I've really enjoyed your channel for over a year now. I've grown tired of all the photography channels with the thumping dance music and the epic, sweeping drone videos. I like your low-key style and think you have tremendously valuable content. I agree back button focus is the way to go. Thank you!
I use front button focus. I find the rear buttons awkward, so I use the front fn button, just right of the lens. I can keep my middle finger on the fn button and trigger finger on the shutter.
I was experiencing exactly what you were saying where the focus was just a little bit off when I looked at the images on my computer monitor. This video was absolutely essential for me. I never thought about taking the focus activation off the shutter button. I tried it and absolutely love it. You have opened up a brand new experience for me. Thanks Mark.
I'm still relatively new to cameras. My wife bought me a D3500 the tail end of November 2019. Ironically enough, the very FIRST setting I altered was switching to back button focus. It is so much better in my humblest of newbie opinions. I appreciate another fantastic video Mark. Take care and be safe.
Thanks for this clear explanation Mark. As a new “manual setting” photographer you hear many others talk about being a back-button focuser...but until now I didn’t appreciate the reason why.
Hey Mark, you continue to be the most helpful landscape photographer I’ve found on UA-cam. Thank you so much for explaining this. I honestly thought my camera body needed an upgrade because my images were having this exact problem. Appreciate you!
Like a beginner, I used to autofocus with the shutter button. I was not really happy to start to work with back focusing. But it changed everything, and now I'm mad at myself for not having used it earlier. It is not only important in portrait photography, but also in sports photography, as you can shoot while focusing, thus losing no time and missing no action.
I hadn't used back button focus until I was on a guided photography trip when the trip leader suggested I switch. It took a half day or so to get used to it, but I've never looked back.
I absolutely love the organic tones in your video. My Z6 is on the way so time to start mastering that thing when it gets here. Big upgrade from a D3500. Thanks for the help!
Great video. I use BBF for years now and never looked back, it’s great. An extra feature is that when you change your shooting mode to ‘continuous ‘ you have it all in one button. Just a short press to lock for a single shot, but if needed you can switch to continuous focusing by holding the back button, without the need to change any setting on the camera. Quite handy when an animal suddenly appears.
This would be the clearest explanation I have come across about just how back button focus actually works. Will be giving this a go on my next shoot. Thanks! And I totally agree about the absence of background music. A welcome and refreshing change.
It was a revelation when I was shown back button focus and cannot think of doing it any other way now. Having done many tests, the auto does a better job than my eyes 99% of the time, but I always review at 100% to be sure. Thanks for sharing Mark.
So good to get the benefit of your experience Mark , I’m heading towards being a professional photographer and your videos have taught me so much over the last few months . Been using this focus technique for a while now , it’s changed my photographs . So much better , thanks 🙏 Always try to experiment and teach myself as I go along as you did but these brilliant videos have certainly speeded up process . Take care , greetings from the UK
I feel another advantage of using Back Button Focusing is you can trigger the shutter release faster (no delay to focus) and time it better (e.g. more precisely when a wave to breaking on a rock).
I find I can trigger the shutter faster using the shutter as auto focus because I'm already half way down and holding it there. Just a bit more depression and the shot is taken very quickly.
Thanks again Mark, for giving a clear indication of the value of back button focus. If I may elaborate to a more general principle, that of moving away from relying on the camera's default auto-settings in general. I started shooting in the late '70s, my first purchase being a used Nikon Ftn Photomic. It had a rudimentary metering system coupled with auto-aperture, but that was the extent of "automatic" functions. Working with an essentially all-mechanical camera helps the photographer realize that every exposure actually comprises several variables, several choices, to create an image: shutter speed, aperture, exposure value, "film speed" - aka ISO - plus focal point, not to mention focal length and ultimately, composition. Modifying any one of these will change the character of the image. In all but the latter two options, all these variables can be given over to the camera's auto-settings, often with acceptable results, but likely not optimum. For example, understanding how different aperture settings will change range of focus, along with other subtler changes, and choosing one specifically for a desired effect will add to one's creative potential. You need not only to know the tools at your disposal, but also to take your time and have a set reliable workflow: a detailed sample technique would be... 1. scout and locate your subject; establish general standpoint, with ideas toward final composition. 2. choose desired lens, eg., 35mm f2 for moderate-wide landscape with the intention to incorporate foreground subject-matter; handhold tighter dial-in of finished composition; set up tripod to place camera to that spot. 3. choose focal-point to ensure that at least the primary subject is sharp (back-button focus for auto-lens, or manually focus, preferably live-view with focus-peaking); It's generally preferable to focus wide open, so you'll know precisely where your focal-point lands. 4. choose aperture, depending upon desired effect, in this case f16 for wide focal-range (choice of focal-point and aperture are somewhat related, which is to say, how one chooses the two is connected. If for instance, in this composition you wished to highlight a flower in the near foreground, you'd choose f2 and focus directly on the flower, letting the background go soft; but instead, we wish a broad focal range - without focus-stacking - and you might know that f16 on this particular lens is safely sharp, which will give you good focus from near to distant... if you set your focal-point at or near its hyper-focal point. If that's too much, just focus a bit past the near-object, and rely on focus-peaking if possible). 5. establish proper exposure. A good method, with proper understanding, is to spot-meter a key area of your subject. This may require moving the focal-index on your monitor in live-view, or changing where you point your camera to do so. Again, using live-view, and histogram display, you can modify exposure-time with exposure compensation. Generally, more exposure without clipping highlights is better. Use back-button AE lock before recomposing. 6. ISO 100 (this is hardly a choice, almost by default, highest sensitivity for best resolution and least noise. Higher speed to stop action or to hand-hold would be an exception. But since we're on a tripod, with a placid subject, even a several-second exposure is fine). 7. with focal-point, aperture, and exposure-time now locked in, set final composition. I prefer live-view, since in my DSLR it locks the mirror up, reducing potential vibration, plus shows a good representation of the final composition and exposure settings. Make exposure with remote release and 2-sec. delay so camera is completely still. I frequently shoot Auto-Exposure-Compensation, ±1 stop, so I'll have three frames of varying density. I can either choose the best one for editing, or, more often than not combine them for an HDR image, which gives a bit more editing depth. ... I went to all this detail just to illustrate the point that you need to put your time in, first again to learn your tool's capabilities, and then, at the time of exposure, to methodically work through all the steps, choice-by-choice, to produce the specific desired effect. And then, on to editing, which is a whole other story. Cheers!
This was the information I’ve looked for. I was allays straggling with auto ficus and light measurements. Very often I put focus to another point as point for which I would like to calculate the exposure. Thanks a lot for sharing this!
Hi Mark. This is amazing! I was just playing around focusing process on my camera two days ago and I got nearly to the same conclusion. Thats awsome. Thanks for the video to confirm what I figured out :D
Great video Mark. It was reassuring for me to see how my camera skills are developing in the right direction. My lack of artistic confidence pushes me to learn the techniques and current gear functionality more intimately in an effort to get the artistic results in the image making process. Thanks for sharing.
Recently I've been talking my photography more seriously and I've been researching a lot via UA-cam. I have to state - you've been the best, by far. Outstanding content, beautifully explained. Keep up the great work - and thanks 👍👍
A technique I learned from Mads Peter Iverson on my Sony A7 Riii with back button focus set, is move the focus square to the desired item you want in focus, press the AF-L button on the back of the camera. This zooms in close to the object. I can press it a 2nd time and zoom in even closer if desired. The focus square changes to a small "+" sign and I can move it precisely on what I want specifically the auto focus system to focus on then press the back button focus button (AE-L) to focus the lens. I typically have a 5 second timer set so I press the shutter button and take the shot. This technique was a game changer for me - no more slightly soft photos. I love the focus peaking for macro/intimate shots. Thank you Mark!
This gonna be one of the most important lesson to learn, according to me, Thanks again to make this type of wonderful videos....... Thanks Allot.........
@@MarkDenneyPhoto I have a hunger inside me to learn something brand new, I wanted to go to USA,North Carolina there lives my sister for her IT job,but after clearing my board exams when I applied for Visa your country didn't approve that.......but that's okay I will visit your country when the pandamic will go forever.........and if I have a chance I will like to meet with you and touch your feet because you are my one and only teacher......in India we addressed teacher as "Guru" and touching there feet we students take there blessings as well we show our respect to them......... That's it... I don't if I could be a good photographer or not But I enjoy to click photos.....I enjoy when I edited my photos it's like a meditation to me,it helps me to refresh my mind........ that's why I love photography specially landscape photography.........🙏 Thank you......🙏
BBF , AF then manual with focus peaking . After torturing myself for ages on hyperfocal distances, third way in etc, I find manual focus and peaking works great.
Assigning focus to the back button has been the best tweak I've made on my D610. I got used to it very fast and will never go back to shutter button focus. BTW, you have the best photographic how to videos I've found on UA-cam. Thanks for all your help.
Great video and suggestion. I converted to BBF some time ago and was the best thing I ever did. Agree it was awkward at first but the keeper rate went way up. When time allows, that little tweak made manually, is magic.
Thanks for this video. I’m new at digital photography. This is a reoccurring prob I have had. Great channel. I too like the low key, no music. To the point instructions. Great job.
I'm just getting into outdoor landscape photography and your content and photographs are amazing! Also want to say your tutorials are fantastic for me as a ture noobie, great tip in this video!!! Thanks Mark
Fairly new to photography and really new to your channel. Just like this video, lots of great, straight to the point & interesting information. Thank you and I looking forward to catching up on it all!
I switched to BBF a few years ago and haven’t looked back since. I focus the way I want and where I want and the camera takes the image. It works great for pretty much everything since you’re in control of when the camera focuses. Mine is setup so that when I hold the focus button it’s in continuous focusing mode. Track your subject, hold the focus button and shoot away. If it stops moving, let go of the button and shoot. It makes focus and recompose a breeze. I can’t imagine shooting any other way.
Very helpful info, Mark. Googling how to do that on my camera brought me directly to a video by Sony showing what to do. Thanks for the tip. This is a good tip. I often use the manual ring to check focus peaking, but having the back button focus enabled is excellent.
Thanks Mark, a very useful item which I have learnt from you. I’ve found out how to alter my Nikon D610 and can’t wait to try it in the morning. Great videos and instructions from you as always, cheers.
Thanks a lot for your video Mark! On Fujifilm X-T3 I'm using AF-ON back button with AF-M switch in front. So I can use AF on half shutter button in AF-S mode, and back button AF in AF-M mode.
Thanks for sharing this video! I've been on the fence with this approach beforehand, especially when I shoot fast moving subjects. But with the custom settings I can save, I think it might be time to have this option for when I only do landscapes. Cheers Mark :)
Single point linked to BBF total game changer for me when I moved to it 3 years ago. Especially true as I shoot a lot of minimal long exposure landscape images where it is all about pin-sharp subject focus.
Another great video. Have used back button focus for some years, first on Nikon and now on Fuji XT cameras. On my X-T2 and X-T3 cameras I assigned the front button (FN2) to focus. It is easy to keep my middle finger on the FN2 button and use my first finger for the shutter. I have tried the AF-E and AF-L buttons as well, but they do not work as well as the FN2 button. And now with my thumb I can dial in SS with the rear command dial. Happy with the setup.
Great focusing tips - I consistently get a lot of value from your channel so thank you. Also, I appreciated the vlog style story telling in this one #refreshing
I found out about the back button focus a couple of years ago. Seemed like a good thing to do. I'm surprised this isn't the standard setting! What a difference it makes. Never changed it back. I have 2 camera's and both have that option set. Best thing I did to personalise!
Yes! I've encountered this problem too. I started using manual focus, and on my camera I can switch the focus on automatic just by keep pushing the front button. As soon as I release it turns back into manual. One thing that I should do is enable that "red sharpness point" you shown, might be handy to get where the focus exactly is!
The cool thing with fujis is, that you don't have to remove the autofocus from the shutter button, when using back button af. Just switch to "M" Focus mode, do everything as Mark explained here, as your back button af then still works. When you want your shutter to focus again, just use "S" or "C" focus mode again.
Yep! Ive changed my A7iii to use one of the custom butttons for autofocus and only the trigger to capture is so much better and i will never go back to default.
I'm a music recording producer & new to video/photo & currently learning as I go along 3 things I've been taught for basics is apertures, iso, & frame focusing angles etc I've noticed between my knowledge of music & video recording is not that much difference on the concept & it helped me alot including you guys tutorial. Your channel is awesome!!!! It opened a whole different world for me thank you 🙏💯💯💯👍
Another excellent video Mark! I've just recently started watching some landscape and seascape videos as I want to renew my interest in that genre that I did a bit of several years ago. I came across your videos and find them to be pleasant to watch and understand. I feel almost as if I have known you from the past, lol. I am originally from just east of Charlotte, NC, but reside in coastal SC now. The woods in this video even look like a place I once visited a few times when I was first interested in doing some landscape work. I think the place was called Weymouth Woods east of my old home in NC. Anyway, just wanted to thank you for doing these videos, and I will certainly watch several more as I have this desire to get back out into the woods and water. Thanks.
I’m relatively new to your channel and i’m enjoying the more relaxed structure and less sales pushy narrative. I’m onside 100% with this focussing method too, started using it last year. Modern cameras ay! I think I know how Sulu felt at the beginning of each Star Trek mission, navigating these things is becoming a bit of a Enterprise flight deck experience.
I've been using back button focusing for a couple of years now and though it was odd to get used to at first I will never go back to shutter button focusing. Thanks for the video.
I've watched many videos around bbf, think you have this discussed this previously in one of your videos. But as mentioned to some below, it took me a while to figure it out and getting used to it. But now, I don't want to go back, loving it ! One downside, someone wanted to try my camera (Sony A7MII) before buying it too, she had a hard time shooting sharp images. Anyway, it works for me !
Mark, Great Explanation of how and when to use the back button focusing feature. Going forward I will use this camera setting. As always a job well done. Thanks, Richard
Thanks so much for watching everyone!!
Thank you for putting your time into this video with all of this rich advice and content for me to watch!!
@@mdcuber484 Glad to do it and thank you for checking out the video!
@@MarkDenneyPhoto because of you I switched to back button focusing and I’m now trying it out.
Back button focus is my preferred method of focus in landscape and esp. portrait, etc.
I've really enjoyed your channel for over a year now. I've grown tired of all the photography channels with the thumping dance music and the epic, sweeping drone videos. I like your low-key style and think you have tremendously valuable content. I agree back button focus is the way to go. Thank you!
You right no more drone videos presented .
I use front button focus. I find the rear buttons awkward, so I use the front fn button, just right of the lens. I can keep my middle finger on the fn button and trigger finger on the shutter.
Back button focus was the best change I made, but the hardest to get accustomed to. Focus is focus and shutter is shutter, I’ll never go back!
Same here! Wont change now
You're like the Bob Ross of photography. "Let's just take some pics of these happy little trees." Always passing on great knowledge.
Bob Ross is awesome , who needs cameras
I was experiencing exactly what you were saying where the focus was just a little bit off when I looked at the images on my computer monitor. This video was absolutely essential for me. I never thought about taking the focus activation off the shutter button. I tried it and absolutely love it. You have opened up a brand new experience for me. Thanks Mark.
This is so helpful to know there's an option for back focusing as I've missed so many shots when my camera refocuses while using the shutter button.
I'm still relatively new to cameras. My wife bought me a D3500 the tail end of November 2019.
Ironically enough, the very FIRST setting I altered was switching to back button focus. It is so much better in my humblest of newbie opinions.
I appreciate another fantastic video Mark. Take care and be safe.
Thanks for this clear explanation Mark. As a new “manual setting” photographer you hear many others talk about being a back-button focuser...but until now I didn’t appreciate the reason why.
Hey Mark, you continue to be the most helpful landscape photographer I’ve found on UA-cam. Thank you so much for explaining this. I honestly thought my camera body needed an upgrade because my images were having this exact problem. Appreciate you!
Really appreciate this Sam - thanks a million man!
Like a beginner, I used to autofocus with the shutter button. I was not really happy to start to work with back focusing. But it changed everything, and now I'm mad at myself for not having used it earlier. It is not only important in portrait photography, but also in sports photography, as you can shoot while focusing, thus losing no time and missing no action.
Thank you. I have played around with it I guess I need to revisit that and try this again. Thank you very much for the info
I hadn't used back button focus until I was on a guided photography trip when the trip leader suggested I switch. It took a half day or so to get used to it, but I've never looked back.
I absolutely love the organic tones in your video. My Z6 is on the way so time to start mastering that thing when it gets here. Big upgrade from a D3500. Thanks for the help!
Great video. I use BBF for years now and never looked back, it’s great. An extra feature is that when you change your shooting mode to ‘continuous ‘ you have it all in one button. Just a short press to lock for a single shot, but if needed you can switch to continuous focusing by holding the back button, without the need to change any setting on the camera. Quite handy when an animal suddenly appears.
This would be the clearest explanation I have come across about just how back button focus actually works. Will be giving this a go on my next shoot. Thanks! And I totally agree about the absence of background music. A welcome and refreshing change.
Thank you, Mark. Very well explained. This is something I have told clients before, but I probably need to press it home more often!
It was a revelation when I was shown back button focus and cannot think of doing it any other way now. Having done many tests, the auto does a better job than my eyes 99% of the time, but I always review at 100% to be sure. Thanks for sharing Mark.
Thanks that was very helpful with definitely have a go at finding back button focus on my xt4
So good to get the benefit of your experience Mark , I’m heading towards being a professional photographer and your videos have taught me so much over the last few months . Been using this focus technique for a while now , it’s changed my photographs . So much better , thanks 🙏
Always try to experiment and teach myself as I go along as you did but these brilliant videos have certainly speeded up process . Take care , greetings from the UK
Thank you that's a great idea! Definitely gonna be switching my camera settings to this when I get home today 🤘
Great to hear it was helpful and a big thanks for checking it out!
I feel another advantage of using Back Button Focusing is you can trigger the shutter release faster (no delay to focus) and time it better (e.g. more precisely when a wave to breaking on a rock).
I find I can trigger the shutter faster using the shutter as auto focus because I'm already half way down and holding it there. Just a bit more depression and the shot is taken very quickly.
Thanks again Mark, for giving a clear indication of the value of back button focus. If I may elaborate to a more general principle, that of moving away from relying on the camera's default auto-settings in general. I started shooting in the late '70s, my first purchase being a used Nikon Ftn Photomic. It had a rudimentary metering system coupled with auto-aperture, but that was the extent of "automatic" functions. Working with an essentially all-mechanical camera helps the photographer realize that every exposure actually comprises several variables, several choices, to create an image: shutter speed, aperture, exposure value, "film speed" - aka ISO - plus focal point, not to mention focal length and ultimately, composition. Modifying any one of these will change the character of the image. In all but the latter two options, all these variables can be given over to the camera's auto-settings, often with acceptable results, but likely not optimum. For example, understanding how different aperture settings will change range of focus, along with other subtler changes, and choosing one specifically for a desired effect will add to one's creative potential. You need not only to know the tools at your disposal, but also to take your time and have a set reliable workflow: a detailed sample technique would be... 1. scout and locate your subject; establish general standpoint, with ideas toward final composition. 2. choose desired lens, eg., 35mm f2 for moderate-wide landscape with the intention to incorporate foreground subject-matter; handhold tighter dial-in of finished composition; set up tripod to place camera to that spot. 3. choose focal-point to ensure that at least the primary subject is sharp (back-button focus for auto-lens, or manually focus, preferably live-view with focus-peaking); It's generally preferable to focus wide open, so you'll know precisely where your focal-point lands. 4. choose aperture, depending upon desired effect, in this case f16 for wide focal-range (choice of focal-point and aperture are somewhat related, which is to say, how one chooses the two is connected. If for instance, in this composition you wished to highlight a flower in the near foreground, you'd choose f2 and focus directly on the flower, letting the background go soft; but instead, we wish a broad focal range - without focus-stacking - and you might know that f16 on this particular lens is safely sharp, which will give you good focus from near to distant... if you set your focal-point at or near its hyper-focal point. If that's too much, just focus a bit past the near-object, and rely on focus-peaking if possible). 5. establish proper exposure. A good method, with proper understanding, is to spot-meter a key area of your subject. This may require moving the focal-index on your monitor in live-view, or changing where you point your camera to do so. Again, using live-view, and histogram display, you can modify exposure-time with exposure compensation. Generally, more exposure without clipping highlights is better. Use back-button AE lock before recomposing. 6. ISO 100 (this is hardly a choice, almost by default, highest sensitivity for best resolution and least noise. Higher speed to stop action or to hand-hold would be an exception. But since we're on a tripod, with a placid subject, even a several-second exposure is fine). 7. with focal-point, aperture, and exposure-time now locked in, set final composition. I prefer live-view, since in my DSLR it locks the mirror up, reducing potential vibration, plus shows a good representation of the final composition and exposure settings. Make exposure with remote release and 2-sec. delay so camera is completely still. I frequently shoot Auto-Exposure-Compensation, ±1 stop, so I'll have three frames of varying density. I can either choose the best one for editing, or, more often than not combine them for an HDR image, which gives a bit more editing depth. ... I went to all this detail just to illustrate the point that you need to put your time in, first again to learn your tool's capabilities, and then, at the time of exposure, to methodically work through all the steps, choice-by-choice, to produce the specific desired effect. And then, on to editing, which is a whole other story. Cheers!
Amazing tip! Will have to try this out soon. Thanks for sharing!
This was the information I’ve looked for. I was allays straggling with auto ficus and light measurements. Very often I put focus to another point as point for which I would like to calculate the exposure.
Thanks a lot for sharing this!
Hi Mark. This is amazing! I was just playing around focusing process on my camera two days ago and I got nearly to the same conclusion. Thats awsome. Thanks for the video to confirm what I figured out :D
Thank you!! Absolutely love your videos :)
You always provide great tips, much appreciated
Thanks Mark, will definitely try this.
Great tips..with so much detailed info..Thanks..Subscribed!
Merry Christmas! You just got a new subscriber! Thank you for this tip 📸💯
Thanks Mark, another great tip, will try it out, hope you guys are all safe and Healthy in these odd times.
Happy New Year ! Thanks for the tip .
I just ordered my XT3 as you've sold me on it! I can't wait to try some of the tips you talk about.
Mark, thanks for this. I’ve since changed to back button and find it makes a difference!!
Great video. Thanks for all of the help Mark.
Great tips Marc, thank you.
Great video Mark. It was reassuring for me to see how my camera skills are developing in the right direction. My lack of artistic confidence pushes me to learn the techniques and current gear functionality more intimately in an effort to get the artistic results in the image making process. Thanks for sharing.
Recently I've been talking my photography more seriously and I've been researching a lot via UA-cam. I have to state - you've been the best, by far. Outstanding content, beautifully explained. Keep up the great work - and thanks 👍👍
Thank you. Now time to pick up the camera, play with some settings and give this a try. If it works then I will use it. Thank you again.
Great video Mark. Super simplified with practical demonstration at every step. Thank you so much for posting.
Thank you so much bro , for your awesome idea ❤️ it will be very helpful to my future shoots 🙏
A technique I learned from Mads Peter Iverson on my Sony A7 Riii with back button focus set, is move the focus square to the desired item you want in focus, press the AF-L button on the back of the camera. This zooms in close to the object. I can press it a 2nd time and zoom in even closer if desired. The focus square changes to a small "+" sign and I can move it precisely on what I want specifically the auto focus system to focus on then press the back button focus button (AE-L) to focus the lens. I typically have a 5 second timer set so I press the shutter button and take the shot. This technique was a game changer for me - no more slightly soft photos. I love the focus peaking for macro/intimate shots. Thank you Mark!
Super helpful video on getting sharp focus. Thanks!
This gonna be one of the most important lesson to learn, according to me, Thanks again to make this type of wonderful videos....... Thanks Allot.........
You’re the best - thanks so much for watching each week!
@@MarkDenneyPhoto I have a hunger inside me to learn something brand new, I wanted to go to USA,North Carolina there lives my sister for her IT job,but after clearing my board exams when I applied for Visa your country didn't approve that.......but that's okay I will visit your country when the pandamic will go forever.........and if I have a chance I will like to meet with you and touch your feet because you are my one and only teacher......in India we addressed teacher as "Guru" and touching there feet we students take there blessings as well we show our respect to them......... That's it...
I don't if I could be a good photographer or not But I enjoy to click photos.....I enjoy when I edited my photos it's like a meditation to me,it helps me to refresh my mind........ that's why I love photography specially landscape photography.........🙏 Thank you......🙏
Thank you that was excellent Mark!👍🏼👍🏼
BBF , AF then manual with focus peaking . After torturing myself for ages on hyperfocal distances, third way in etc, I find manual focus and peaking works great.
Assigning focus to the back button has been the best tweak I've made on my D610. I got used to it very fast and will never go back to shutter button focus. BTW, you have the best photographic how to videos I've found on UA-cam. Thanks for all your help.
Another great episode full of useful tips .. BBF can be a game changer for sure !! Well done Buddy
Thanks a million Darren!!
Great video and suggestion. I converted to BBF some time ago and was the best thing I ever did. Agree it was awkward at first but the keeper rate went way up. When time allows, that little tweak made manually, is magic.
Excellent video Mark, as always. Great tip about using the focus ring!!!
Thanks,
Dave
Thanks Dave - glad you think so!
Thanks for this video. I’m new at digital photography. This is a reoccurring prob I have had. Great channel. I too like the low key, no music. To the point instructions. Great job.
I'm just getting into outdoor landscape photography and your content and photographs are amazing! Also want to say your tutorials are fantastic for me as a ture noobie, great tip in this video!!!
Thanks Mark
I put back button focus on the Q button and moved Q to the upper right button. It makes it MUCH easier to find. Great video.
Fairly new to photography and really new to your channel. Just like this video, lots of great, straight to the point & interesting information. Thank you and I looking forward to catching up on it all!
Great info.. Will definitely check the back button focus technique.
I switched to BBF a few years ago and haven’t looked back since. I focus the way I want and where I want and the camera takes the image. It works great for pretty much everything since you’re in control of when the camera focuses. Mine is setup so that when I hold the focus button it’s in continuous focusing mode. Track your subject, hold the focus button and shoot away. If it stops moving, let go of the button and shoot. It makes focus and recompose a breeze. I can’t imagine shooting any other way.
Thanks a lot! It was extremely useful.
So helpful! Thanks.
Changed the manual check focus setting in my XT3. Could be a game changer. Thanks Mark!
Really enjoyed the vid , going to try that out
Great video, thanks for sharing.
Mark: "I turn my focus ring until most of the scene is red, marking focus area"
Me:
Nikon d850 😉
If you have a Canon DSLR get magic lantern, it adds focus peaking among tons of other features
@@Kevinmadefilms I'm Nikon D700 User :)
@@Henkepenkeberg Hi. Any idea if its available in other Nikon bodies?
i wish my D7200 had it also :(
Excellent video that helps me plus the video was sharp and Beautiful.
That's really interesting thanks for sharing!
thank you Mark - going to give it a whirl this weekend and see if it helps !
Thanks for a nice presentation. Your photos are brilliant. When I grow up I want to photograph like you!
Amazing tip, thank you.
Very helpful info, Mark. Googling how to do that on my camera brought me directly to a video by Sony showing what to do. Thanks for the tip. This is a good tip. I often use the manual ring to check focus peaking, but having the back button focus enabled is excellent.
Very helpful and clear tutorial on using back button focusing.
Like that you said, you go out to practice your techniques, nice to hear that we are always practicing and learning.
That's a great idea; I plan to make the change you suggested on my own camera. Thanks so much!
Glad to do it Keith and hope you enjoy it.
Thanks Mark, a very useful item which I have learnt from you. I’ve found out how to alter my Nikon D610 and can’t wait to try it in the morning. Great videos and instructions from you as always, cheers.
Another useful video. Thanks!
Thanks Marc!
Thanks a lot for your video Mark! On Fujifilm X-T3 I'm using AF-ON back button with AF-M switch in front. So I can use AF on half shutter button in AF-S mode, and back button AF in AF-M mode.
Great information. Thank you.
Thanks for sharing this video! I've been on the fence with this approach beforehand, especially when I shoot fast moving subjects. But with the custom settings I can save, I think it might be time to have this option for when I only do landscapes. Cheers Mark :)
Thanks for this!
Single point linked to BBF total game changer for me when I moved to it 3 years ago. Especially true as I shoot a lot of minimal long exposure landscape images where it is all about pin-sharp subject focus.
Great tips, thanks!
This is truly what was needed. Thanks man.
Glad to do it friend!
Excellent tip well presented with clarity and justification.,👍
Another great video. Have used back button focus for some years, first on Nikon and now on Fuji XT cameras. On my X-T2 and X-T3 cameras I assigned the front button (FN2) to focus. It is easy to keep my middle finger on the FN2 button and use my first finger for the shutter. I have tried the AF-E and AF-L buttons as well, but they do not work as well as the FN2 button. And now with my thumb I can dial in SS with the rear command dial. Happy with the setup.
Great focusing tips - I consistently get a lot of value from your channel so thank you. Also, I appreciated the vlog style story telling in this one #refreshing
Very glad to hear this - thank you!
your a great help mark, cheers,
I’ve watched a s**t load of landscape photography videos and I have never had these two top tips explained by anyone. 👍🏻👍🏻
I found out about the back button focus a couple of years ago. Seemed like a good thing to do. I'm surprised this isn't the standard setting! What a difference it makes. Never changed it back. I have 2 camera's and both have that option set. Best thing I did to personalise!
Yes! I've encountered this problem too. I started using manual focus, and on my camera I can switch the focus on automatic just by keep pushing the front button. As soon as I release it turns back into manual. One thing that I should do is enable that "red sharpness point" you shown, might be handy to get where the focus exactly is!
I find BBF most useful when coupled with continuous focus for moving subjects.
I love to use my back focusing. Love the birds in the background :)
Always learn something on here, Mark.
Best thing I ever did on my Olympus em1m11. Works a treat with sports and bird photography.
The cool thing with fujis is, that you don't have to remove the autofocus from the shutter button, when using back button af. Just switch to "M" Focus mode, do everything as Mark explained here, as your back button af then still works. When you want your shutter to focus again, just use "S" or "C" focus mode again.
I used this technique today and it worked a treat. Thanks
Yep! Ive changed my A7iii to use one of the custom butttons for autofocus and only the trigger to capture is so much better and i will never go back to default.
I'm a music recording producer & new to video/photo & currently learning as I go along 3 things I've been taught for basics is apertures, iso, & frame focusing angles etc I've noticed between my knowledge of music & video recording is not that much difference on the concept & it helped me alot including you guys tutorial. Your channel is awesome!!!! It opened a whole different world for me thank you 🙏💯💯💯👍
Another excellent video Mark! I've just recently started watching some landscape and seascape videos as I want to renew my interest in that genre that I did a bit of several years ago. I came across your videos and find them to be pleasant to watch and understand. I feel almost as if I have known you from the past, lol. I am originally from just east of Charlotte, NC, but reside in coastal SC now. The woods in this video even look like a place I once visited a few times when I was first interested in doing some landscape work. I think the place was called Weymouth Woods east of my old home in NC. Anyway, just wanted to thank you for doing these videos, and I will certainly watch several more as I have this desire to get back out into the woods and water. Thanks.
I’m relatively new to your channel and i’m enjoying the more relaxed structure and less sales pushy narrative. I’m onside 100% with this focussing method too, started using it last year. Modern cameras ay! I think I know how Sulu felt at the beginning of each Star Trek mission, navigating these things is becoming a bit of a Enterprise flight deck experience.
Thank you. Great suggestions. Wish I’d found you a few $$$ ago, but all is well. Keep up the great work.
I've been using back button focusing for a couple of years now and though it was odd to get used to at first I will never go back to shutter button focusing. Thanks for the video.
I've watched many videos around bbf, think you have this discussed this previously in one of your videos. But as mentioned to some below, it took me a while to figure it out and getting used to it. But now, I don't want to go back, loving it ! One downside, someone wanted to try my camera (Sony A7MII) before buying it too, she had a hard time shooting sharp images. Anyway, it works for me !
Mark, Great Explanation of how and when to use the back button focusing feature. Going forward I will use this camera setting. As always a job well done. Thanks, Richard
Many thanks Richard! Hope you enjoy it👍