Comments on: Back Button Focus: What Is It and Why Should You Try It?

By: Superheterodyne

Superheterodyne — Thu, 24 Apr 2025 02:42:10 +0000

Simon,

I'm just reading this 10 year old article and enjoyed it very much. Also, enjoyed your calm response to Michael's arrogance, which I never saw the supposed error.

My only issue with BBF, is remembering to switch it back when handing my camera to someone else to take a picture. ?

Thanks,
Bill

By: Eduardo Joachim

Eduardo Joachim — Fri, 26 Apr 2024 08:35:12 +0000

Back button focus is ok only if you do not wear glasses my friend. If you do need glasses it will end up completely dirty with finger marks, streaks and body grease.

By: Simon Ringsmuth

Simon Ringsmuth — Tue, 20 Mar 2018 12:46:00 +0000

In reply to Dan Burke. Excellent!!! I'm thrilled to hear it, Dan :)

By: Dan Burke

Dan Burke — Sun, 18 Mar 2018 19:13:00 +0000

It was this very article that got me started with BBF, and I’ve being using it ever since. Took to it like a duck to water and in conjunction with watching shutter speed when in Aperture mode has greatly improved the sharpness of my photos. Nice one Simon, cheers!!

By: Bikemedic

Bikemedic — Fri, 09 Mar 2018 17:12:00 +0000

If your lens has Image stabilization, when you release the back button focus the stabilization shuts off as well and re-engages when you half press the shutter. Is there a way to get around that without shutting the image stablization off?

By: Brenda Leitzow

Brenda Leitzow — Sun, 28 Jan 2018 22:30:00 +0000

In reply to Simon Ringsmuth. I have been extremely frustrated with recent photos of moving targets (tiger cubs at the Wild Animal Park in San Diego). I'm going to try this on them and see if I can't get some clearer, sharper images and end my frustration. Thanks for the tip. Wish me luck!

By: RTurbo

RTurbo — Thu, 23 Nov 2017 15:57:00 +0000

Awesome tip. Was not aware of this function. Thank you 🙂

By: HLLeRoy

HLLeRoy — Sun, 01 Oct 2017 23:22:00 +0000

Enjoyed the article. Just a note though. When you wrote ‘begs the question,’ you really meant ‘raises the question.’ Here’s a little article from the NY Times explaining it. https://afterdeadline.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/09/25/begging-the-question-again/?mcubz=1

By: Cam Miller

Cam Miller — Fri, 29 Sep 2017 03:23:00 +0000

In reply to The Zoom Creep. Same issue here. I have small hands - think back button might work better for someone with larger, stronger hands.

By: Matthew Burn

Matthew Burn — Wed, 06 Sep 2017 07:21:00 +0000

In reply to Simon Ringsmuth. Very; I've been using back button focus for a while now, but never really understood the relationship with using the shutter button for exposure until now.