Back Button Focus for Wildlife

Hello all.

I came across an interesting video today that mentioned the possibility of setting two BBF buttons to two different modes. For wildlife, particularly Bird In Flight, it would be a game changer to have my XT4's AEL button use AF-S (or AF-C) and single point and then be able to instantly jump to the AF-ON button and have that use AF-C 5x5 focus mode as the bird or other subject starts to move.

Is this possible on our Fujis? I can't seem to find the setting if it is.

Thanks for any info.

Doc

I was about to ask the same question with regard to the xh2s .

Coming from either canon or sony there are up to 3 buttons for back af and this much improves bird phography !

Back Button focus is an old style that was invented when subject tracking was not that good and before it was easy to steer the focus to your subject.  Back button allowed for very nice focus using the center AF point and then recompose with the focus locked on the subject.

With the ability to move the focus selection to the subject it has been obsolete for a long time.  When cameras began to track the area we focused on it became even more obsolete and with subject tracking even more trivalent.

On the Z9, some people like to override subject tracking with a single button push switching to 3D tracking.

I think the best solution on the X-H2s would be a preset or button that turns off subject tracking and you use the joystick.  I don't use BBF so it overrides subject tracking to what I do today, move the joystick to the subject or place the joystick where I want the subject in the frame.

Morris

Morris0 wrote:

Back Button focus is an old style that was invented when subject tracking was not that good and before it was easy to steer the focus to your subject. Back button allowed for very nice focus using the center AF point and then recompose with the focus locked on the subject.

With the ability to move the focus selection to the subject it has been obsolete for a long time. When cameras began to track the area we focused on it became even more obsolete and with subject tracking even more trivalent.

I disagree. Using BBF and recomposing is easily 10x faster than trying to navigate the joystick or manually switching between AF-S and AF-C. But this is for the case of me not trusting subject tracking on the XT4. For birds about to take off I guess tracking is fine to recompose but as soon as the subject is moving I would want to be in 3x3 or 5x5. I guess I still trust my ability over Fujis at this point (really hope that changes one day).

On the Z9, some people like to override subject tracking with a single button push switching to 3D tracking.

I think the best solution on the X-H2s would be a preset or button that turns off subject tracking and you use the joystick. I don't use BBF so it overrides subject tracking to what I do today, move the joystick to the subject or place the joystick where I want the subject in the frame.

Morris

I have a button assigned that can scroll through AF modes but even that takes a second or two to activate, scroll, and push to select, rather than an instant switch.

DocShaka wrote:

Morris0 wrote:

Back Button focus is an old style that was invented when subject tracking was not that good and before it was easy to steer the focus to your subject. Back button allowed for very nice focus using the center AF point and then recompose with the focus locked on the subject.

With the ability to move the focus selection to the subject it has been obsolete for a long time. When cameras began to track the area we focused on it became even more obsolete and with subject tracking even more trivalent.

I disagree. Using BBF and recomposing is easily 10x faster than trying to navigate the joystick or manually switching between AF-S and AF-C. But this is for the case of me not trusting subject tracking on the XT4. For birds about to take off I guess tracking is fine to recompose but as soon as the subject is moving I would want to be in 3x3 or 5x5. I guess I still trust my ability over Fujis at this point (really hope that changes one day).

On the Z9, some people like to override subject tracking with a single button push switching to 3D tracking.

I think the best solution on the X-H2s would be a preset or button that turns off subject tracking and you use the joystick. I don't use BBF so it overrides subject tracking to what I do today, move the joystick to the subject or place the joystick where I want the subject in the frame.

Morris

I have a button assigned that can scroll through AF modes but even that takes a second or two to activate, scroll, and push to select, rather than an instant switch.

My camera is always in AF-C.   I don't see a reason for AF-S.

What do you do with  a camera with AF in the center when the subject fills the frame and you want to focus on the eye?

I use the center of the frame focus point and crop when there is space.  It is faster on the X-T3 and X-T4 due to the joystick.  The joystick on X-H2s and D500 are much faster.  I can move them as fast as the camera and lens.

Morris

DocShaka wrote:

Hello all.

I came across an interesting video today that mentioned the possibility of setting two BBF buttons to two different modes. For wildlife, particularly Bird In Flight, it would be a game changer to have my XT4's AEL button use AF-S (or AF-C) and single point and then be able to instantly jump to the AF-ON button and have that use AF-C 5x5 focus mode as the bird or other subject starts to move.

Is this possible on our Fujis? I can't seem to find the setting if it is.

Thanks for any info.

Doc

I like this. It would be great to have several AF-On button with different modes.

maxxxx wrote:

DocShaka wrote:

Hello all.

I came across an interesting video today that mentioned the possibility of setting two BBF buttons to two different modes. For wildlife, particularly Bird In Flight, it would be a game changer to have my XT4's AEL button use AF-S (or AF-C) and single point and then be able to instantly jump to the AF-ON button and have that use AF-C 5x5 focus mode as the bird or other subject starts to move.

Is this possible on our Fujis? I can't seem to find the setting if it is.

Thanks for any info.

Doc

I like this. It would be great to have several AF-On button with different modes.

I use a Canon R5 and Fuji XH2S for wildlife photography.  I have set three buttons on the R5 for Bird eye, zone and spot focus.  This is very handy when you want to switch focus planes in a hurry.

Unfortunately, I still haven't found a way to do this on the Fuji.  Fuji is great (albeit not as fast as the R5) on the bird eye focus but changing focus planes still is a challenge atleast for me.

I agree with op on this . I use spot focus for single bird in crowd or bush  and a second button with area coverage for bif. This is instant with slight movement of thumb . Sorry Morris but your way is much ( to me ) slower .

DocShaka wrote:

Hello all.

I came across an interesting video today that mentioned the possibility of setting two BBF buttons to two different modes. For wildlife, particularly Bird In Flight, it would be a game changer to have my XT4's AEL button use AF-S (or AF-C) and single point and then be able to instantly jump to the AF-ON button and have that use AF-C 5x5 focus mode as the bird or other subject starts to move.

Is this possible on our Fujis? I can't seem to find the setting if it is.

Thanks for any info.

Doc

Not on the X-T4.

The closest you could get with the X-H2S is to set up different custom banks of settings and switch between them - then you could keep a single AF-ON button with different meanings. You could use a function button to instantly jump between modes.

Can this be done using a button or do you have to use dial , in which case you have to move your hand , again much slower .

oldbaldeagle wrote:

Can this be done using a button or do you have to use dial , in which case you have to move your hand , again much slower .

It can be done with a button - I'm not recommending it - just suggesting its possible

Morris0 wrote:

DocShaka wrote:

Morris0 wrote:

Back Button focus is an old style that was invented when subject tracking was not that good and before it was easy to steer the focus to your subject. Back button allowed for very nice focus using the center AF point and then recompose with the focus locked on the subject.

With the ability to move the focus selection to the subject it has been obsolete for a long time. When cameras began to track the area we focused on it became even more obsolete and with subject tracking even more trivalent.

I disagree. Using BBF and recomposing is easily 10x faster than trying to navigate the joystick or manually switching between AF-S and AF-C. But this is for the case of me not trusting subject tracking on the XT4. For birds about to take off I guess tracking is fine to recompose but as soon as the subject is moving I would want to be in 3x3 or 5x5. I guess I still trust my ability over Fujis at this point (really hope that changes one day).

On the Z9, some people like to override subject tracking with a single button push switching to 3D tracking.

I think the best solution on the X-H2s would be a preset or button that turns off subject tracking and you use the joystick. I don't use BBF so it overrides subject tracking to what I do today, move the joystick to the subject or place the joystick where I want the subject in the frame.

Morris

I have a button assigned that can scroll through AF modes but even that takes a second or two to activate, scroll, and push to select, rather than an instant switch.

My camera is always in AF-C. I don't see a reason for AF-S.

This is the whole point of BBF. By not triggering the focus via shutter button I can turn AF-C into both AF-C and AF-S effectively having both modes on simultaneously.

What do you do with a camera with AF in the center when the subject fills the frame and you want to focus on the eye?

You're right here. If the subject is stationary and I'm watching it for a while I will move the focus point with the joystick. I would use tracking but the focus point often seems too large.

I use the center of the frame focus point and crop when there is space. It is faster on the X-T3 and X-T4 due to the joystick. The joystick on X-H2s and D500 are much faster. I can move them as fast as the camera and lens.

Morris

I agree that the joysitck is faster on the D500 which I have extensive experience on. Thanks for the input Morris!

Doc

rivi wrote:

maxxxx wrote:

DocShaka wrote:

Hello all.

I came across an interesting video today that mentioned the possibility of setting two BBF buttons to two different modes. For wildlife, particularly Bird In Flight, it would be a game changer to have my XT4's AEL button use AF-S (or AF-C) and single point and then be able to instantly jump to the AF-ON button and have that use AF-C 5x5 focus mode as the bird or other subject starts to move.

Is this possible on our Fujis? I can't seem to find the setting if it is.

Thanks for any info.

Doc

I like this. It would be great to have several AF-On button with different modes.

I use a Canon R5 and Fuji XH2S for wildlife photography. I have set three buttons on the R5 for Bird eye, zone and spot focus. This is very handy when you want to switch focus planes in a hurry.

Unfortunately, I still haven't found a way to do this on the Fuji. Fuji is great (albeit not as fast as the R5) on the bird eye focus but changing focus planes still is a challenge atleast for me.

Can I ask your thoughts on BIF photography with the xt4 vs the xh2s? I'm in a critical moment of having to decide to get a xh2s and keep the 150-600 or send it all back and likely switch to Sony and def FF for wildlife and keep my xt4 and a pancake for street/travel. I'm really disappointed with xt4 autofocus now that I'm back into bif.

DocShaka wrote:

Hello all.

I came across an interesting video today that mentioned the possibility of setting two BBF buttons to two different modes. For wildlife, particularly Bird In Flight, it would be a game changer to have my XT4's AEL button use AF-S (or AF-C) and single point and then be able to instantly jump to the AF-ON button and have that use AF-C 5x5 focus mode as the bird or other subject starts to move.

Is this possible on our Fujis? I can't seem to find the setting if it is.

Thanks for any info.

Doc

While not exactly what you are looking for, I have gotten used to using BBF and aperture priority with a single focus point while wildlife - birds especially - are stationary. I rotate to a custom setting, C1, with 3x3 focus zone and the other BIF settings as the birds fly, still using BBF. It helps to use C1 since that minimizes the distance from A to the custom setting.

my scenario is being in single point to pick a single bird out and bif comes along. By the time i have swung camera to focus  i have moved thumb to another button set to area . absolutely instant and instinctive !

DocShaka wrote:

Morris0 wrote:

DocShaka wrote:

Morris0 wrote:

Back Button focus is an old style that was invented when subject tracking was not that good and before it was easy to steer the focus to your subject. Back button allowed for very nice focus using the center AF point and then recompose with the focus locked on the subject.

With the ability to move the focus selection to the subject it has been obsolete for a long time. When cameras began to track the area we focused on it became even more obsolete and with subject tracking even more trivalent.

I disagree. Using BBF and recomposing is easily 10x faster than trying to navigate the joystick or manually switching between AF-S and AF-C. But this is for the case of me not trusting subject tracking on the XT4. For birds about to take off I guess tracking is fine to recompose but as soon as the subject is moving I would want to be in 3x3 or 5x5. I guess I still trust my ability over Fujis at this point (really hope that changes one day).

On the Z9, some people like to override subject tracking with a single button push switching to 3D tracking.

I think the best solution on the X-H2s would be a preset or button that turns off subject tracking and you use the joystick. I don't use BBF so it overrides subject tracking to what I do today, move the joystick to the subject or place the joystick where I want the subject in the frame.

Morris

I have a button assigned that can scroll through AF modes but even that takes a second or two to activate, scroll, and push to select, rather than an instant switch.

My camera is always in AF-C. I don't see a reason for AF-S.

This is the whole point of BBF. By not triggering the focus via shutter button I can turn AF-C into both AF-C and AF-S effectively having both modes on simultaneously.

For you, I have no use for AF-S as I focus on my subject using the joystick while composed

What do you do with a camera with AF in the center when the subject fills the frame and you want to focus on the eye?

You're right here. If the subject is stationary and I'm watching it for a while I will move the focus point with the joystick. I would use tracking but the focus point often seems too large.

I use the center of the frame focus point and crop when there is space. It is faster on the X-T3 and X-T4 due to the joystick. The joystick on X-H2s and D500 are much faster. I can move them as fast as the camera and lens.

Morris

I agree that the joysitck is faster on the D500 which I have extensive experience on.

Interesting that some of the X-H2s users complain about the faster joystick.

Thanks for the input Morris!

Doc

Any time Doc.  I always tell people to use the method that works for them.

Morris

oldbaldeagle wrote:

I agree with op on this . I use spot focus for single bird in crowd or bush and a second button with area coverage for bif. This is instant with slight movement of thumb . Sorry Morris but your way is much ( to me ) slower .

No, we do the same thing changing focus method.  I have the back control wheel single press set to bring up AF type and use the joy stick to select AF type.  Super fast.

This is different that AF on.

Morris

still more than one simple button press so definately slower . nobody with xh2s has responded so I'm presuming your way is the only way but will not work on xh2s as rear dial has no switch.

Greybeard2017 wrote:

DocShaka wrote:

Hello all.

I came across an interesting video today that mentioned the possibility of setting two BBF buttons to two different modes. For wildlife, particularly Bird In Flight, it would be a game changer to have my XT4's AEL button use AF-S (or AF-C) and single point and then be able to instantly jump to the AF-ON button and have that use AF-C 5x5 focus mode as the bird or other subject starts to move.

Is this possible on our Fujis? I can't seem to find the setting if it is.

Thanks for any info.

Doc

Not on the X-T4.

The closest you could get with the X-H2S is to set up different custom banks of settings and switch between them - then you could keep a single AF-ON button with different meanings. You could use a function button to instantly jump between modes.

This is what I've done on my X-H2S. C2 is set to single point bird mode, and C3 is set to zone for birds in flight. It actually works out fairly well, as I also have a default shutter speed for both scenarios. Certainly not as fast as simply pushing a button without moving your face from the camera, but it works OK for me so far.