Any situations where back button focusing is not a good idea?

Joyce Keay · 01-26-2017, 06:01 PM

Hi, Thanks to your help and watching a video on back button focusing I've got my K-70 set up to do it and like very much that I can either take a single shot or continuous with the single set up; i.e, I don't have to go into the menu to switch from single shots to continuous and back again.

I'd like to leave it set up like that full time and wonder if there are any situations where back button focusing is not a good idea.

Thanks.

SeaRefractor · 01-26-2017, 06:09 PM - **1 Like**

The only time is when an uninformed family member or friend pick it up to take a picture and don't know how to use the back button.

Otherwise, I've yet to find a reason for the half shutter press for focus and always use back button.

**Bruce Clark** · 01-26-2017, 06:17 PM

Originally posted by SeaRefractor

The only time is when an uninformed family member or friend pick it up to take a picture and don't know how to use the back button.

Otherwise, I've yet to find a reason for the half shutter press for focus and always use back button.

Agreed that can be a problem. A bit more than asking said friend to wait for focus confirmation or SR operational lag.

Joyce Keay · 01-26-2017, 06:19 PM

Good to know. Thanks.

**lithedreamer** · 01-26-2017, 06:31 PM

Originally posted by Bruce Clark

Agreed that can be a problem. A bit more than asking said friend to wait for focus confirmation or SR operational lag.

You can set up a Custom User mode for this situation, btw.

aaacb · 01-26-2017, 06:58 PM

No reason in my case, but I'd say it's good to get used to pressing both the back button and the shutter at the same time for the rare times you want a focused photo asap and you can't prefocus.

**kiwi_jono** · 01-26-2017, 07:08 PM

Another one (for me anyway), is that I am LEFT eyed and my whole face overlaps the back AF button. I find it quite awkward to use back button AF because of this and have even scratched a cheek with recently trimmed nails. So after 6 months of sticking with it have gone back to half press of shutter button and find it much easier than BB.

If the camera was set up for left eye (or I was right eyed) then yes I think I would prefer BB focus.

**darylk** · 01-26-2017, 07:12 PM - **1 Like**

Only if you're missing your right thumb ;-) . I apologize in advance for my poor attempt at humor...

**BigDave** · 01-26-2017, 07:41 PM

The Back Button slows the shooting process down a bit. Other than that, I see no issues. I actually like it better as I KNOW the focus has not shifted between shots. I also shoot left eye and have not had any issues with the K-1 except for nose smudges on the display. Happily, they moved the Green button, which I would hit occaisionally on my K-7!

**ramseybuckeye** · 01-26-2017, 07:58 PM

Originally posted by kiwi_jono

Another one (for me anyway), is that I am LEFT eyed and my whole face overlaps the back AF button. I find it quite awkward to use back button AF because of this and have even scratched a cheek with recently trimmed nails. So after 6 months of sticking with it have gone back to half press of shutter button and find it much easier than BB.

If the camera was set up for left eye (or I was right eyed) then yes I think I would prefer BB focus.

I'm left eyed, but it doesn't bother me. I had to take some photos at work today with a K-S2 that id not set up for back button focus and it took a while getting used to it, just like when I switched to BBF.

**MSL** · 01-26-2017, 08:51 PM

Originally posted by ramseybuckeye

and it took a while getting used to it, just like when I switched to BBF.

I think that is what is keeping me from making the switch, even though I see merits it not having the shutter button activate the focusing.

leekil · 01-26-2017, 10:46 PM

Maybe for using focus tracking, the back button is harder to press continuously than the front.

**lithedreamer** · 01-27-2017, 03:11 AM

Originally posted by BigDave

The Back Button slows the shooting process down a bit. Other than that, I see no issues. I actually like it better as I KNOW the focus has not shifted between shots. I also shoot left eye and have not had any issues with the K-1 except for nose smudges on the display. Happily, they moved the Green button, which I would hit occaisionally on my K-7!

I actually find it speeds up shooting if my subjects aren't constantly moving further away/closer. Focus once, then shoot away.

**chuck_c** · 01-27-2017, 06:56 AM

Originally posted by Joyce Keay

I'd like to leave it set up like that full time and wonder if there are any situations where back button focusing is not a good idea.

Thanks.

None that come to mind, at least for me. I switched to full time BB focus several years ago and never looked back. It has become second nature to me. When I get a new camera body, one of the first things that I do is set upBB focus.

StephenHampshire · 01-27-2017, 07:27 AM

Originally posted by kiwi_jono

Another one (for me anyway), is that I am LEFT eyed and my whole face overlaps the back AF button. I find it quite awkward to use back button AF because of this and have even scratched a cheek with recently trimmed nails. So after 6 months of sticking with it have gone back to half press of shutter button and find it much easier than BB.

If the camera was set up for left eye (or I was right eyed) then yes I think I would prefer BB focus.

I am left-eyed too, but have no problems with back button focus on the K3

01-26-2017, 06:01 PM	#1
Joyce Keay Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2016 Posts: 123	Any situations where back button focusing is not a good idea? Hi, Thanks to your help and watching a video on back button focusing I've got my K-70 set up to do it and like very much that I can either take a single shot or continuous with the single set up; i.e, I don't have to go into the menu to switch from single shots to continuous and back again. I'd like to leave it set up like that full time and wonder if there are any situations where back button focusing is not a good idea. Thanks.

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01-26-2017, 06:09 PM - 1 Like	#2
SeaRefractor Senior Member $SeaRefractor's Avatar$ Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Normandy Park, WA US Photos: Albums Posts: 117	The only time is when an uninformed family member or friend pick it up to take a picture and don't know how to use the back button. Otherwise, I've yet to find a reason for the half shutter press for focus and always use back button.

01-26-2017, 06:17 PM	#3
Bruce Clark Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Ocean Grove, Victoria Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,458	Originally posted by SeaRefractor The only time is when an uninformed family member or friend pick it up to take a picture and don't know how to use the back button. Otherwise, I've yet to find a reason for the half shutter press for focus and always use back button. Agreed that can be a problem. A bit more than asking said friend to wait for focus confirmation or SR operational lag.

01-26-2017, 06:19 PM	#4
Joyce Keay Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2016 Posts: 123 Original Poster	Good to know. Thanks.

01-26-2017, 06:31 PM	#5
lithedreamer Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2013 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,799	Originally posted by Bruce Clark Agreed that can be a problem. A bit more than asking said friend to wait for focus confirmation or SR operational lag. You can set up a Custom User mode for this situation, btw.

01-26-2017, 06:58 PM	#6
aaacb Pentaxian Join Date: May 2016 Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,726	No reason in my case, but I'd say it's good to get used to pressing both the back button and the shutter at the same time for the rare times you want a focused photo asap and you can't prefocus.

01-26-2017, 07:08 PM	#7
kiwi_jono Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Christchurch, New Zealand Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,437	Another one (for me anyway), is that I am LEFT eyed and my whole face overlaps the back AF button. I find it quite awkward to use back button AF because of this and have even scratched a cheek with recently trimmed nails. So after 6 months of sticking with it have gone back to half press of shutter button and find it much easier than BB. If the camera was set up for left eye (or I was right eyed) then yes I think I would prefer BB focus.

01-26-2017, 07:12 PM - 1 Like	#8
darylk Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Blue Hill, Nebraska Photos: Gallery Posts: 494	Only if you're missing your right thumb ;-) . I apologize in advance for my poor attempt at humor...

01-26-2017, 07:41 PM	#9
BigDave Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Hudson Valley, NY Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,626	The Back Button slows the shooting process down a bit. Other than that, I see no issues. I actually like it better as I KNOW the focus has not shifted between shots. I also shoot left eye and have not had any issues with the K-1 except for nose smudges on the display. Happily, they moved the Green button, which I would hit occaisionally on my K-7!

01-26-2017, 07:58 PM	#10
ramseybuckeye Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Hampstead, NC Photos: Gallery Posts: 17,295	Originally posted by kiwi_jono Another one (for me anyway), is that I am LEFT eyed and my whole face overlaps the back AF button. I find it quite awkward to use back button AF because of this and have even scratched a cheek with recently trimmed nails. So after 6 months of sticking with it have gone back to half press of shutter button and find it much easier than BB. If the camera was set up for left eye (or I was right eyed) then yes I think I would prefer BB focus. I'm left eyed, but it doesn't bother me. I had to take some photos at work today with a K-S2 that id not set up for back button focus and it took a while getting used to it, just like when I switched to BBF.

01-26-2017, 08:51 PM	#11
MSL Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Greater Toronto Area Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,756	Originally posted by ramseybuckeye and it took a while getting used to it, just like when I switched to BBF. I think that is what is keeping me from making the switch, even though I see merits it not having the shutter button activate the focusing.

01-26-2017, 10:46 PM	#12
leekil Pentaxian Join Date: May 2016 Photos: Albums Posts: 2,003	Maybe for using focus tracking, the back button is harder to press continuously than the front.

01-27-2017, 03:11 AM	#13
lithedreamer Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2013 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,799	Originally posted by BigDave The Back Button slows the shooting process down a bit. Other than that, I see no issues. I actually like it better as I KNOW the focus has not shifted between shots. I also shoot left eye and have not had any issues with the K-1 except for nose smudges on the display. Happily, they moved the Green button, which I would hit occaisionally on my K-7! I actually find it speeds up shooting if my subjects aren't constantly moving further away/closer. Focus once, then shoot away.

01-27-2017, 06:56 AM	#14
chuck_c Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Westerville, OH Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,588	Originally posted by Joyce Keay I'd like to leave it set up like that full time and wonder if there are any situations where back button focusing is not a good idea. Thanks. None that come to mind, at least for me. I switched to full time BB focus several years ago and never looked back. It has become second nature to me. When I get a new camera body, one of the first things that I do is set upBB focus.

01-27-2017, 07:27 AM	#15
StephenHampshire Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Winchester Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,523	Originally posted by kiwi_jono Another one (for me anyway), is that I am LEFT eyed and my whole face overlaps the back AF button. I find it quite awkward to use back button AF because of this and have even scratched a cheek with recently trimmed nails. So after 6 months of sticking with it have gone back to half press of shutter button and find it much easier than BB. If the camera was set up for left eye (or I was right eyed) then yes I think I would prefer BB focus. I am left-eyed too, but have no problems with back button focus on the K3