Back Button Focus for Wildlife

oldbaldeagle wrote:

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.

Oh the X-H2s you will need to use a button rather than the rear command dial.  It's a tap and a push and quite fast and offers more options as a trade off to slightly faster UI.  The only time I switch AF mode is for an obscured subject so I'm rarely in a rush.

Morris

Samuraidog wrote:

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.

I'm wondering why you have to switch to zone from subject.  My understanding is the camera will revert to zone if configured if it dose not find a subject.

Morris

Samuraidog wrote:

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.

You have probably already figured this out but if you used C1 and C2 then you could use a function button to switch between them.

Greybeard2017 wrote:

Samuraidog wrote:

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.

You have probably already figured this out but if you used C1 and C2 then you could use a function button to switch between them.

As a toggle?  If so, that's quite nice. This makes them act as a memory bank. It would be great if they were to offer separate memory banks and leave the Cx for other uses.

Morris

Morris0 wrote:

Greybeard2017 wrote:

Samuraidog wrote:

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.

You have probably already figured this out but if you used C1 and C2 then you could use a function button to switch between them.

As a toggle? If so, that's quite nice. This makes them act as a memory bank. It would be great if they were to offer separate memory banks and leave the Cx for other uses.

Morris

Yes - it only works for C1 - you can switch from any other settings to C1 (and back) with a single press. It's temporary - it will switch back when you turn the camera off.

Whatever you are shooting you know you can instantly switch to a predefined bank of settings without needing to look at the camera or make multiple setting changes.

Greybeard2017 wrote:

Morris0 wrote:

Greybeard2017 wrote:

Samuraidog wrote:

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.

You have probably already figured this out but if you used C1 and C2 then you could use a function button to switch between them.

As a toggle? If so, that's quite nice. This makes them act as a memory bank. It would be great if they were to offer separate memory banks and leave the Cx for other uses.

Morris

Yes - it only works for C1 - you can switch from any other settings to C1 (and back) with a single press. It's temporary - it will switch back when you turn the camera off.

Whatever you are shooting you know you can instantly switch to a predefined bank of settings without needing to look at the camera or make multiple setting changes.

I'd have the camera configured for zone with subject detection and then have C1 set for single point.

I believe that would be the perfect wildlife and action setup yet will not know till I'm shouting with an X-H2s for a while.

Morris

DocShaka wrote:

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.

I haven’t done much BIF on the XH2S but the eye focus is a definite improvement.  My 200mm doesn’t give much reach for small birds in flight.  HoweverI am happy that I made the upgrade.  I hope the animal focus improves with future updates.  It’s still not as sticky as the R5.

Canon R5, Fuji XT4, Fuji XH2S

Greybeard2017 wrote:

Samuraidog wrote:

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.

You have probably already figured this out but if you used C1 and C2 then you could use a function button to switch between them.

No, I wasn't aware of this. Thank you.

Morris0 wrote:

Samuraidog wrote:

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.

I'm wondering why you have to switch to zone from subject. My understanding is the camera will revert to zone if configured if it dose not find a subject.

Morris

Tell me more about this. I'm trying to understand this concept.

Samuraidog wrote:

Morris0 wrote:

Samuraidog wrote:

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.

I'm wondering why you have to switch to zone from subject. My understanding is the camera will revert to zone if configured if it dose not find a subject.

Morris

Tell me more about this. I'm trying to understand this concept.

If you have both zone and subject detection configured, subject detection is priority and when a subject is not found zone will be used.

Example:  You have bird subject enabled and zone AF enabled.  If you point at a bird the camera will see and track the bird, even if a dog walks into the frame as long as the bird is visible.  Now if you decide to follow the the dog.  The camera will not see a bird yet if the dog is in the focus box zone AF will focus on the dog.

Morris

Morris0 wrote:

Samuraidog wrote:

Morris0 wrote:

Samuraidog wrote:

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.

I'm wondering why you have to switch to zone from subject. My understanding is the camera will revert to zone if configured if it dose not find a subject.

Morris

Tell me more about this. I'm trying to understand this concept.

If you have both zone and subject detection configured, subject detection is priority and when a subject is not found zone will be used.

Example: You have bird subject enabled and zone AF enabled. If you point at a bird the camera will see and track the bird, even if a dog walks into the frame as long as the bird is visible. Now if you decide to follow the the dog. The camera will not see a bird yet if the dog is in the focus box zone AF will focus on the dog.

Morris

This makes me think I should use zone for perched birds in thick brush instead of single point. I never thought to do that.

Samuraidog wrote:

Morris0 wrote:

Samuraidog wrote:

Morris0 wrote:

Samuraidog wrote:

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.

I'm wondering why you have to switch to zone from subject. My understanding is the camera will revert to zone if configured if it dose not find a subject.

Morris

Tell me more about this. I'm trying to understand this concept.

If you have both zone and subject detection configured, subject detection is priority and when a subject is not found zone will be used.

Example: You have bird subject enabled and zone AF enabled. If you point at a bird the camera will see and track the bird, even if a dog walks into the frame as long as the bird is visible. Now if you decide to follow the the dog. The camera will not see a bird yet if the dog is in the focus box zone AF will focus on the dog.

Morris

This makes me think I should use zone for perched birds in thick brush instead of single point. I never thought to do that.

Yes if you have bird subject tracking enabled.  It is situations like this that subject tracking was invented for.  Enough of the bird's face would need to be visible for it to work.  Also when there is a high contrast background so the focus goes to the subject rather than the background.

Morris