Back Button Focus Technique: Tips, Tricks, and Why It Matters

Introduction to Back Button Focus

Back button focus is a technique that many professional photographers swear by. It involves using a dedicated focus button on your camera instead of the main shutter release button to set the focus point. While some photographers claim itrsquo;s the only way to achieve faster shooting rates, others like myself have found other methods more suitable.

Does Back Button Focus Help with Shooting Speed?

For a photographer who uses a Sony A7RII and A7RIII, such as myself, the back button focus technique didnrsquo;t seem to provide the shooting speed improvements claimed by enthusiasts.

However, there are scenarios where back button focus can indeed be faster. When focusing on moving subjects like humans walking sedately, continuous AF can be slower due to the camera constantly searching for focus points. In such cases, back button focus can be the better option.

Advantages of Back Button Focus

One of the primary advantages of back button focus is the ability to focus once and shoot multiple photos without worrying about the subject going out of focus. This technique is especially useful in scenarios where your subject is not moving, such as photographing stationary objects or people. Once yoursquo;ve set the focus, you can continue pressing the shutter to take multiple shots.

Another advantage is the prevention of auto-focus hunting. When using continuous AF, the lens can move back and forth while yoursquo;re about to take the shot, causing delays. With back button focus, you can achieve a consistent focal point and avoid such hunting.

Scenarios Where Back Button Focus Is Less Useful

While back button focus is useful for stationary subjects, there are situations where itrsquo;s less beneficial. For instance, when photographing events where you need to capture images from different angles quickly, letting the camerarsquo;s autofocus do its job is often the better approach. In such cases, you can simply half-press the shutter button to lock the focus and recompose the frame.

Why Not Use Back Button Focus?

Not all photographers use back button focus. For those who shoot with manual focus lenses most of the time, relying on the camerarsquo;s autofocus is more convenient. Most modern digital cameras already offer a feature called focus lock, which allows you to lock the focus by half-pressing the shutter button and then capturing the photo by pressing the button fully.

Furthermore, many cameras can set the exposure while the shutter release button is half-pressed, providing a quick way to take shots without worrying about focus.

Conclusion

In conclusion, back button focus can be a valuable technique for photographers who value manual control over their camerarsquo;s focus system. However, itrsquo;s important to understand the advantages and disadvantages of this technique and adapt your approach based on the specific requirements of your photography.