Back button focusing Nikon D7100

Christoph

Christoph

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Chris
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Read quite a bit about this and wondered if anybody uses this, if so do you think its an improvement on half depressing shutter release button to focus. Also read some conflicting advice on how to set it on the D7100 so if anyone knows how to do it properly I would be grateful for the advice.:confused:
 
I love it personally. Theres a good thread on the subject somewhere on here but on phone and can't find it.

To set it up on the d7100. Switch AF to afc mode. In the menu, set the shutter button to 'release' and set the ael button to AF-on. That's it I think.
 
I've never quite understood the advantage of manipulating two buttons instead of just the one. There must be some advantage but it has escaped my education so far!
 
I often use hyperfocal for landscapes or street photography so the BBF approach on my D7100 suits me in being able to focus on something that fixes the focus for the DOF required and then recompose without changing focus.
 
HarveyM said:
I've never quite understood the advantage of manipulating two buttons instead of just the one. There must be some advantage but it has escaped my education so far!
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This is the thread I was thinking of earlier. It's well worth a read before making your mind up.

http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/threads/understanding-back-button-focus.457255/

The main advantages in my eyes are summarised as: complete control of focussing behaviour and never having to change what focus modes I use regardless of subject (that includes manual focussing as well if using lenses with focus override or outright manual lenses).

Its weird but I'm so used to it now that I can't fully remember how an SLR works when not using BBF otherwise I would write a more comprehensive reply.
 
You don't have to assign AE-L button as AF-On. You can use any assignable button you want. I am left eye dominant thus I look into the view finder using my left eye. Meaning my right cheak covers the camera, therefore the AE-L button becomes inaccessible. So I assign the preview button to do AF-on instead and then just set Focus to release in the menu.
 
ricky1980 said:
You don't have to assign AE-L button as AF-On. You can use any assignable button you want. I am left eye dominant thus I look into the view finder using my left eye. Meaning my right cheak covers the camera, therefore the AE-L button becomes inaccessible. So I assign the preview button to do AF-on instead and then just set Focus to release in the menu.
Click to expand...

Are you sure. I've just tried looking into the viewfinder with my left eye as I normally do. But I cant get my right cheek to swap places with my left cheek the bones just wont move....lol

Actually Ive just tried it again and......Are you sure your doing it right.

I look through the viewfinder with my left eye and my left cheek is against the camera.
 
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I'm a left eye shooter too but have never had an issue. I hadn't actually ever thought about it until I read of few people having issues. Maybe I have a big nose!
 
ricky1980 said:
You don't have to assign AE-L button as AF-On. You can use any assignable button you want. I am left eye dominant thus I look into the view finder using my left eye. Meaning my right cheak covers the camera, therefore the AE-L button becomes inaccessible. So I assign the preview button to do AF-on instead and then just set Focus to release in the menu.
Click to expand...

I am the same (left eye dominant) and prevoius to the D7100 i had a D300 then a D700 and they both had a dedicated BBF button (AF-ON) which was positioned to the right of the AE-L button, which was perfect for me being left eye dominant, having now made the move to the D7100 (about a month ago) i have finally found a comfortable position for holding the camera that still allows me to BBF, but at first i found it rather uncomfortable

Although, saying that, i lost the eye cup recently, and that really screwed me up as my face what that bit closer to the body there was no chance i could get my finger in the AE-L button, but a replacement eye cup solved the problem, i was even looking for a larger eye cup at one point to try and move my face that little bit further away from the AE-L button

But like above, if i ever pick up a camera without BBF it feel very alien, and anyone who ever picks up my camera always thinks its broken, haha
 
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I was under the impression that bbf was used a lot by paparazzi types. I tried on a D5100 and it was really hard although it worked well for motor sport when I set the dof right
 
I always used the normal method on my D7100 and older cameras and only even tried BBF on my D750 when it arrived and I already prefer it after 3 days of very light use. I occasionally forget though ;)
 
A very interesting thread and I now understand the possibilities and advantages, so many thanks to the posters and for the link. I too am left eye dominant and find that the button is perfectly placed on my Canon 5D2 and Lumix G5. My Nikons are a real problem, the button is too close to the viewfinder for left eyed operation. The D7000 has a function button at the front of the camera and to the right of the lens barrel which might be assignable (I haven't checked) , but for me isn't ideally placed for this function in any case.
 
Thanks everyone for the replies I'll set it up as you say Graham and give it a go.:wave:
 
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