I remember the first time I heard about Back Button Focus. I had NO idea what it was, but I knew that some of the best photographers out there SWORE by it. I kept hearing how amazing it was, that I would get sharper photos more consistently, and that it was SO much better to shoot with than by using the shutter button alone. If you haven’t ever heard of back button focus, you’re probably sitting there thinking “Misty, what the heck are you talking about?!” So lets jump into my back button focus tutorial!!

What is Back Button Focus?

Back button focus is using a separate button (usually one of the back of your camera-hence the name) to actually focus your shot before you press the shutter button. If you aren’t using BBF just yet, you know that in order to focus your image, you press your shutter down halfway, wait for a beep, or for the little light to show you have achieved focus, and then you press the shutter the rest of the way to take the image.  With BBF, you don’t have to do that!

Why use Back Button Focus?

There are many reasons why you would choose to used BBF over simply pressing your shutter button to focus. One of the main reasons I chose to make this switch was that you tend to have more tack sharp photos with it, and that’s absolutely important when you are shooting weddings. A few more reasons, though I’m sure there’s plenty more include:

-You can shoot faster when you have a subject that is static. If you are shooting rings, or shoes, or maybe even a child sleeping, your subject doesn’t move. If you weren’t using BBF, you would have to press the shutter halfway, lock focus, then push it the rest of the way. With back button focus, all you have to do it press and hold the BBF button that you have designated to lock your focus, and then shoot away! This is even great for landscapes, little newborns, and other macro photography.

-It’s easier to recompose! If you have limited focal points because you have an older camera, or just an entry-level camera, this is KEY! You can use your center focal point to lock your focus with BBF, then recompose your image to make a more intriguing image.

-Quicker focusing with moving subjects. This is one of my favorite parts of using BBF. If you have a moving subject, if your settings are correct, you can press and hold your BBF button and it will continue to focus on that subject, and you can shoot without having to press the button halfway, only to have the subject move and then lose focus.

-When you use BBF, you don’t have to worry about switching between Auto Focus modes. You basically have all focus modes rolled into one with BBF.

Digging Deeper into BBF

In order to really appreciate back button focus, you really need to have a good grasp and understanding on the focus modes.

Auto Focus-Your camera focuses your lens
Manual Focus- You focus your lens

And a focus MODE is how your camera is going to focus your lens in auto focus, when you are using your shutter as the focus lock. There’s a few of those, so let’s break it down further-in Nikon/Canon.
AF-S/One Shot AF — Your camera focuses on a single focus point. You have to press the shutter and focus each time you want to adjust the focus.
AF-C/Al Servo AF — Your camera focuses on your active focus point and as long as the shutter is partway depressed, the item remains in focus as it moves.
AF-A/AI Focus AF — Your camera basically decides which option is best

With BBF, it’s best to keep your camera in AF-C, though, depending how you use it, it will function like AF-S. If you press and release the BBF and then press the shutter, it acts as the AF-S. However, if you press and hold the BBF while you are shooting through a scene, this is when it will act as the AF-C.

We still need to break this down even DEEPER!

Auto Focus Areas/AF Point Selection: Where your camera decides it is going to focus

There are many different auto focus areas with both Nikon and Canon, and the best way to learn about them is to read your camera manual, but I never let my camera decide what to focus on. I am deliberate with the focal point I choose, and what I want in focus, and that is one of the keys with using BBF. If you are allowing your camera to choose where to focus, you will end up with missed focus time and time again.

I’ll take it back to what one of my 5th grade teachers used to tell me about calculators: “it’s only as smart as the operator.” The same is true for cameras. We’re smarter than a camera, and we KNOW what we want to focus on.

WHEW!!!! That was a lot of information. Hopefully I didn’t lose you, but if I did, feel free to ask questions in the comments!! I’m happy to help! And if you want to figure out how to start using BBF, read your manual to make sure that option is turned on!! And also, give it time!! Practice and practice and practice. It isn’t going to come right away, but give it a little bit of time, and you’re going to LOVE it!