Thank you for clear explanation. I've finally decided to move to back button focusing. It takes shooting to a totally different level and opens doors for more advanced shots.
Thank you so much. What a difference it makes. I've had canon for many years and just got the canon R6, this setting is what I needed!! What a magic tool to have for children photo shoots plus more.
I have been shooting for over 30 years, but I only started using back-focus a couple of months ago... I never looked back since.... it's definitely the way to go ;)
@@CraftingFreakAsaurus depends on the model and setting. It might be possible but you simply disabled it in the settings somewhere. Just Google your camera model and look for the users manual. Or search if others had the same problems with your model.
I prefer using servo and Autotracking+ face+eye with the eos R ...is faster and I no need to recompose because I'm using touch and drag option to move my single point AF if I need to. :) Easier and faster.
I feel ashamed for 4 years using the camera wrong and now I wake up with this tremendous video, thank you very much for the contribution I am happy to see this video and learn something that I did not know.
She went through the menus so fast that I couldn't even start to watch what you were doing because her menu Arrangement was not the same as mine. So I just watched her and still didn't know what I'm doing. I have the 2000D.
You prolly dont care at all but does anyone know of a method to get back into an instagram account? I was stupid forgot my login password. I would love any help you can offer me
@Ezekiel Ryder thanks for your reply. I found the site thru google and I'm trying it out atm. Seems to take a while so I will get back to you later when my account password hopefully is recovered.
Thank you so much for the clear and well explained lesson. I thought I had been using back button focusing but half press was still on as well but after following your instructions I have set it properly and can't wait to get out there tomorrow and test it.
I have a question. If I have the shutter button and back button focus enabled would the front shutter focus button interfere with the back button focus as I am trying to take a photo as in hunting to focus?
Is this possible with the eos 250D/SL3? doesn't have an AF on button, and looking at the custom functions I don't seem to be able to assign any other back button to AF. Would appreciate any advice. Thanks
I noticed when your subject was moving you kept re-pressing the back button. Are you able to just hold it down the whole time and have it track your subject? Also do you need to re-press the back button to re-focus every time you zoom in or out?
@madcat1007 11 hours ago Great video. Thanks. Do you keep back button pressed down while taking shot, if you are doing Back Button Focus, or do you release it before depressing shutter button?
1. You can focus lock a still subject by pressing, then releasing the back button, and then hit the shutter as many times as you like without refocusing. 2. You can also trigger continuous AF and track a subject by pressing and holding the back button. Both of the above apply with the camera in AI Servo.
This explanation gives me the impression that using the AF-on button is no different from the shutter button - the game changer is always the choice of one-shot or AI-servo. Therefore, it doesn't hit the critical point by explaining WHY I need to use AF-on instead of the shutter - what advantage does it do?
Take AF away from the shutter and assign the AF-ON to ONE-SHOT and the *-button to AI-SERVO. This way you will have both methods available. The suggestion in this video to "release the button" makes no sense whatsoever, especially when you're using AI-SERVO. Just keep it pressed for both methods.
@@trouwfotomakerij You can do two buttons but you don't need to. You get both One Shot and AI Servo from the 'AF On' button...that's the advantage. 1. Press and hold 'AF On' and you have continuous AF as long as you keep 'AF On' pressed. Smack the shutter till your heats content, the focus will continue tracking for as long as you hold 'AF On' while the subject is in frame, or 2. Press and hold 'AF On' to get focus, then release 'AF On' and you have focus lock (without being in One Shot). As long as there is no movement you keep the focus lock and can recompose and take as many shots as you want without refocusing.
I’m so confused.. I thought I had to set my camera to AI Servo and for moving subjects I had to hold my back button while pressing the shutter and following my subject.. and if it was a portrait (no moving subject) than I could just press the back button subject and ones it was focused I could release the back button and press the shutter.
Shooting portraits in AI Servo might not be ideal. Sometimes it hunts for focus when you are trying to take the shot. Choose one shot for portraits. Unless it is an action portrait - dance, ballet, or gymnastics, for example.
@@sandiebock8035 I find that with the fast prime (85 mm f1.2) due to it's slow focus, AI servo can be forgiving. But with f1.4 primes (85 and 50), it is not. Did you ever notice any such issue?
@@TejasR i am so confused please teach me about this ........dslr only hunts focus if continuously half shutter button or back button is pressed....and why would we shoot portrait continuously pressing half shutter button or back button.....?
I watched this video a few times- and I COULD NOT figure out how she got her screen to that shutter button half press setting at 1:56. I had to look up on another tutorial how to get there: Custom Function Settings, (orange camera icon) page 3, and then Custom Controls. She really should have specified this. I have the Canon 5D Mark iv, btw - and I think that is what she is using too. Just FYI
After trying back button focusing for a week, I still don't understand the hype. I assign a back button to toggle between ai servo or one shot. Keepin it simple. And what was the explanation about releasing the back button AF in servo and it still tracking the subject? Maybe I left my brain in the field.
prefer to leave my back button for auto focus off and my shutter release as start focus. In this manner when I need one shot photos for a stationary subject I press the back button * with my thumb to stop auto focus this way if my subject moves or takes flight I just release my thumb pressure and shoot a.f. tracking. Although with the 5d miv... You can set all the following in your custom back buttons. (Af Auto focus start position) (Ai servo Af characteristics) (Af operation) (Af area select mode) Just press the info button while customizing your back buttons and follow the screen through the four different set-ups on the two back buttons. They may be set for different scenarios to suite your own style of photography. Plus auto focus at all a.f. points are possible even with tele converters installed at f8. With most super telephpto Lenses. My 1999 Canon 600mm f4 i.s. and the new Canon 100mm-400mm mii versions both have this ability provided you use the newest tele converters 1.4 miii or 2x miii. Plus they can be combined for even greater reach. The 5d miv is great for wildlife portraits it's 30 MP sensor is just enough larger in pixel count than the 1dx mii or miii that makes it useful for this. The 5d sr is my go to studio,landscape and architecture body because it's fine detail capture. Although I do also take wildlife portraits with it as well.
Back button focus is so needed on the EOS-M range - instead of focus/recompose (there's no AF only option) And, having the ability to move the AE lock only to e.g. the M-Fn or play button would really help us Canon mirrorless users.
I have back button focus set up on my M50. In Custom Functions - Custom Controls: first change Shutter Button Half-press to Metering Start: second change *AE Lock Buttton to Metering and AF start. Not pure BB focus as * button includes metering but when you half press shutter it will meter again but that doesn't matter; you get AF independent of the shutter button. For me using the M-Fn or Video play for BB focus doesn't work as I can't press either with my thumb for BB at the same time as pressing the shutter button with my forefinger.
I use a Canon 750D and have used BBF for a few years but today I discovered an anomaly with it. I like to review my images and the focus point or points that achieved focus when reviewing the image on Play Back LCD screen. The point or points that achieved focus would normally be seen in red. However the red square or squares that achieved focus will not be displayed on on the LCD screen if one releases the chosen BBF button after achieving focus and hearing the beep. If one keeps ones's finger on the BBF button the red square or squares are available to view via Play Back on the LCD screen. It would be interesting to know if any others have noticed this or is it just me?
The complete functionality of BBF , focus operations, focus confirmation, focus points is not addressed in this video ( 5D Mk 4). The separation of AF from the shutter button is only a first step. NOTE- servo does not confirm focus like One Shot. Suggestion : separate servo and one shot operations between AF-On button and * button. Assign specific focus operations and cases and points to the servo operation, and similarly to the One shot operation.
I have back button focus set up on my M50. In Custom Functions - Custom Controls: first change Shutter Button Half-press to Metering Start: second change *AE Lock Buttton to Metering and AF start. Not pure BB focus as * button includes metering but when you half press shutter it will meter again but that doesn't matter; you get AF independent of the shutter button.
Hardly a video about *mastering* back button focussing. You describe the different focus modes but you don't show how to assign either ONE SHOT or AI SERVO to your AF ON-button. Second, you do not mention the option to assign a second button to AF ON, with a different focussing setting assigned to it. Third, your description of AI SERVO ("let go of the AF ON button once your camera focusses") is absolute nonsense! That's eliminating AI SERVO all together! If you want to keep that basketballplayer that is running to you in focus, you need to keep the AF ON button pressed, assuming you assigned AI SERVO to that button. Only then will your camera track the player properly. Fourth, you do not at all mention *iTR AF* that will track your subject throughout the frame. All in all this is hardly a decent instruction video. Canon should do much better.
You choose which focusing method to assign, what she was saying is that if you use ai servo then pressing it once makes it act as a single focus but if you hold it down you can track with it. But you have to have chosen an servo (or ai focus) as the af button option. You can’t have both.
@@oo0Spyder0oo Yes you can. Simply assign a second button for the other AF method. It's really weird that she doesn't mention that at all. Seems to me that she doesn't use it herself.
Hi Kassie. I lost a lot of shots (due to out of focus) after following a misleading video from Canon Asia regarding the tip on setting focus (min 3.12) ua-cam.com/video/G6JCW_gPLw0/v-deo.html . Like you, many photographers and Canon R5/R6 users emphasize the importance of disabling Auto Focus (AF) function from the main shutter button. I really appreciate your clear and detail explanation on how to use back button AF.
This is crazy. Canon people don't know how their camera works. Nowhere does it say that the af-on button has to be held while the shutter release is pressed. It is not even written in any manual of any Canon camera. If you don't do that, then you won't have a red square in the image preview and you won't know where the focus is. In fact, the camera thinks that the photo is out of focus.
WHEN BACK BUTTON IS NOT USEFUL. While pressing back button Auto Focus you can't select another focus point. Let's say you're shooting and decide to move the focus point on a bird that's just to right of center but you have set the focus at center af point. Now if you try to press the a.f. selection button its impossible. But if you have the top main dial set as a.f. half press all you need do is hit the a.f. selection button and move your point to the desired new position. Also you shouldnt use it for dedicated flight photography. Because you will be continuously focusing when shooting birds in flight, it will be more comfortable for your hands to half press the shutter button for focus and fully press to release the shutter, rather than having to hold two buttons at once.
Paul Sheehy think of it as having both single shot AND servo on the same button. To put the AF in one shot mode, press and release after focusing on your still subject. Feel free to recompose your picture. Then press the shutter button. After you’ve recomposed, the camera will keep your subject in focus as long as he/she doesn’t move closer or farther from the camera. If your subject is moving closer or farther from the camera, you’ll need to be in servo mode and keep your finger pressed on the back button as you take shots. That keeps them in focus continuously. Hope that makes sense... kinda hard to explain, but you’ll get it and realize how it works.
Thank you for clear explanation. I've finally decided to move to back button focusing. It takes shooting to a totally different level and opens doors for more advanced shots.
Thanks....think I watched 4 other videos 🤦🏻♂️... before finally reaching your perfectly explained guide...👍
Thank you so much. What a difference it makes. I've had canon for many years and just got the canon R6, this setting is what I needed!! What a magic tool to have for children photo shoots plus more.
After watching this video, everything makes sense and I am sold!
Really clear! Thank you. Other on YT are unclear when you hold down button and when you release. You just clarified. I’ll subscribe.
this explains alot, i was holding onto the bp focus and not releasing, thanks
I have been shooting for over 30 years, but I only started using back-focus a couple of months ago... I never looked back since.... it's definitely the way to go ;)
My camera doesn't beep when I press the BB to focus. Does that mean it's not working?
@@CraftingFreakAsaurus depends on the model and setting. It might be possible but you simply disabled it in the settings somewhere. Just Google your camera model and look for the users manual. Or search if others had the same problems with your model.
I prefer using servo and Autotracking+ face+eye with the eos R ...is faster and I no need to recompose because I'm using touch and drag option to move my single point AF if I need to. :) Easier and faster.
Thank you, happy now all I needed to do was disable the focus from the shutter button, it's been annoying me for a while now. All the best Russ
Wonderful thorough video, thank you! Is there anyways to silence back button focus?
I feel ashamed for 4 years using the camera wrong and now I wake up with this tremendous video, thank you very much for the contribution I am happy to see this video and learn something that I did not know.
Thank you Very nice explanation please do more videos
Thank you for making this topic so clear and concise. I will be subscribing to find out more in the future.
She went through the menus so fast that I couldn't even start to watch what you were doing because her menu Arrangement was not the same as mine. So I just watched her and still didn't know what I'm doing. I have the 2000D.
Same here, apparently this option is not compatible with our cam the 2000D
Excellent!
Great video. if you need to track a subject as it moves, can you keep the AF button depressed as long as you need while you're firing off shots ?
You prolly dont care at all but does anyone know of a method to get back into an instagram account?
I was stupid forgot my login password. I would love any help you can offer me
@Zane Elisha Instablaster :)
@Ezekiel Ryder thanks for your reply. I found the site thru google and I'm trying it out atm.
Seems to take a while so I will get back to you later when my account password hopefully is recovered.
@Ezekiel Ryder It did the trick and I actually got access to my account again. I'm so happy:D
Thanks so much, you really help me out!
@Zane Elisha No problem =)
Thank you so much for the clear and well explained lesson. I thought I had been using back button focusing but half press was still on as well but after following your instructions I have set it properly and can't wait to get out there tomorrow and test it.
@CanonANZ, is back-button focusing possible on the Rebel T7? I'm guessing it's not.
Most excellent.
I have a question. If I have the shutter button and back button focus enabled would the front shutter focus button interfere with the back button focus as I am trying to take a photo as in hunting to focus?
Is this possible with the eos 250D/SL3? doesn't have an AF on button, and looking at the custom functions I don't seem to be able to assign any other back button to AF. Would appreciate any advice. Thanks
That's why I'm here. Did you ever find out if it's possible?
I noticed when your subject was moving you kept re-pressing the back button. Are you able to just hold it down the whole time and have it track your subject? Also do you need to re-press the back button to re-focus every time you zoom in or out?
3:02 - Calling a wedding "a controlled environment"... If you say that, you probably never shot a wedding haha
i am sure she is lying about it, yup.
ditto.
@@terryjp3050 He's right though. We hardly ever use ONE SHOT during a wedding.
Thank you Kassie.
@madcat1007
11 hours ago
Great video. Thanks. Do you keep back button pressed down while taking shot, if you are doing Back Button Focus, or do you release it before depressing shutter button?
tnx for helping us
Whats the advantage of using af on the back though? Why is it better than the shutter button?
1. You can focus lock a still subject by pressing, then releasing the back button, and then hit the shutter as many times as you like without refocusing.
2. You can also trigger continuous AF and track a subject by pressing and holding the back button.
Both of the above apply with the camera in AI Servo.
This explanation gives me the impression that using the AF-on button is no different from the shutter button - the game changer is always the choice of one-shot or AI-servo. Therefore, it doesn't hit the critical point by explaining WHY I need to use AF-on instead of the shutter - what advantage does it do?
Take AF away from the shutter and assign the AF-ON to ONE-SHOT and the *-button to AI-SERVO. This way you will have both methods available. The suggestion in this video to "release the button" makes no sense whatsoever, especially when you're using AI-SERVO. Just keep it pressed for both methods.
@@trouwfotomakerij You can do two buttons but you don't need to. You get both One Shot and AI Servo from the 'AF On' button...that's the advantage.
1. Press and hold 'AF On' and you have continuous AF as long as you keep 'AF On' pressed. Smack the shutter till your heats content, the focus will continue tracking for as long as you hold 'AF On' while the subject is in frame, or
2. Press and hold 'AF On' to get focus, then release 'AF On' and you have focus lock (without being in One Shot). As long as there is no movement you keep the focus lock and can recompose and take as many shots as you want without refocusing.
also how we can use back button with * to have two different foucing type (one AF-on
and *), can you please
teach or refer to Video
I’m so confused.. I thought I had to set my camera to AI Servo and for moving subjects I had to hold my back button while pressing the shutter and following my subject.. and if it was a portrait (no moving subject) than I could just press the back button subject and ones it was focused I could release the back button and press the shutter.
Shooting portraits in AI Servo might not be ideal. Sometimes it hunts for focus when you are trying to take the shot. Choose one shot for portraits. Unless it is an action portrait - dance, ballet, or gymnastics, for example.
@@TejasR I use back button and AI SERVO all the time.
@@sandiebock8035 I find that with the fast prime (85 mm f1.2) due to it's slow focus, AI servo can be forgiving. But with f1.4 primes (85 and 50), it is not. Did you ever notice any such issue?
@@TejasR i am so confused please teach me about this ........dslr only hunts focus if continuously half shutter button or back button is pressed....and why would we shoot portrait continuously pressing half shutter button or back button.....?
I'm trying to set this up on my 30D. I haven't yet find how to disassociate focus fr4eom the shutter button.
thanks I figured it out 👏🏾
I watched this video a few times- and I COULD NOT figure out how she got her screen to that shutter button half press setting at 1:56. I had to look up on another tutorial how to get there: Custom Function Settings, (orange camera icon) page 3, and then Custom Controls. She really should have specified this. I have the Canon 5D Mark iv, btw - and I think that is what she is using too. Just FYI
She hit the bottom Left Hand corner of the touch screen or you can press the Q button to the right of the back LCD screen to get to this menu.
Thank you good
After trying back button focusing for a week, I still don't understand the hype. I assign a back button to toggle between ai servo or one shot. Keepin it simple. And what was the explanation about releasing the back button AF in servo and it still tracking the subject? Maybe I left my brain in the field.
Hi, thank you very much for the tip! :-)
Thank you
I don't have an af button on my canon eos1300d how do I set this? I cannot find it on settings either.
prefer to leave my back button for auto focus off and my shutter release as start focus. In this manner when I need one shot photos for a stationary subject I press the back button * with my thumb to stop auto focus this way if my subject moves or takes flight I just release my thumb pressure and shoot a.f. tracking.
Although with the 5d miv...
You can set all the following in your custom back buttons.
(Af Auto focus start position)
(Ai servo Af characteristics)
(Af operation)
(Af area select mode)
Just press the info button while customizing your back buttons and follow the screen through the four different set-ups on the two back buttons. They may be set for different scenarios to suite your own style of photography.
Plus auto focus at all a.f. points are possible even with tele converters installed at f8. With most super telephpto
Lenses. My 1999 Canon 600mm f4 i.s. and the new Canon 100mm-400mm mii versions both have this ability provided you use the newest tele converters 1.4 miii or 2x miii. Plus they can be combined for even greater reach.
The 5d miv is great for wildlife portraits it's 30 MP sensor is just enough larger in pixel count than the 1dx mii or miii that makes it useful for this. The 5d sr is my go to studio,landscape and architecture body because it's fine detail capture. Although I do also take wildlife portraits with it as well.
Back button focus is so needed on the EOS-M range - instead of focus/recompose (there's no AF only option) And, having the ability to move the AE lock only to e.g. the M-Fn or play button would really help us Canon mirrorless users.
I have back button focus set up on my M50. In Custom Functions - Custom Controls: first change Shutter Button Half-press to Metering Start: second change *AE Lock Buttton to Metering and AF start. Not pure BB focus as * button includes metering but when you half press shutter it will meter again but that doesn't matter; you get AF independent of the shutter button. For me using the M-Fn or Video play for BB focus doesn't work as I can't press either with my thumb for BB at the same time as pressing the shutter button with my forefinger.
Can someone assist in setting up back button focus on the Rebel T8i
I don't see a single video for BBF on lower range of canon like 1500D etc ... :-(
I can't find these menu settings on my EOS800D
wow, i cant even get passed the first step.
Can someone tell me if I can do the same in video mode?
I use a Canon 750D and have used BBF for a few years but today I discovered an anomaly with it. I like to review my images and the focus point or points that achieved focus when reviewing the image on Play Back LCD screen. The point or points that achieved focus would normally be seen in red. However the red square or squares that achieved focus will not be displayed on on the LCD screen if one releases the chosen BBF button after achieving focus and hearing the beep. If one keeps ones's finger on the BBF button the red square or squares are available to view via Play Back on the LCD screen. It would be interesting to know if any others have noticed this or is it just me?
Been using back-button focus for several years now. I hardly use anything else. It works phenomenally for how I like to shoot.
Super duper helpful! Now I dont need to hold the af-on button everytime I take a picture! 😁🤘
What do you mean?
Fuckkk.i dont understand it at all. Can anyone help meee FINDD THE WAY PUTTING BACK MY FOCUSSSSSS METERING ON CANON.. cause i lost ittr
me too. she didnt help at all. im more confused
WE WANT A FLIP DISPLAY
Do you even own a Canon?!
The complete functionality of BBF , focus operations, focus confirmation, focus points is not addressed in this video ( 5D Mk 4). The separation of AF from the shutter button is only a first step. NOTE- servo does not confirm focus like One Shot. Suggestion : separate servo and one shot operations between AF-On button and * button. Assign specific focus operations and cases and points to the servo operation, and similarly to the One shot operation.
I have no "AF"button on the EOS 1200D
I'm just learning I found this video very helpful thank you very
Seems not applicable on my eos m50
I have back button focus set up on my M50. In Custom Functions - Custom Controls: first change Shutter Button Half-press to Metering Start: second change *AE Lock Buttton to Metering and AF start. Not pure BB focus as * button includes metering but when you half press shutter it will meter again but that doesn't matter; you get AF independent of the shutter button.
The same goes for my M6. Use the Ae lock button to focus
I started doing this a few years back and never turned around
Same logic applies to videos, right?
Hardly a video about *mastering* back button focussing. You describe the different focus modes but you don't show how to assign either ONE SHOT or AI SERVO to your AF ON-button.
Second, you do not mention the option to assign a second button to AF ON, with a different focussing setting assigned to it.
Third, your description of AI SERVO ("let go of the AF ON button once your camera focusses") is absolute nonsense! That's eliminating AI SERVO all together! If you want to keep that basketballplayer that is running to you in focus, you need to keep the AF ON button pressed, assuming you assigned AI SERVO to that button. Only then will your camera track the player properly.
Fourth, you do not at all mention *iTR AF* that will track your subject throughout the frame.
All in all this is hardly a decent instruction video. Canon should do much better.
You choose which focusing method to assign, what she was saying is that if you use ai servo then pressing it once makes it act as a single focus but if you hold it down you can track with it. But you have to have chosen an servo (or ai focus) as the af button option. You can’t have both.
@@oo0Spyder0oo Yes you can. Simply assign a second button for the other AF method. It's really weird that she doesn't mention that at all. Seems to me that she doesn't use it herself.
Hi Kassie. I lost a lot of shots (due to out of focus) after following a misleading video from Canon Asia regarding the tip on setting focus (min 3.12) ua-cam.com/video/G6JCW_gPLw0/v-deo.html . Like you, many photographers and Canon R5/R6 users emphasize the importance of disabling Auto Focus (AF) function from the main shutter button. I really appreciate your clear and detail explanation on how to use back button AF.
This is crazy. Canon people don't know how their camera works. Nowhere does it say that the af-on button has to be held while the shutter release is pressed. It is not even written in any manual of any Canon camera. If you don't do that, then you won't have a red square in the image preview and you won't know where the focus is. In fact, the camera thinks that the photo is out of focus.
WHEN BACK BUTTON IS NOT USEFUL.
While pressing back button Auto Focus you can't select another focus point. Let's say you're shooting and decide to move the focus point on a bird that's just to right of center but you have set the focus at center af point. Now if you try to press the a.f. selection button its impossible.
But if you have the top main dial set as a.f. half press all you need do is hit the a.f. selection button and move your point to the desired new position.
Also you shouldnt use it for dedicated flight photography. Because you will be continuously focusing when shooting birds in flight, it will be more comfortable for your hands to half press the shutter button for focus and fully press to release the shutter, rather than having to hold two buttons at once.
focus and recompose is so 2015.
give me one for free. I will try it later
I can’t see the difference. I can do all of that with the shutter button.
Paul Sheehy think of it as having both single shot AND servo on the same button. To put the AF in one shot mode, press and release after focusing on your still subject. Feel free to recompose your picture. Then press the shutter button. After you’ve recomposed, the camera will keep your subject in focus as long as he/she doesn’t move closer or farther from the camera. If your subject is moving closer or farther from the camera, you’ll need to be in servo mode and keep your finger pressed on the back button as you take shots. That keeps them in focus continuously. Hope that makes sense... kinda hard to explain, but you’ll get it and realize how it works.
@@billwendry better explanation then in the video, thanks!!!
What is the point of that noisy background music? How unprofessional can you get?