Question

I’ve read lots about the advantages of using back button focusing, but can’t get used to it. Is this something I should persevere with, or shall I just go back to doing things the old fashioned way?

Neil (UK)

Marcus says:- Back button focusing is a mystery to us too Neil. We often get students who have their cameras set up for BBF and we always ask them why they do it? Their answer usually seems to point towards a lack of understanding towards the proper operation of the shutter button. Most people use BBF to enable them to pre focus on a subject, lock focus, and then keep taking shots with the shutter button while the focus is locked by the BBF technique. However, you can do all of this with the shutter button itself, so why make things more complicated than they need to be? If you use BBF, you are tying up your right thumb, which could be used for other more necessary functions such as changing aperture or focus points, neither of which you can do if your thumb is being used to BBF. It makes no sense at all. If anyone who uses BBF thinks they know of a valid reason, please let us know.