I can't imagine ever not using BBF. I don't care how good the focus system is, being able to decide when the camera focuses and when it shoots, separately, is a level of control I will never give up!
If 90% of the time you are engaging af and shooting, youre better off slaving a function button to af lock and hitting that when you dont want to focus.
@@bikefreek why sacrifice 2 fingers for 1 function, when you can do it with one finger, and just left it there when you don't want to refocus? The af lock button itself it an unnecessary function for bbaf shooters.
For me, a big part of it would just be muscle memory. I have used BBF for a long time and to the point where I don't have to really think about it, my thumb just knows what to do. I still use my D850 and D810 a lot and keeping consistent methodology makes using different bodies easier.
I’ve always preferred using the AF lock button to actually stop focusing while leaving the camera in AF-C. Most of the time I want the camera to be constantly focusing, and in the instances where I want it to stop, I press AF lock. That’s just how my brain works. I also found it much easier to focus while moving the focus point with DSLR if my thumb wasn’t glued to the BBF button.
That is a good point re: moving the focus point. If your camera doesn’t have tracking focus, that could be an issue. However I came from this era when something called “film” was used, with the “autofocus” being your hand twisting the lens until the little circle in the middle of the viewfinder looked right ;) . I guess that got me into the habit of always using the center of the frame to acquire focus, then recomposing as needed. I’m pretty fast at that by now. With tracking focus on my first generation a9, I rarely move the focusing point, just lock the subject on in the center point and re compose as needed, the focus stays locked on whatever I set it on. I’ll bet that’s faster than moving focus points, but I’m not mad about it lol, shoot however you shoot ;) .
With you 100% Steve. You taught me BBF many years ago and, tbh, I never once considered changing when I moved away from a DSLR to mirrorless it’s just so intuitive. Manual with auto ISO was another fantastic tip you gave me - I never use anything else now. Excellent tips which have been game changers for me - thanks so much for sharing your knowledge Steve.
To be honest, i didnt even know full manual was a thing in anything beside astrophotography… Auto ISO and fast accessible EV correction was in manual always common sense for me
Ever since I watched your BBF video almost 7 years I had switched to AF-ON for focus and I’m glad I made the switch. My success rate improved drastically. Even with mirror less cameras I’m continuing to use BB for AF. It works like a charm. Thank you Steve for sharing so many secrets like this that’s incredibly useful on the field. 😊
Risking sounding arrogant, when I purchased my first ever camera, the first day I went shooting with it, I left home with stock setup and hour later I was on BBF, manual w autoiso and exposure correction etc. Just by wondering how I can operate it better. Love Steve's insights and ability to explain but sometimes feels like people can't figure out to aim the lens at the subject unless they are told to do so in an instructional video.
Pretty much my exact findings as well Steve. Been using BBAF for years on DSLR's but when I got the Z9 I tried going back to the shutter button. It seemed to work fine but there were always those times where the camera would try to re-acquire focus when I pressed the shutter when I didn't want it to. I have gone back to BBAF and so far am happy.
Same here … Now I have a Z9 but I used to have a D780 AND a Sony Alpha …. I Set the Sony up for shutter button focus….and I ran up against the exact same thing
On the Z9 it can be hard to change focus modes/areas then in my opinion, because of the lack of buttons. How do you change between 3D/AF-Area large etc. when using BBAF? Thanks
@@lupidorXVI The same way I did on the DSLR's. I use the front function buttons for an extra two different modes. Only one is available though in either orientation. I also set up the video record button to switch between 20FPS and single release mode. There are many ways to set it up those are just how I have mine now.
@@jerryfaircloth thanks for the reply! I don't love the front function buttons since they are kinda hard to reach imo. But i guess that's the most obvious way, maybe i'll try again. Thanks
I've been back in the game for just over a year now and I can't believe I haven't stumbled across your channel yet. Really like the way you present information. Keep up the good work. I have so much of your stuff to check out now! 🙌
I also never dropped bbaf. Tbh, sometimes a focus recompose is also quicker than moving about the focus point. And as a primarily landscape photographer, I also use the af like you highlighted at the end to get me close, then punch in and MF to perfection. No need to mess about flicking switches or going through a menu. It's just so much easier for everything imo.
I am going to switch to BBAF for the first time. I shoot wildlife photography and would like to see if this strategy helps me capture more magic moments. We are going to Africa this summer so I am devouring all the knowledge I can before we go to up my game! 😊 I’ve been taking pictures for many years but still learn something new every time I watch a professional like you. Thank you so much for sharing your talent and knowledge!
This was a question I recently asked on the forum. I wasn't sure if I should go back to shutter af. Yesterday, I struggled with locking focus on a Harris's Hawk flying by me with a baby bird in its talons. From that struggling point on, I decided that BBF is here to stay! Thanks for reassuring my observations Steve!
Hi Steve from another Steve across the pond here in the UK, I'm a relatively newbie in using bbaf but it's becoming second nature, I find it invaluable when I'm shooting kingfishers from a hide in Cardigan nature centre when I'm down in Wales. Using bbaf locking on the kingfishers when they are on a tree perch "fishing" then reconfigure the photo to capture when they dive for a fish is perfect. I'm a nikon z50 user with a sigma 150-600mm lens and have been pleased with the results, maybe one day when I win the lottery I can indulge myself and buy a nikon z7ii or z9 or even the z8. Thanks for your vlogs I find them extremely helpful. Keep up the great work Steve
I went BBF with my DSLR and have stayed with it on my Z 6. I read a lot of folk went back to shutter release, so I tried for a few months. Nope. I’m firmly in the BBF zone, now and forever . Thanks Steve!
Excellent video! The BBAF is still used for me on the Z9 for all the reasons you say. I had contemplated changing it but after a day of shooting and switching between different AF modes…. The BBAF is still king!
Great video Steve. I watched your BBAF video years ago and tried it on my Nikon DSLRs. I thought it worked great and I haven’t looked back. I now shoot with a Z9 but still use BBAF. I did try shutter release for several weeks but went right back to BBAF. Part of it is I still use a DSLR as a backup body and so try to keep some things as similar as I can. Plus it’s just works for me.
For me the reason I struggle to change systems is the fact that I understand the Nikon ergonomics and over the many years have become so familiar with the BBF and general ergonomics, that I never have to "think" about the controls. BBF is ingrained as part of the process and I agree stil holds many benefits. Thanks great video again.
BBAF was always a challenge for me since I am left-eye dominant. Thanks to Steve’s tip of assigning the fn button on the front of the camera to accomplish this, I am totally sold on “front BBAF”!
uuh yes, i noticed this already with the nikon z6 while shooting people. Seemed wierd to me not to see anyone jumping out of the back button hype. Great as always steve!
As mentioned, shooting different genres (wildlife, sports, landscapes) benefits from different autofocus setups. On my Canon, I have 3 back buttons - one for single shot, point focus, one for animals, continuous, and one for people, continuous. Overkill, I know, but works for me.
When i got my mirrorless camera over if the first settings that i changed was seeing up back button focus. Once I started using back button focus i haven't gone back and don't plan to. I even have dual button to change from traditional focus to eye af and back again. Great video discussion about this topic.
Great video. I used back button focus when I first started with my a6000 since I upgraded to a7riv and a7iv I’ve been using half press for the last few years, but I see some circumstances in this video where back button will be useful. Thank you.
😃I have used BBAF for years and still use it on the Z9, I have read that it takes some getting used to, and some people don't like it, but it was a no-brainer for me! Nice video, Steve.
I have programed the AF On button" to be "AF-Off" in the rare cases I need to turn off AF-C in a difficult focus situation. This allows me to use my thumb for many of the other functions I have programmed to buttons.
I switched back to shutter release after developing a blood-clot in my thumb from over-use of the BB. Yeah, I know, it doesn't happen to everyone. But it did to me. We do what we have to. Now the back button is only for occasional "force ONE point" to show it what I'm trying to persuade it to look at. After that it's back to shutter only.
I have been using BBF for a long time and now it is a reflex action. I also use D850, besides Z9. I will stick to BBF to avoid unlearning BBF only for Z9. Your perspective on why we should use BBF on mirror less is extremely useful 👍
I am used to BBF after years of using it. It’s a massive advantage in many situations, not all. But I use it for all my work just because I dont have to think about it any more.
Your old video converted me to using BBAF some six years ago, and I have never looked back. I have now switched completely from DSLR to mirrorless (except for some sentimental bodies I have kept over time... the D850 should have been one of them, but alas, I had to sacrifice it to partially fund the Z9). I am sticking with BBAF for exactly the same reasons you mention in this video. In fact, I do not consider the original limited focus-point availability to have been the main reason I switched to BBAF in the first place; it was the other, more durable ones.
Hello Steve, there's one other good reason to use BBF with mirrorless cameras. It's especially useful for crop-sensor cameras (or full frame with extenders on - basically for very long effective focal lengths, e.g. 900 mm), at least those w/o IBIS, particularly on a windy day - since image stabilisation is only engaged with the half-press of the shutter release, whenever you try to help yourseld to find your subject in the viewfinder by half-pressing the shutter button, with AF linked to it, you inevitebly end up with the camera focusing on the background (since the bird's perch is blowing in the wind) or you have to resign from trying to use image stabilisation to stabilise the viewfinder altogether, and only activate IT in the brief split seconda when the bird is relatively stable (wind temporarily weakened) which can be very hard. The only way to deal with this is to unlink the AF from the shutter button so that you can engage image stabilisation independently from the AF.
I use bbf and it works great on my dslr. I screw up with exposure occasionally because I focus and recompose, then my exposure might be reading off a dark or bright background rather than the subject. I know I should watch for this but I still get caught out from time to time in the heat of the moment.
I use both focusing methods and enjoy the ability to go between the two on the fly. I prefer BBF most of the time but find many situations photographing events where shutter release is preferable, which is why I have one of my User dial configured to include shutter focus so I can quickly go back and forth between the two focus methods.
I kinda use BBF: i use AF-Lock (hold) on the AF-On button as its faster to just snap of a photo with just one button press and i still got all the benefits from BBF
For my Fuji X-T5, I have my shutter release AF decoupled with AF-C and coupled with AF-S for my own wife when she wants to use my camera. This has been very handy for me since I prefer Back Button AF and I don’t have to fidget around in the menus for a camera hand off scenario. 1 switch in the front of the camera with no fuss.
Excellent overview and examples! I watched this twice to make sure I didn't miss any key points. I've gone back & forth with BBAF since switching to mirrorless, currently my Z6II setup is basically a "reverse BBAF": Shutter Release AF activation, with AF-ON set to AF Lock. I'm looking at my "most of the time" scenario - I'm keeping AF engaged more often than not, using just one finger. For the fewer times I want AF disengaged - that's when two fingers are needed. I also have my left my hand frequently occupied (holding a light or diffuser), and it's tricky using BBAF with one hand. I think if I shot wildlife / long lenses more frequently, I'd be in BBAF full time. And/or if I had the Z9 which offers more flexibility in button assignments (AND the mind-easing green focus confirmation in AF-C) 🙂
I have always used Back button to lock AF, For fast action, You pick up the camera the shutter button focuses and takes a photo fast, Used 90% of the time and just one button to press... If i need to recompose then i press back button to lock focus and shoot.
Steve I would like to see a video on the topic 600f4 vs 400 2.8 there is so much debate going on. Discuss things like if you crop a 400 to a 600 (signal to noise ratio) A 400 with TC vs a 600 without one. And also is the depth of field thinner on the 600 f4 vs 400 2.8
Yet another useful video from Steve Perry. I began switch to mirrorless about 6 months ago with a Z6II then followed up with a Z9 a few months later. Never contemplated dropping the BBF technique I used for the past 7 years. I shoot scapes and that combined with my comfort level with BBF will keep me using the technique.
I'm totally mirroless now and have kept the bbaf, used to annoy me, when it was on the shutter button, missed many a shot thru the camera re-focusing, no issue with bbaf!
More control, especially over such critical components like shutter release and autofocus independently is just BETTER. Once i learned about BBAF i never did it otherwise anymore. I have just a barely used custom setting on my EOS R7 with more „professional“ settings if a friend of family member use the camera (without BBAF and just basic tracking as well eye and subject detection). All they have to set manually is the shutter speed or the aperture, the rest is auto mode but RAW capturing and 7,5 fps efcs only. Until i got deeper into faster stuff like wildlife i didnt even know BBAF exists, when i didnt want the camera to focus i switched just into manual focus on the lens (astro or landscape) As i „upgraded“ my Canon EOS 550D with magiclantern and had the capability of FOCUS PEAKING (what an amazing feature!) with live view, wow, made the AF/MF switches on the lenses even more interesting. But since autofocus, tracking etc. is that good and affordable nowadays manual focus is only reserved for ultra low light and/or video usage or when doing astrophotography with regular autofocus lenses (mostly anyways with manual lenses or on a telescope)
I never liked the focus attached to the shutter release. Maybe that's due to me shooting a film camera back in the day. Any new camera I get I changed to BBF even when I got the Nikon D5600. I did the same for the D810 and now the Z7II. By the way I love that Z7II. A lot different than the D810. So for me that was a nice upgrade. Thank you for your advice. I appreciate it!!!
I've used BBAF since 2005 (with a D70) with almost no exception. Now, on the Z9, I'm attracted to the idea of using the AF-ON button to switch to a different AF mode, like 3D-Tracking while normally being in Wide-L or something. Also, the thumb is kinda busy there with the joystick and other controls, so I have to stop focusing when I want to move the area. So I've set up one settings bank with shutter AF, but: turns out I'm apparently unable to change my habits. I just can't stop hitting AF-ON instinctively to start focusing after doing it all those years.
I've used BBAF on every camera I've owned since buying a brand new Canon EOS 1V, many moons ago. I will never buy a camera without the ability to set up BBAF.
I have been using BBAF since I started watching your videos, I just upgraded to a Z9 and I will continue to stay with BBAF. Your video is great and just confirms my thoughts. Thanks for everything you do, your videos have brought more enjoyment to my wildlife photography.
Thanks so much for sharing another wonderful video like always, Steve can you make a tutorial on backlight bird photography? keep up with the awesome content
Thank you for the content, useful as usual, but... with the programmable buttons (I shot with Sony A1) I should call it BBAF 2.0, I have set my AF button to a scenario like this: change focus mode from AF-C to AF-S, slow down the shutter speed to a "safe" value (as I primarily use 200-600@600 set to 1/640) because I've found the only (or at least most of the time) situation in which I need a sort of BBAF functionality is with a stationary subject, in any other situations I use AF-C with EyeAF and Wide or Zone focus area, of course with AF engaged with a shutter button.
Thanks! Seems like i should try this option also once, i run too often in situations where im not fast enough to react and i somehow always forget i have dual BBAF for exactly those situations where i need wide area AF/detection. my main AF technique also depends heavily on the lens i use - Canon RF 800 F11 AF-C exclusively and mostly permanent pushed when the subject is in the frame. Sigma 150-600C: AF-S/AF-C mixed, for stationary stuff always AF-S to avoid fking up 50-80% of the shots in the burst thanks to mirrorless pulsing and AF-C/eye detection for BIF where the Sigma is definately better when it comes to AF pulsing. Also im on the Sigma much less using permanent AF-C, just „bursting“ AF-C when i feel safe that it wont miss focus or i need to refocus. On more stationary stuff i just tend to press very shortly AF-C on a small AF-point, make a burst, shortly AF-C for another „refocus“, burst, etc. Like this i get multiple focus points and also a lot of photos/bird poses for each focus point. If im done thru this process a few seconds and its still there i go into video mode and try to capture a nice mini clip in 4k60, 4k60 crop or 1080p120.
My issue is a bit - the cameras nowadays can TOO MUCH - As much i used my EOS R7 for example already and tried different settings, its just hard to decide: - is it better to have the needed/preffered AF point settings fast switchable via the joystick button and alignment fast to choose. Its pretty awesome and thats what i use the most. Good for prepared/expected situations, very bad for unexpected situations within split seconds! - should i use dual BBAF instead with a better suited setting with just a single button instant. - what about a middleground i also love to use sometimes with a limited, yet „big“ AF-area, good for BIF as long the focal length isnt too much but also fine for many stuff where i need it a bit more precise. Funny thing is, you can even combine all 3 of those possibilities but then its getting more and more „complicated“ when you have to decide which is better now! In my personal case i often forget about the 2nd BBAF button and/or are too slow with running thru the AF area selection via joystick press!
I have tried to change to BBAF but muscle memory gets in the way. I shoot birds nearly all the time and quickness counts. I do have the AF button and shutter both set up for AF and try to use BB but in the heat of the moment, I often hit the shutter first from habit. Shooting a Z9 and I either love it or hate it depending on whether it recognizes my subjects as living things. It still needs another firmware update IMO. Above the horizon is good, below, F bombs are heard. Still locks up, occasionally, when you have a close subject in front of a solid background no matter which method you use.
After twenty years of BBAF I switched back to shutter button focus on my Z9 to allow a wide area large (shutter) to 3D autofocus (back button) hand-off for flying birds. It took a good six months to stop instinctively hammering the back button in a panic situation. Now I am rarely using the 3D so you may have convinced me to go back to BBAF with wide area large only. I have tried assigning single point autofocus to a function button for those crane's eyes that Nikon refuses to focus on. So far, no luck. I heard a rumor today that the Z8 will have improved autofocus on distant birds. That might make me buy one if true.
It makes a lot of sense, Steve. But there is a thing. Mnemonic. Why I can use my Nikon and Fuji not so well? Because I know Nikon buttons. Even if Nikon changed playback button I programmed to the old place. So I will not change my focusing style. Maybe learn to focus with lens buttons which I am not using now. You can add an advice about programming lens buttons Steve.
With eye tracking being so good these days I just use the regular shutter button. Can recompose all you want and the eye focus stays on the eye of the subject.
The day just 8 months ago I started it in my a7iv wondering what I was doing for the last 3 yrs? The results are great .Now can compete with Nikon and Cannon of my fellow bird watchers
I use both, kinda. I use the AF-ON button and focus and recompose when I feel like that’s the best option. Pressing the shutter while holding AF-ON doesn’t interrupt the job the AF-ON button is doing. I also use AF-C the whole time. So I can focus and recompose with the back button or take a photo the default way with the shutter button AF. Tracking is good enough to hold on the subject while I recompose. Best of both worlds. Especially useful when handing my camera off to someone to take a photo of my family while traveling.
I've not met anyone who thought BBAF was crazy.... However, I have found an alternative on most Fujifilm cameras - Front Button Auto Focus, using the body's front Fn button. This leaves your thumb free to do all the other things it needs to do, like turn a wheel, hold the camera etc
Ever since I had the shutter-half press AF cause a focus rack during a "you may now kiss the bride" moment, I've set every camera to back button focus from day one. It should honestly be the manufacturer's default.
I was shooting video and stills of a beaver both in the water and in grasses and the automatic tracking was useless. I'm glad I can switch to my tried and true BBAF combined with tracking to geylt the shots. It's not perfect but I got the footage.
@@backcountrygallery Thank you! Until recently, I had never used the BBAF but with my z8 I felt compelled to start using it...until seeing your video. Funny story: missed a few shots this week cuz of the BBAF - had already decided to go back to the Shutter button. Love your channel!
Terrific video! Being in coastal South Carolina, I shoot a lot of birds and animals in marsh grass environments. As you say in the video, BBAF allows me to lock focus on the bird or animal at a certain distance even though grass is waving in front of them. Same with small birds buried deep in live oak trees. Also, I had forgotten the turn the camera 45 degrees trick. Thanks for the reminder!
It's bbaf exclusively on my D500. With the the X-T5 it's a combination of both where I use a dedicated button to switch as needed to change menu functions. As always , great content Steve!
I activated BBAF on my z30 and it works. However, for some reason that I can't tell, the shutter still half press focus while the BB also focuses. What could be wrong and what do I do?
I can't think of any advantage of using Shutter Release focus - other than to hand your camera to some other individual and have them have a chance at taking a photo. I haven't used it since before the D7100.
I switched to BBF years ago and can't think of any reason to switch back, even with my new Nikon Z7ii. In addition to my nature and landscape photography I also love to photograph (and fly) fast-moving radio-controlled model aircraft. Contrary to all the on-line wisdom praising how wonderful the autofocus tracking technology is with the new Nikon mirrorless cameras I have to say that my good old Nikon D850 is the hands-down winner with the models. I use the AF-C mode with Group AF in my D850 and my success rate (sharp focus and the model fully in the frame) is about 98-99%. Try as I might, with my Z7ii I'm lucky to get 15-20%. Don't get me wrong, I love my Z7ii but for rapid subject tracking it cannot begin to compete with my trusty old D850. I'm not planning to sell either camera.
I've been using Back Button Focus for several years now and whilst it took me a while to get used to it I can't see me ever going back to using the shutter release button for focus.
I have tried to use BBF as my default and I just can't make it make sense. I agree that some of the scenarios you outlined illustrate why you would want to use it, but there are at least as many where one can argue that it doesn't make sense. I keep it as an option that I can change quickly in the menu system for the once in a year event when I see a lion walking in the grass and want to use it. The other 99.99% of the time I feel like I am getting faster AF by using shutter release. I also use my thumb on focus selector knob, so unless I grow a second thumb on my right hand I would lose that functionality. I know this is a sensitive subject!
Agreed. That split second faster acquisition in certian situations is why I use shutter for those tines. Although I'm more 50/50 between the two not 99.99% There's also always the use of AF LOCK to give one a lot of the same benifits of BBF. And yeah why is it such a sensitive subject? I don't get it. Its like watching left vs right go at it, each side declaring their way is the best and the other is so beneath them. Theres so much pride in it and everyone wants to defend "their side" so bad they may miss learning something. its weird 🤣 Each one has its pros and cons and can be used in different configurations for different situations.
@@joebecker3107 I agree 100%. Its obvious that the right answer for any serious photographer is "there are times and situations that I use one or the other" and of course no two photographers will have the exact same percent uses of each.
Hi, I’m an amateur photographer looking for a sub $1000 wildlife setup. I currently own a sony a6000 but I don’t know of any affordable telephoto lenses for it (and I’m often frustrated by it’s autofocusing). I’ve considered going down the micro/four thirds route with a Panasonic GH9 but I wonder if buying an old pro-dslr like a D3 would be better. Also, if possible, I would like a relatively quiet shutter as I don’t want to scare close birds away. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
Hey Steve, I know this video is a year old, but it brought up a question. I am about to jump from my D850 to either the Z8 or Z9, and I was wondering if the new camera would need BBF. I shot mostly landscape, but the wildlife portion is slowly growing. So it seems like I could see a need for both BBF and shutter focusing for what I do. I see that the Z9 has the custom shooting and settings banks. Can one just set up the appropriate settings for each and store the settings in separate banks?
What about BFF w/ AFC? My understanding is that as long as you hold down the Af-on button (with BFF properly set up), the camera will continually focus. I use this technique whenever shooting something that could move, such as a person walking. However, some people have said this can lead to out of focus shots because there's no guarantee that with the AFC has actually acquired focus at the point of pressing the shutter. Is this true?
Been using BBF for years on Fuji. Let me ask you guys, because I've only shot Fuji for Mirrorless, do other manufacturers let you do this: BBAF whith camera set to Manual Focus. I can tap rear button for single focus, hold for continuous AND still adjust focus from the lens? All while leaving shutter de-coupled from focus. This lets me have focus aids turned on with S and C autofocus simultaneously.
I still use a Nikon D90 and my pride and joy D300s, both hooked to BBF. I just can't shoot any other way! It just makes it so much easier to shoot this way. I'll never go back to shutter release, if and when I ever switch to mirrorless. (I'd have to win the lottery first!)
BBAF for sure! saw one of your videos years ago! Game changer for me!! Now if someone knows how to get a z9 to use a button to reset to a predefined SS that would be great :) ...i.e. out walking and like to dump SS down for stationary targets to get as low of ISO as possible but then WHAM a fast bird in flight appears! QUICK get to 2/3k asap before it's to late .....what do others do ? p.s. I am auto iso w/limits most of the time
Thanks for the video. I definitely use BBAF but on Sony and Canon I set it up on two buttons like you do but unfortunately Nikon’s Z9 button arrangement makes that difficult to support. Heard the Z8 may have fixed it.
I use both DSLRs and mirrorless and I am too much of a klutz to manage 2 different focusing methods so I stick to BBAF for both. Besides, I prefer a central focus point and recomposing doesn't bother me.
The main reason I don't use BBAF is how it interferes with custom recall (on a Sony). I use CR a lot and while you can combine that with BBAF, it defeats the purpose, as you could then not use the custom settings without AF. So for the rare occasions where I don't want AF while shooting, I use a separate button to toggle into MF. Not as quick nor convenient as BBAF, but I don't need that feature all that often, anyway.
I used BBF with Nikon DSLR and kept to it with Sony mirrorless. As well as wildlife I shoot a lot of dance, and use it to lock onto a subject and use the tracking. For a 2 hour show it’s less painful on the hands to use back button, but I don’t have the shutter disabled in terms of focus so can switch to give the fingers a break. It also helps to keep the shutter live if you need to give your camera to some one else say for them to take a group pic with you in it. They mostly can’t cope with BBF! 😂
If you are photographing a person with BBAF, you press the button to focus on the eye and then release the button so it stays focused on the eye, right? Did I understand well? What if the person starts moving, does it stay focused on the eye if you don't press the button again? TIA (I use a sony a7iii and never tried BBAF, not even with a DSLR)
BBAF is so 2010. With so many autofocus points on today's mirrorless cameras there's no reason to still use BBAF. Plus your focusing with the focus point in the middle of the lens and then shooting the subject using a different portion of the lens, whereas it's better to shoot with the focus point that's actually over the subject.
