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Do you use shutter or back button to autofocus?

Do you use shutter or back button to autofocus?

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HRC2016 said:
But at least we can all agree that putting a protective filter on your lens is a waste of money and cannot improve your images.
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Hell no! xD Lol! Without wanting to turn this to useless debate, I'm a fully aware that filters can be detrimental to IQ especially when shooting backlit subjects and having additional flare and loss of contrast.

However, I'm so obsessed of not touching the front lens element, don't want to have specks, salt marks or anything on it... so when you have OCD you DO use protective filters. :D
 
There are advantages to both methods so I use whichever is better for the given circumstances.

For me BBF works better when I'm focusing on a certain subject or zone and waiting for something to happen.
 
Jeff DLB said:
If I were doing sports or action at variable distances I'd probably stick with shutter-button focus for faster response.
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Using my thumb to control AF is second nature for me, and I wouldn't have it any other way:

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--
DPR, where gear is king and photography merely a jester
 
100% back button focus.

It makes total sense to separate Autofucus from the shutter release. I leave my Camera in AF-C and it can handle whatever I'm shooting without having to change back and forth between AF-C and AF-S
 
I used to use it full-time on my Nikon DSLR. I tried it on my Fuji too but, in-general, get better results with the shutter button for most purposes.
I do, however, use BBF quite often in “M” (manual focus) mode, which automatically disables focus actuation from the shutter button and allows me to either quickly focus with BBF and then fine-tune manually, or just focus once without the camera re-focusing every time I press the shutter button - like for a pano sequence etc.
 
Shutter. I've never found BBF to have any advantages at all.
 
Leonard Migliore said:
cutterpup said:
I keep my main camera set for BBF, I keep the lightweight "extra" set for shutter button because that is the one that gets handed off to others at times.
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My D750 is set to manual everything including BBF. If I want someone else to use it, I turn the mode dial to U1 which makes it into a point and shoot.
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The inexpensive DSLR kit was bought because when trainspotting my husband had the bad habit of asking to borrow my camera "for a minute" and taking off for half an hour with it. Now I just hand him the extra body, a kit lens or two, and not worry about it.
 
maboleth said:
stevet1 said:
Supisiche said:
Once I chose back button AF, I never looked back.
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Me too.

Steve Thomas
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To be honest I'm really surprised by the results so far. I suspected but never knew Shutter button was that much popular for AF! :)
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A lot of us started photography when AF-C is good enough that it negated the use of BBF.

For still subjects and camera on the tripod I use BBF and AF-S because neither the subject nor the camera is moving, hence the autofocus point does not need to react and move when the shutter is released, usually remotely.

For everything else, I use shutter AF in AF-C. A single finger operation makes more sense than a two-finger operation. This also frees up the thumb to move the autofocus point.
 
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Shutter. I've always done it that way, it's easier, fasters and it works. It also frees my thumb and the button for other uses. I see no reason to change.

Because I shoot sports it's much faster to have the shutter half-pressed to focus and then a tiny bit more to take the shot. It's also easier for me to grip the camera without my thumb on the back button. I tried BBF several years ago and didn't like it. I think a lot depends on the type of photography you do and what makes you comfortable.
 
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tony field said:
HRC2016 said:
Supisiche said:
Once I chose back button AF, I never looked back.
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I tried BBF twice. It didn't make things "better".

It seems trendy, like shooting in RAW when you don't do any post. If it works for you, great, but it's not for everyone.
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That's the nice thing about photography. There are so many things you can try and if you find them too difficult to figure out, you can always buy a new lens or even a new camera and that will solve all your problems.
tony field said:
But at least we can all agree that putting a protective filter on your lens is a waste of money and cannot improve your images.
Click to expand...
Hardly always true. Whenever I shoot shoot subjects that have a high degree of dirt and rock flying such as Motocross or outdoor Rodeo I tend to put on a protective filter. This inexpensive filter has saved one very expensive lens 135mm f2.8 on my old Leicaflex SL as in this race

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I never use a filter but in those conditions, I can see why you do.

--
Tom
 
Leonard Migliore said:
Supisiche said:
Once I chose back button AF, I never looked back.
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But you have to look at the back to find the button. At least the first time.

And yes, I prefer to have control over when the camera is focusing so I use the back button.
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I can control when the camera is focusing when I half-press the shutter button. Don't half-press and the camera stops focusing.
 
rurikw said:
The Panasonic G9 is famous for its sensitive shutter button (which I like very much as it minimizes camera shake, sometimes wish it were even more sensitive, like a touch button). So I thought it's the perfect BBF camera. It probably is and I've gotten used to BBF but have discovered it's maybe not the best solution for my style of photography. When holding the camera normally it works fine but I often hold it at strange angles where I can't hold it normally which means it's hard to reach the BBF button and I might have to change my grip between focusing and shooting. The most frequent case is when I want to get it as high as possible, often pointing it down. Try that and you will understand. Holding it upside down helps though. So not sure if I will stay with BBF or go back to HP.
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For me, I shoot sports and it's much faster to have the shutter half-pressed to focus and then a tiny bit more to take the shot. It's also easier for me to grip the camera without my thumb on the back button. I tried BBF several years ago and didn't like it. I think a lot depends on the type of photography you do and what makes you comfortable.
 
Erik Baumgartner said:
I used to use it full-time on my Nikon DSLR. I tried it on my Fuji too but, in-general, get better results with the shutter button for most purposes.
I do, however, use BBF quite often in “M” (manual focus) mode, which automatically disables focus actuation from the shutter button and allows me to either quickly focus with BBF and then fine-tune manually, or just focus once without the camera re-focusing every time I press the shutter button - like for a pano sequence etc.
Click to expand...
Just curious as to how could the BBF work in Manual focus mode.Is that a Fuji setting ?

I find the DMF on Sony very useful for the manual fine tune after initial focus confirmation.

--

——————
Pankaj
 
tbcass said:
Leonard Migliore said:
Supisiche said:
Once I chose back button AF, I never looked back.
Click to expand...
But you have to look at the back to find the button. At least the first time.

And yes, I prefer to have control over when the camera is focusing so I use the back button.
Click to expand...
I can control when the camera is focusing when I half-press the shutter button. Don't half-press and the camera stops focusing.
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If you do that you have lost the focus point that you first chose. If you then press the shutter button for a photograph it will automatically refocus on a new point. You have, to a certain degree, no longer have complete control over your focus point selection.

--
Charles Darwin: "ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge."
tony
 
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