Hi guys,
As I told you some time ago, I have been experimenting with the ‘back button focusing’ functionality for the past couple of months.
Before I tell you about my experience, let’s talk about the functionality itself.
Well, this link is the best explanation I’ve found, so I will not reinvent the wheel. Just take a look: http://www.usa.canon.com/dlc/controller?act=GetArticleAct&articleID=2286
As for my personal experience, it took me a little while to get used to it, and I didn’t see the plus to this method. As a matter of fact, I was finding it more of a pain to focus than a gain!
But, I persevered and I am now liking it! As a matter of fact, I switched back to the ‘regular’ focusing yesterday when I helped Ollie with the tea ceremony, because I wasn’t sure I was ready to use the back button focusing in a paying – scratch that – real-life gig, and I kept wanting to focus with my thumb… It probably resulted in some missed focuses…
The biggest advantage of this method for me is that you don’t unintentionally change your focus, especially for off-center pictures. With the regular focusing, every time you depress the shutter, the camera is going to try to find a focus point in the middle of the viewfinder. With the back button focusing, the shutter is just there to take the picture and will not try to focus.
With the regular focus, when you want to take an off-center picture, you move your camera to get the subject in focus, keep your finger half-way on the shutter, recompose, wait, wait, wait, get tired, lift your finger up, and then you need to start all over again. The half-way finger is really a pain, when you think about it.
It may seem counter-intuitive to have to depress 2 buttons to take a picture, but you need to remember that you don’t need to re-focus every time you take a picture. This is a key point for me! Plus, you can adjust the focus manually as well, and the camera will not try to change the focus when you depress the shutter. Note: most lenses allow manual adjustment while in AF mode, but you need to check with your manufacturer.
Typically, I would focus on my subject using the auto-focus, then recompose, and wait. If my subject slightly moves, I can adjust the focusing manually, without having to recompose and then I can take the picture without fear of overwriting my manual focusing.
I think Back Button Focusing + Manual Adjustment works for me. Would it work for you??
G