Fujifilm FOCUS Settings for Birding and Sports

QUICK followup to our birding video. We had a couple of questions on Fujifilm's AF settings for sports and wildlife. Back button focus is covered.

This video was made possible by the generosity of B&H. Thanks for letting us play with the 100-400 for a few weeks and for supporting tiny channels like mine.

Youtube Gear in this one:

Images edited in Capture One. Raw files with either a Velvia or Provia film simulation applied. Some of the bird shots were cropped in a tad if the bird was too far. Damn birds.

First time here? Hi, I'm Omar Gonzalez, a professional portrait and event photographer in the NYC/NJ area. On this channel, we talk cameras, lenses, and techniques to improve our photography.
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[doronsieradzki]

Stumbled on this video and realized this is actually a great tip, one of the best tips I got for quite some time. Thanks Omar!!

[evaruppert]

Thanks for the video. I have backbutton focus on af-l ( the right button)for me it is easier to hold the camera and push it at the same time.
But you are right. Once you use backbutton focus, you never go back!
Stay safe!

[richardharvey]

Hi Omar, I have been using the front function button next to the lens, right under my finger tip!. When set to operate the focus on single shot I fin d I can get the camera to focus without having to move any part of my hand, very useful when using the 80mm macro lens close-up when the slightest movement alters the focus zone position. I have put this setting on both cameras, the XT2 and 'T3, and once I got used to it am very happy. The continuous focus shooting mode still relies on the shutter button, but I don't use that so much anyway. I also use the manual zoom function on that lens quite a lot, being able to zoom the focus area on sitting targets to confirm exact focus on the spot, bird's eye etc., very helpful, nice to know that you have got the shot first time!. Cheers, Richard.

[tobywoolgar]

Hay omar thanks for your passion for the x T20 i just brought one 😄 its my first Fuji camera and im still so surprised how good the colours and picture quality is👌 compared to my old full frame'rs 6d/d750.
Thanks again 👍

[martinpickard]

My favourite settings for sports and nature with my Fuji was to get a Sony A9. ...😂😂 Love your channel man, thank you for all your efforts.🙏🏻👍🏻

[benbatz]

Thank you so much for this, im am very new to movie mode for xt4. I will go out to the woods now and try this .. thanks again

[Enrique-the-photographer]

This is a very good tip Omar, but my question is what if there are no birds to photograph, will this work on alligators? LOL. Have a great weekend and stay safe.

[jm]

First, loved your setup for making BBF and shutter button AF both available with the flip of a switch. Unfortunately, I'm looking at the X-S10 and Fuji, in their infinite wisdom, chose to remove the front focus mode switch so that won't work on that body. I'm sure there are other options, but yours was very "clean". So, regarding BBF, I'm going to play devils advocate for a moment. I'm currently a Sony shooter, (considering the move) and for perched birds I have a custom mode set for single shot AF, medium frame rate. So, I may take. several, multi shot sequences as the bird changes his head position. I get an audio focus confirmation for each group of shots. What I find though is that not all the groups are in perfect focus even though the focus reticle was on the birds head/eye every time. Why? I have no idea. But...if I had been using BBF, and my initial focus acquisition had been one of those, "not quite perfect" shots, then everything I shot from there on out would also be not quite perfect and the whole sequence would be trash. For that Eason, at least for me, BBF means getting a very large basket to put all my eggs in. Makes me nervous.

[hansbarbarossa]

Hey Omar, very
Interesting your review on XF23 1.4

[veloxime]

I find front button focussing way easier if you wear glasses or if for any reason you must put you left eye to the viewfinder.

[thijsvanmenen]

Great trick with manual and backbutton focus. Thanks!!

[RandyPollock]

Try the back dial as your back button focus, it's more natural to use than the two awkward buttons to the left and right of the dial

[JessieLeTV]

Can you only use the AF back button on Manual? Thanks

[wojtekw]

Cardinal in the mirror is a beauty! Would love to have 100-400 but...well...price. Any ideas for long, bright, affordable Prime? Third or even fifth party lens?

[AD-zovp]

For streets: get a thumb rest and set the focus to the front function button. !!!! (SHFBFM)

[thejadenexperience]

Thanks for this video, can you also explain how you use the OIS. When in AF C and using back button, do you keet your finger on the back button after you get focus for a perch bird or you release and take the shot

[alanwilliams]

Many thanks Omar, just got a shiny new X-t3 and was wondering how to set up BBF, which I used all the time on myNikon

[tonytheantony]

Okay, I'm off to do some BBF in the local woodland park tomorrow! Woo hoo!! It'll be my first time! 👍🇬🇧📷🤣 As usual cheers for tips Omar👍

[madhattero]

Im new the the xt4, already had the xt1, 2, 3Looks like there's an option to set shutter focus to Af-s or Af-c....that messed me up not having that set for birds. Also the position of the back buttons conflict with my eyeball in view finder, hope a grip help.
Sorry this isn't a question for a comment. Love your videos Omar!!

[mykromacro]

As a keen bird photographer I was hoping this would convince me of the need for BBF. Don't think its much help for AF tracking birds in flight, though! I'll have to replay this clip several times now as the switch from AF BBF to MF with Menu settings has only confused me further.