Why I use BACK BUTTON FOCUS for Landscape Photography?
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- Опубліковано 1 лип 2024
- Over the last few months I have started using a back button focus approach for my landscape photography and I really feel it has enhanced my focusing and experience in the field. In this video I help explain what back button focusing is, why it is particularly useful for landscape photographers and how to setup on Nikon cameras. If you have you own thoughts on back button focusing, drop a comment below and if you have not yet subscribed to my channel please do so to support what I do. Thanks for watching and I'll see you all next time out. Cheers!
#focus #backbutton #nikon
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Music - courtesy of UA-cam Audio Library - Dream Escape
Another tip is to turn on focus peaking in the menus but leave your lens/camera in autofocus. Now push your bbf and rotate the focus ring on your lens. The focus peaking will activate as long as you hold your bbf. I use that primarily when I am focus stacking or when I’m shooting street and my subject is changing distance from me and I can’t tell if they are sharp. It’s nice because as long as I’m not pressing the afon button AND rotating the focus ring the peaking will not turn on. But in those times where I need it I can activate it without fumbling through the i menu.
Thanks Daniel - that is a brilliant tip. I didn't realise that the peaking could be activated like that!! Superb! 👍
Good point about increasing response when shooting seascapes. Excellent video. Subscribed.
Thank you! A nice concise explanation….. and good that you showed it being used taking a picture. Thx again…
After watching this i now have adopted your method and love it, thanks.
Excellent explanation and demo. Thank you.
Thanks James, enjoyed you explanation and photo shoot.
Great presentations-glad I stumbled across this channel.
Used BBF since day one, wouldn't have it any other way and as you say James it brings everything together nicely, thanks for sharing
Beautiful photo..He does go on a bit, but he does produce the goods..🧐
Lovely image - thank you for the tips... now googling how to set up my own camera.
Nicely done. Thank you! As a result I can ‘give it a go’1
Excellent description. Back button focus is the only way to go.
Thanks so much... you are a good teacher
Welcome to the club.....better late than never. I have been using BBF for years and absolutely love it.
Thanks James clear and concise as normal, particularly interested in your point about wave photography.
Thanks - glad it made sense. I was scared it was just going to be a 15 minute waffle 😂
Excellent quality video as always James. Thanks for the clear explanation and how you set up and shot the image. Beautiful composition. 👍👍👍
Thanks very much Chris! 🙂
Thank you for a very interesting and descriptive blog. I have an entry level Canon - but I believe it is available - so that's my next job!! Thanks James👍 Take care
Hey James, that was a very articulate and well-considered explanation of the merits of back button focus for landscape photography. The sound was great in spite of the waterfall. (I noticed a lot of leaves have the same blight spots that I see on leaves in Canada, and I guess we can blame international air travel for spreading that across the planet.) I am definitely going back to back button focus again, this time on my new Z5. Cheers from the Great White North. ;)
Awesome video! I have Always left my a1 & a2: AF-S & AF-C on FOCUS. Thanks for the explanation. This method should come in very handy for MACRO Photos...
Very good ! I tried BBF years ago. Wasn’t using it correctly and didn’t get the point. Now I will try it again. Synergy between manual and Autofocus. I like that insight.
Good video. I hadn’t thought about bbf making manual focus always available.
Thanks for detailing and also very beautiful waterfall photography i love that focus point and image stacking 👍📸
Thank you 🙂
A great shot of the waterfall, the Autumn leaf tells the story nicely. A clear and concise video on the merits of BBF, well done. I'm now subscribed.
Thanks John - much appreciated 🙂
I agree. Bbf is great. Nice photo of the waterfall. Thnx.
Thank you 🙂
BBF has been my choice for 18 months now. The only time I de-activate it is when shooting with a wireless remote trigger on self-portraits...
Very nice video James, thank you!
Agree with everything you have said. Nice shot too 👍🏻
Cheers Richard 🙂
Great video, thanks
I used BBF on my D600 for the last two years, and set up my new Z6 with BBF as soon as the battery was fully charged. Very pleased with both BBF and the Z6.
very good tip on back button focus James!!
Thanks glad it was useful
Very great points! I have never used Back Button Focus...I'll give it a try.
Cheers - Good luck, hopefully you find it useful 👍
Great explanation, nice shot at the end too
Thank you Brendan 🙂
Great video and a great image, too. I've been a BBF for a couple of years now, and I wouldn't go back to the conventional method. I found it really comes into its own with night and astrophotography. Thanks for a great video.
Cheers Simon! Yeah for my landscape shooting I probably wont ever go back to the conventional method either 👍
I tried back button focus about a year ago. I’ve been doing it that way ever since. Excellent shot by the way !!!
Thank you Joseph 🙏
Great video! Ok, I will brave the new setting for BBF on my D500….😬
Another excellent video, thx
Thanks Derek 🙏
I use BBF on my D90 & D600 via the AEL button , I changed to this about 18 months ago and have found it a great step forwards and will not be changing back to the default setting. BBF seems much faster and with older cameras with fewer focus points I can focus with the more sensitive AF points and recompose with the focus not going to change when I press the shutter.
I also have a Z7, I've been shooting for years yet only just bothered to get to grips with BBF (yes that's not Big Breasted Female) back button focus has me asking why I never used it before. I used to focus in AF, then turn to Manual Focus so the focussing didn't accidentally change. BBF is a game changer.
Yep, I use back button focus on my Z7 for landscape work, I think it took me one or two shoots to get used to it.
Shooting in auto exposure, you now can use BBF to focus, recompose for exposure, half press shutter (thus fixing exposure), recompose for composition, fire.
The question in this all is if the recomposing shifts the focused-on plane to a less desired point, so a form of subject-tracking dynamic autofocus could help.
Superb image, and thank you for the demonstration.
I use the D810, rather than Z Series, but plan to try BBF soon. You've inspired me!
Thanks Miles - I'm glad you feel inspired to try it 🙂
Great video James, I always use BBF for general photography but despite the great AF capabilities of the Z system, particularly on good to moderate light, I always prefer the manual focus for my landscapes when the camera is on a tripod. Having said that, there is great scope for using the screen focus mode when the camera is low, close to the ground.
Thanks Thanos - I love with BBF how auto focus and manual work so effortlessly together 👍
I've been enjoying coffee and back button for a while as well, but since moving to the z7, particularly when using the rear screen as in your demo, I find touch screen to focus very useful. Saves a step of placing the focus point and then hitting the button. I use bbf when handheld, for sure.
Yeah the touch screen autofocus is a nice feature for sure - I tend to press the AF-on button anyways just to be safe even when touch af is enabled. Purely out of habit really.
I always use manual focus for landscapes, only ever used BBF when photographing moving subjects.
great tips, one more, is that this is useful if you DON'T want focus to change between shots, ie exposing same image, with different settings ( like the composition, but D.O.F. or shutter speed-aka subject motion is wrong for your visualisation of the scene), or you want to add filtration, but Don't want to risk a focus shift when you hit the shutter the second time!!
My main thing is wildlife photography, BBAF is essential, similar to James Oliver I have single spot but joystick is on group, single for stationary subjects, group for birds in flight for example. I couldn't possibly change back to the old ways.
Great vlog James and welcome to the club of the back button focuses 😂😂 beautiful scenery as always but how does that little island of yours have so much to see, it’s amazing. Love the no holes barred approach with all your vlogs especially the fact you never hide focus stacking(and suspiciously placed leaves😂😂😂😂❤️) and explain it so simply again. I’ve used back button for about three years but on a canon and totally agree with it activated it prevents that MF error when you take the pic. Keep it going mate and maintain the quality that is James Brew signature.💯👍🇬🇧📸👍👍👍👍❤️❤️❤️ nearly forgot to ask but what was the filter you used,using as it looked like a magnetic system?
Thanks very much Chris as always for your kind comment. Well spotted on the filter front - its a magnetic system from Kase. Been trialling it for a number of weeks now. Will probably do a video on them soonish 👍👍👍
Excellent videos. I have enjoyed many.of your videos ......glad I found you. I have actually set up back button focus up when I purchased my Z7 last year but never used it so you have inspired me to do so. It is Autumn in the Sierra where I live so I will focus stack some landscape. I usually focus stack for micro flower photographs but landscapes like this would benefit greatly for improved images sharpness throughout. Thank you so very much!! Question at 11:24. How to you set the zoom "punch in" with the OK button. I always have to magnify in then out and lose place as I often look instead of just feel.
Thank you! In the menu's you can set the function of the OK button to zoom in and out when pressed. It's a very quick way of checking sharpness at the press of a button 👍
After moving to the Z6 I contemplated the need for BBF, given all the features of the mirrorless AF system. Some of how I focused changed (for the better). Subject tracking is amazing. For tracking action, I do still like BBF.
I've also noticed the Z6's AF activation (on the shutter release) is definitely more sensitive than my D7200. Even my Z50 has a REALLY nice "halfway" stage that I wish I could move to my Z6. On the Z6, there's less "travel" between AF activation and shutter release (something I'm getting used to).
That said, this video reminded me of other useful BBF scenarios. Thanks!
Yes my Z50 has a really nice shutter button, I love it. It's pretty much perfect for me.
Great James very good advice just wondering what tripod are you using being a Newbie thanks
I have been using Back button for years mate for my wildlife and landscape images.
I wouldnt go back..
Stunning image as well mate.. 👍
Thanks! I'm late to the party...as always 😂
@@JamesBrewphoto better late than never. 😜
James On my 850 I set up the AF On as spot focus BBF and re-set the "joystick press" function to AF On 25 point so you can instantly change the focusing acquire just by sliding your thumb a centimeter.
Wow nice tip there James 👍👍👍
@@JamesBrewphoto Thanks but in your case, on a tripod in LV, your fingertip is faster.
I’ve been using back button focus for quite a while. It would seem really strange going back to the old way now.
Bbf is also very usefull to photograph fast sports but the main reason i use it is for nd long exposure landscapes. No longer i need to turn off auto focus on my lens when i put the filters in front of the lens which makes it much easy’er to work with nd filters 🤔😄.
Welcome to the BBF/coffee drinkers clan, James! (I’ll bet you don’t take decaf.) Been using BBF for years - especially useful for street photography. You covered rationale spot on. Does your Nikon touch screen enable “touch to acquire focus” (as well as “touch to set focus point”)? If so, you might find it a more efficient method to augment BBF. Same for “touch to focus and release shutter”. Cams also generally assign exposure lock to shutter half-press.- What’s your take on that function (separate exposure lock to avoid cam making last second exposure changes). ☕️ Keep tail dry. Cheers!
Thanks Paul. Yeah the Nikon does acquire focus if you hold the screen for a moment longer. I've never been a fan of using the screen for focusing like that but yeah in theory you could bypass the AF-ON button altogether and maybe that's what I'll eventually end up doing. Another one of the comments from Daniel Switzer gave me a brilliant tip - on the z cameras if you hold the AF-ON and turn manual focus ring at same time focus peaking is instantly enabled! Game changing! I had no idea about that!! I never really use features like exposure lock because all the settings I'm dialing in are 95% of the time in full manual mode and generally I dont need to focus & recompose or lock settings from being auto changed etc. Cheers, James
I have a Z6 & Z7 and have BBF on both camera`s, took a while to get used to it but would not go back now
James, a great practical review. I've become a BBF fan since watching/learning from Steve Perry's tutorials. Is there a reason you did not include the relationship with exposure and BBF/Shutter release and benefits with BBF?
Cheers Jon! I'm not sure quite follow or understand your question. I'm probably being a bit slow today unfortunately 😂
Nice video. I'd like to see how you do that focus stacking process.
Cheers Jeffrey - if you search my back catalogue you'll find some videos on that
@@JamesBrewphoto Oh, ok James. I appreciate that. Thanks!
I noticed you use a L bracket on your camera, James, I use a OMD Mk 3 camera, would I be able to use the Benro Tripod with a geared head with my camera ? also another great informative video and what a beautiful waterfall, look forward to the next one, regards, Colin.
Thanks Colin - Yeah you should be able to use the Benro head with any acra swiss mounting plate. So as long as your L bracket is acra swiss (which they almost always are)- you're good to go 👍
Hello James, that was an excellent explanation of the benefits of back-button Autofocus, which I always use for landscape photography.
There is an advantage to assigning the shutter button to perform the autofocus function when shooting portraits so the auto EyeAF can keep tracking the subject’s Eye. This is the only time I find that assigning AF to the shutter button is helpful because holding the shutter button halfway while composing will continuously track the subject’s Eye.
I do this using back button focus with continuous autofocus. My primary interest is portraiture, and I haven't used the shutter button to focus for years. In fact, I would recommend always leaving the camera set to continuous autofocus when using the button on the back for portrait work (I never use single autofocus, even for landscapes).
Brian Davies Whichever works best for your workflow. I personally find it easier to assign this to the shutter button for portraits because I’m only using one button, and I’m not having to hold my thumb on the AF-ON button while I’m pressing the shutter. I just hold the shutter button halfway while I compose, focus, and shoot all with a single button. But whichever works best for you. There’s no “right” or “wrong” way. That’s the beauty of these cameras: you can customize them to your way of shooting.
@@guyyowell8547 Fair point Guy. It's all a matter of personal preference.
Thanks Guy 🙏 Much like you I have actually been switching the camera back to the conventional setup for handheld non landscape shooting
Hi James really daft question, where is that waterfall on the island ?
Great video, would love to see you blend those images in Photoshop
Cheers Steve - it was actually a very easy blend. Took about 10 minutes in photoshop using layers and brush masking
Both back button focus activation and shutter release button focus activation have their uses and are as useful as each other. The best way is to assign a function button/dial position to switch between the two when required and not having to navigate the often long confusing menu to switch from one to the other.
Yes nice tip - I have added the menu option into my quick menu and have assigned that menu to the record button. Makes it very easy to change it in next to no time
Thanks for your presentation! I also back button and have for some time. I have an unrelated question for you: When you are doing tripod-based landscape photography, do you activate "silent shutter" as a way to prevent vibration? I am currently using the Nikon Z6ii.
No, 3 second exposure delay is generally perfectly sufficient 👍
Got to say I did try and use BBF but NO not for me.
Its something else I have to remember to do, what with looking through the view finder and pressing click. 🤦♂️ nice video btw. 👍👍
Yeah its certainly not for everyone. At least you gave it a try. Thanks very much for watching
Add a bowel head to easily level the gear head when setting up, especially for Panos, saves faffing about levelling your tripod
Very much on my wish list - probably going to get something like this soon
I noticed you use touch screen to set focus point and then to use BBF, but with your Z7, you can also just use the touch screen to set focus point and focus so there is no need to press the AF-ON button and accidentally move or shake the camera a little.
Hi Greg, Yes I am aware that you can focus via the screen but I personally don't particularly like using that method - I personally like splitting the moving of focus point and setting of focus from each other but that's just a personal choice. Cheers, James
@@JamesBrewphoto As you also mention in your video. There is no 'best' method of focussing your landscape images. Use whatever you prefer. There is no good or wrong.
I just personally like to use both methods; BBF and AF by touchscreen. The latter is just like BBF. Before you start to like it, you first have to get used to it doing it in this way. Only when it becomes second nature to you and you feel you can trust it. It might become something you might start to use more often. Just make sure you have your camera set for BBF as well. So the shutterbutton will never hinder you.
I prefer the focus by tapping methid when not using the EVF.
Keep on the good work, your video's are great. I am just learning how to do UA-cam.
Hi James, which Shimoda Explore are you using ? The 30 or 40 liters ? I'm planning to buy this backpack for my Z7 II with 14-24mm f2.8 + 24-70mm f2.8 , fitersets and maybe a 70-200mm later on when resources are there again ;-)
I'm using the 60 :-)
Can you tell me which cpl filter system you use for 14-30 mm? Thanks
Kase 95mm Magnetic Filters
just question , in video you showed us focusing three times in different places. so did you stalked images or its single shot using AF back button?
My final image was focused stacked
I'll be giving a go - I'm having cataract surgery next month so I should able to actually see if my image is in focus. Without autofocus my shooting days would be over. As it is - it a half press and pray. I can still see composition, so photography is still satisfying. Separating the focus from the release function looks very promising and something I can try with better eyesight.
Also as someone familiar with the history of photography I notice your waterfall image is very much somewhere between the stroke by stroke constructing of a landscape painting and the pure slice of time of decisive moment photography. There were photographers in the 19th century who made imitation, classical paintings by exposing multiple negatives and and making up a composite image. They were imitating pretty pathetically. You are not. I see you as using the technology to its limit to build up an image layer by layer. That you were concerned that the leaf was already there and not put into the scene tells me that you you have a photographer's appreciation or the difference between pushing your camera to the limit and staging a scene. Really helpful post.
My spouse has had cataract surgery in both eyes and states her vision is substantially improved. Still needs glasses for close up but, again, overall substantially improved. Follow the protocols, do the drops, and you'll be fine.
I hope you surgery goes smoothly and I wish you luck with giving BBF a go. Thanks for your kinds words on my photography 🙏
The reason I use back button focusing is because I am disabled and have a shaky finger that cannot gently press twice. Bbf is brill
After about 20 years of using the shutter button for autofocus, I found back-button focusing awkward and I missed many, many shots where quickness was needed. I really don't see the point of it.
It's certainly not for everyone - I sometimes find myself switching back the camera to shutter for handheld shooting 👍
Boom, Bang sounds very Yankee
Hi James! As an aspiring photographer, I want to learn how you merged the 3 different focus shots. Can you do a short tutorial on it?
Hi, I've done a video on this topic before. Take a look at my Focus Stacking video 👍
I’ll try it out this weekend James.....I’ll try not getting my ass wet lol... again thank you for another informative v-blog you explain things so well.
Sure would be nice if Nikon saw fit to make that Live View screen fully articulating. Much lower wet ass risk.
Amen! The one thing I want more than anything else tbh 👍
Once you've gone back button you'll never go back, fact
There’s never any reason to not use BBF😊
BBF is the norm, isn't it? James get a camera that as a Articulating screen, so you don't get your ass wet.....LOLOLOLOL
I am hoping that Nikon wake up and update the screens on their cameras - fingers crossed 👍
Another prolix, philosophical Brit holds forth but somehow fails to explain the workings of the subject at hand. MEGO
"When using this new focusing approach" Back Button Focus has been out for many years, there's nothing new about it.
Way too much yakking about nothing. Useful Video is less than 1/3 of total time