How do I set up back button focus on a K-70

Joyce Keay · 01-22-2017, 05:03 PM

Hi, I'm taking a photo class and the instructor told us to google "setting up back button focus on (name of camera)". I haven't been successful using google so I figure this is the best place to ask. I have a Pentax K-70. Could somebody please give me a hand with this? Thank you.

Adam · 01-22-2017, 05:19 PM - **1 Like**

Back-button focus is on by default. The four options are as follows:

AF/AE-L button activates AF; half-press focusing enabled (default)
AF/AE-L button activates AF; half-press focusing disabled
AF/AE-L button cancels half-press focusing while held
AF/AE-L button activates AE-L

Look under AF/AE-L Button on the button customization page in the record section of the main menu:

kev.pride · 01-22-2017, 07:11 PM

Just an add to Adam's excellent detail, whilst the back button focus is useful, unless you disable the half press focus of the shutter button (leaving this feature active) will cause the camera to refocus which is probably not what the instructor was intending.

**Tako Kichi** · 01-22-2017, 08:48 PM - **2 Likes**

I just checked my setting for you and in addition to the above info........when you get to the screen shown in Adam's post hit the right 4-way button twice, now use the up/down buttons to select 'AF2 Enable AF2'. Hit the 'OK' button (middle button on the 4-way controller) followed by the Menu button three times to exit.

This will disable the half-shutter press focusing and make the AF/AE-L button the active focusing button.

Joyce Keay · 01-23-2017, 05:27 PM

Hi, OK I have enabled AF2 so the half-press of the shutter is definitely disabled. AF with viewfinder is set at AFS and select.

What should AF with live view be set at? There are three types of settings to be made in that category (AF active area, focus peaking, and AF.S setting) and I'd like to know which is the correct setting for all three categories. Are there any other settings I need to make so that back-button focusing is fully operational?

Thanks - again

.

Yraley · 01-09-2021, 01:33 PM

Originally posted by Adam

Back-button focus is on by default. The four options are as follows: AF/AE-L button activates AF; half-press focusing enabled (default) AF/AE-L button activates AF; half-press focusing disabled AF/AE-L button cancels half-press focusing while held AF/AE-L button activates AE-LLook under AF/AE-L Button on the button customization page in the record section of the main menu:

Hello Guys
I have had a Pentax k-r for many years, and so far setting the back fockus button AF has not been a problem for me.I recently bought a pentax k-70, despite similar settings (identical, just different place on the menu), the shutter buttton does not block the focus, and still focuses. I tried all 4 settings Only setting it to "af cancel", and keeping the af/ae-l pressed whole time will lock the focusing by shutter button.

Sorry for my english and thanks for any help.

---------- Post added 01-09-21 at 02:24 PM ----------

Originally posted by Yraley

Hello Guys
I have had a Pentax k-r for many years, and so far setting the back fockus button AF has not been a problem for me.I recently bought a pentax k-70, despite similar settings (identical, just different place on the menu), the shutter buttton does not block the focus, and still focuses. I tried all 4 settings Only setting it to "af cancel", and keeping the af/ae-l pressed whole time will lock the focusing by shutter button.

Sorry for my english and thanks for any help.

Edit: I'm an idiot. I set this option in video settings. You can ignore my comments.

**Lhorn** · 01-09-2021, 09:04 PM

What’s the benefit of this? If you are heavy thumbed and accidentally trigger the shutter trying to half press? The downside would seem to be that you lose the ability to use the back button as an exposure or focus lock.

gatorguy · 01-09-2021, 09:12 PM

Originally posted by Lhorn

What’s the benefit of this? If you are heavy thumbed and accidentally trigger the shutter trying to half press? The downside would seem to be that you lose the ability to use the back button as an exposure or focus lock.

There's a good discussion of it here...
Back button Focus - PentaxForums.com.

**Lhorn** · 01-09-2021, 11:03 PM

Thanks for the link. I can see the benefit for quickly moving subject, sports, wildlife. Seems like giving up exposure lock or focus lock would be a loss, but I guess you aren’t really giving up focus lock. You release the back button and move the camera a bit if you want and press the shutter release.

That thread makes me wonder if many people use focus priority shutter release? As a guy who’s taken my fair share of out of focus pics, is this a useful option or does it cause a bad delay that ends up being frustrating?

Thanks

01-22-2017, 05:03 PM	#1
Joyce Keay Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2016 Posts: 123	How do I set up back button focus on a K-70 Hi, I'm taking a photo class and the instructor told us to google "setting up back button focus on (name of camera)". I haven't been successful using google so I figure this is the best place to ask. I have a Pentax K-70. Could somebody please give me a hand with this? Thank you.

01-22-2017, 05:19 PM - 1 Like	#2
Adam Administrator Site Webmaster Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Arizona Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 49,904	Back-button focus is on by default. The four options are as follows: AF/AE-L button activates AF; half-press focusing enabled (default) AF/AE-L button activates AF; half-press focusing disabled AF/AE-L button cancels half-press focusing while held AF/AE-L button activates AE-L Look under AF/AE-L Button on the button customization page in the record section of the main menu: Adam PentaxForums.com Webmaster (Site Usage Guide \| Site Help \| My Photography) PentaxForums.com server and development costs are user-supported. You can help cover these costs by donating. Or, buy your photo gear from our affiliates, Adorama, B&H Photo, KEH, or Topaz Labs, and get FREE Marketplace access - click here to see how! Trusted Pentax retailers:

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01-22-2017, 07:11 PM	#3
kev.pride Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Modbury North, South Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 351	Just an add to Adam's excellent detail, whilst the back button focus is useful, unless you disable the half press focus of the shutter button (leaving this feature active) will cause the camera to refocus which is probably not what the instructor was intending.

01-22-2017, 08:48 PM - 2 Likes	#4
Tako Kichi Site Supporter Join Date: May 2013 Location: SW Ontario, Canada (ex-pat Brit) Posts: 1,207	I just checked my setting for you and in addition to the above info........when you get to the screen shown in Adam's post hit the right 4-way button twice, now use the up/down buttons to select 'AF2 Enable AF2'. Hit the 'OK' button (middle button on the 4-way controller) followed by the Menu button three times to exit. This will disable the half-shutter press focusing and make the AF/AE-L button the active focusing button.

01-23-2017, 05:27 PM	#5
Joyce Keay Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2016 Posts: 123 Original Poster	Hi, OK I have enabled AF2 so the half-press of the shutter is definitely disabled. AF with viewfinder is set at AFS and select. What should AF with live view be set at? There are three types of settings to be made in that category (AF active area, focus peaking, and AF.S setting) and I'd like to know which is the correct setting for all three categories. Are there any other settings I need to make so that back-button focusing is fully operational? Thanks - again .

01-09-2021, 01:33 PM	#6
Yraley New Member Join Date: Jan 2021 Posts: 1	Originally posted by Adam Back-button focus is on by default. The four options are as follows: AF/AE-L button activates AF; half-press focusing enabled (default) AF/AE-L button activates AF; half-press focusing disabled AF/AE-L button cancels half-press focusing while held AF/AE-L button activates AE-LLook under AF/AE-L Button on the button customization page in the record section of the main menu: Hello Guys I have had a Pentax k-r for many years, and so far setting the back fockus button AF has not been a problem for me.I recently bought a pentax k-70, despite similar settings (identical, just different place on the menu), the shutter buttton does not block the focus, and still focuses. I tried all 4 settings Only setting it to "af cancel", and keeping the af/ae-l pressed whole time will lock the focusing by shutter button. Sorry for my english and thanks for any help. ---------- Post added 01-09-21 at 02:24 PM ---------- Originally posted by Yraley Hello Guys I have had a Pentax k-r for many years, and so far setting the back fockus button AF has not been a problem for me.I recently bought a pentax k-70, despite similar settings (identical, just different place on the menu), the shutter buttton does not block the focus, and still focuses. I tried all 4 settings Only setting it to "af cancel", and keeping the af/ae-l pressed whole time will lock the focusing by shutter button. Sorry for my english and thanks for any help. Edit: I'm an idiot. I set this option in video settings. You can ignore my comments.

01-09-2021, 09:04 PM	#7
Lhorn Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2019 Posts: 490	What’s the benefit of this? If you are heavy thumbed and accidentally trigger the shutter trying to half press? The downside would seem to be that you lose the ability to use the back button as an exposure or focus lock.

01-09-2021, 09:12 PM	#8
gatorguy Moderator Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Central Florida Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,618	Originally posted by Lhorn What’s the benefit of this? If you are heavy thumbed and accidentally trigger the shutter trying to half press? The downside would seem to be that you lose the ability to use the back button as an exposure or focus lock. There's a good discussion of it here... Back button Focus - PentaxForums.com.

01-09-2021, 11:03 PM	#9
Lhorn Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2019 Posts: 490	Thanks for the link. I can see the benefit for quickly moving subject, sports, wildlife. Seems like giving up exposure lock or focus lock would be a loss, but I guess you aren’t really giving up focus lock. You release the back button and move the camera a bit if you want and press the shutter release. That thread makes me wonder if many people use focus priority shutter release? As a guy who’s taken my fair share of out of focus pics, is this a useful option or does it cause a bad delay that ends up being frustrating? Thanks

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