G. · 07-01-2015, 02:22 AM

Originally posted by Sandy Hancock

I found it a bit fiddly with my K-5 bodies, but Ricoh/Pentax really got the button placement right with the K-3.

Same experience here. I never got on good terms with the AF-button on my K-5, constantly hitting everything else but that button.

But on the K-3 it is positioned just perfectly for me. As for AF.S and CIF I have then reserved one of the User Modes for that purpose.

mee · 07-01-2015, 06:42 AM

While the thought was interesting to me, and I can see the advantages in certain situations, Back button AF on my K-5II was the worst thing I've tried photographically. Really really really awful setup for me.

But one doesn't know that until they try. I just hard reset my camera back to defaults I was so frustrated with it. It was bad. haha

**savoche** · 07-01-2015, 08:35 AM

Originally posted by mee

While the thought was interesting to me, and I can see the advantages in certain situations, Back button AF on my K-5II was the worst thing I've tried photographically. Really really really awful setup for me.

But one doesn't know that until they try. I just hard reset my camera back to defaults I was so frustrated with it. It was bad. haha

As a perl programmer would put it:

There's more than one way to do it!

dcBear78 · 07-01-2015, 09:35 AM

I absolutely love this method. And even the newbies I've handed my camera to and explained it have said how they instantly felt it was a much better way of doing things than the half button press method everyone knows.

I pretty much only shoot with my D810 now. But setting this up was the first thing I did with that. With it, I now use the 3D focus tracking system where I use the centre focus point, lock focus and then recompose. This allows me to take multiple shots without losing focus lock on my subject or needing to recompose. Where the half press method, I would have to recompose every time. I know the K-3 has a similar setting but it is nowhere near as effective due to less focus points (K-3's 27 v D810's 51). Hopefully the FF has considerably more focus points.

View Poll Results: Do you use back-button AF?
Yes, I use back-button AF	137	80.59%
No, I don't use back-button AF	33	19.41%
Voters: 170. You may not vote on this poll

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06-30-2015, 05:26 AM	#61
Kerrowdown PEG Moderator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Highlands of Scotland... "Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand" - William Blake Photos: Gallery Posts: 57,860	Originally posted by savoche your own whirrr-click Oooooh I think I want one that does that... I obviously missing out at the moment then.

06-30-2015, 05:50 AM	#62
comprock Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Portland, Montreal, Menton, Dubai, Pondicherry, Singapore, Kaohsiung, Coupeville Photos: Gallery Posts: 529	The only time I've found back button focus a pain was recently when trying out a battery grip on my Pentax K-5ii. That was annoying. I kept hitting the green button. It took a few days of shooting to overcome though. BBF sure makes shooting action easier. I just put my auto focus red square in the top right or left third of the screen, keep the targets face in focus via BBF and press the shutter as needed. With half shutter press, I'd not get as high of a hit rate as I do now. To the half shutter press folks, try BBF if you want. It may or not work for you. It's worked for me and I'm happier for it.

06-30-2015, 05:50 AM	#63
Pentaxians Pentaxian Join Date: May 2011 Location: Singapore Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 733	After selecting Back-button AF. I can't seems to change my focus point as it's selecting my default central point....coming from K-S1. Not sure if it's a norm?

06-30-2015, 06:06 AM	#64
Fogel70 Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Stockholm, Sweden Photos: Albums Posts: 3,062	I rarely use anything but AF-S, so I have not seen much advantage of switching to "thumb focus". But I have set the AF button to disable AF, for quick disabling of AF, or quick switch to manual focus on quick shift lenses. ---------- Post added 30-06-15 at 15:09 ---------- Originally posted by arnold Most of my pictures involve a routine; I want my exposure set by 'this' part of the scene, and the focus on this 'other' part. Just like the manual days, I use single center focus point (after all, one can only focus on one point no matter how many we have). Light meter is center or spot. So, first I hit BB focus, then AE button, then if necessary, recompose and shoot. If I want to do like this i usually use manual mode and use green button for metering. Then I can choose when to meter with a press of the green button, and I don't have to meter for every shot.

07-01-2015, 02:22 AM	#65
Stone G. Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: North Zealand, Denmark Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,516	Originally posted by Sandy Hancock I found it a bit fiddly with my K-5 bodies, but Ricoh/Pentax really got the button placement right with the K-3. Same experience here. I never got on good terms with the AF-button on my K-5, constantly hitting everything else but that button. But on the K-3 it is positioned just perfectly for me. As for AF.S and CIF I have then reserved one of the User Modes for that purpose.

07-01-2015, 06:42 AM	#66
mee Veteran Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 7,403	While the thought was interesting to me, and I can see the advantages in certain situations, Back button AF on my K-5II was the worst thing I've tried photographically. Really really really awful setup for me. But one doesn't know that until they try. I just hard reset my camera back to defaults I was so frustrated with it. It was bad. haha

07-01-2015, 08:35 AM	#67
savoche Master of the obvious Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Lowlands of Norway Posts: 18,311	Originally posted by mee While the thought was interesting to me, and I can see the advantages in certain situations, Back button AF on my K-5II was the worst thing I've tried photographically. Really really really awful setup for me. But one doesn't know that until they try. I just hard reset my camera back to defaults I was so frustrated with it. It was bad. haha As a perl programmer would put it: There's more than one way to do it!

07-01-2015, 09:35 AM	#68
dcBear78 Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Gladstone, QLD Photos: Gallery Posts: 823	I absolutely love this method. And even the newbies I've handed my camera to and explained it have said how they instantly felt it was a much better way of doing things than the half button press method everyone knows. I pretty much only shoot with my D810 now. But setting this up was the first thing I did with that. With it, I now use the 3D focus tracking system where I use the centre focus point, lock focus and then recompose. This allows me to take multiple shots without losing focus lock on my subject or needing to recompose. Where the half press method, I would have to recompose every time. I know the K-3 has a similar setting but it is nowhere near as effective due to less focus points (K-3's 27 v D810's 51). Hopefully the FF has considerably more focus points.