Back button focusing

[lartamax]

Hi,
Anyone got any advice on setting up a 5D MkII for back button focusing. I want to be able to use the cameras meter to meter for the brightest part of the image that I want to keep in detail eg: a bride / communion dress then recompose the shot and use the eye as the main focus point.

John.

 

[sl888]

I believe there are 2 back button AF options for the 5D II; metering start/meter + AF and AE lock/metering + AF. For the situation described you'll probably want the latter.

 

[weybourne]

Well according to the manual:

C.Fn IV -1
Shutter button/AF-ON button

3: AE lock/Metering + AF start
Convenient when you want to focus and meter at different parts of the
picture. Press the <AF-ON> button to meter and autofocus, and press
the shutter button halfway to attain AE lock.​

[my emboldening]

Personally, with the 50D, I have metering on the shutter button and focussing on the back-button. If I want to meter on a different part of the picture, I point and meter by half-press of the shutter button, press the AE lock button on the back of the camera, point at focus point, focus, recompose if required and take picture.

That is option 2 on the 5D MkII:

2: Metering start/Metering + AF start
This is useful for subjects which keep moving and stopping repeatedly.
In the AI Servo AF mode, you can press the <AF-ON> button to start or
stop the AI Servo AF operation. The exposure is set at the moment the
picture is taken. Thus, the optimum focusing and exposure will always
be achieved as you wait for the decisive moment.​

Remember that you can swap around the functions of the AE-Lock and AF buttons on the back of the camera (C.Fn IV -2). Whichever way round I set them, I will still ocassionally press the wrong one.

 

[graphilly]

Remember that you can swap around the functions of the AE-Lock and AF buttons on the back of the camera (C.Fn IV -2). Whichever way round I set them, I will still ocassionally press the wrong one.

That's the way I have it too. Just suits me better.

 

[lartamax]

Thanks everyone I will give it a try tonight