BACK BUTTON FOCUS Explained! - Why you will NEVER go back - Bird Photography Secrets Revealed

BACK BUTTON FOCUS - What is it, and why is it so GREAT!?
Back button focus is often the topic for heated debates, a lot of pros use it and most other bird photographers are confused by it. What does Back button focus actually mean and why is it so great to use for bird photography?
In today's bird photography video I will tell you exactly what it is, why it's great, and how you can use it, too!
Are you using it already for your bird photography or have you used it and didn't like it? Let me know in the comments!

I also need YOUR QUESTIONS for one of my next videos. Have you had that burning question you always wanted to ask me? Now is your chance. Type them in the comments and I will select the best ones and answer them all in one of my next videos.

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This is the equipment I use:
Canon EOS 5D Mark IV
Canon 600 L IS III (I have v. II)
Canon 1.4x TC III
Canon 2x TC III
Canon 600 EX - RT
Wimberley Head II
Gitzo 5543LS (new version of my tripod)
Wimberley Flash Bracket
Wimberley M-6 Extension Post
Better Beamer (check for compatibility)
Flash Battery (Godox & Flashpoint is the same)
Power Cord
Y connector
Novoflex STA-SET
LensCoat LensHide
LensCoat Lens Hoodie
Canon 2.8/70-200 II
Canon 4/24-70
Canon 4/16-35 L IS
JBL Clip3 Speaker
Sandisk Extreme Pro
Panasonic Eneloop Pro
Minox 8x43
Canon LP-E6N
Manfrotto Mini Ballhead

Music
Attribution 3.0 Unported (CC BY 3.0)

Altro - Epic [NCN Release]
Support Altro:

[ArnsteinBjone]

I switched to BBF 10(?) years ago. It took me 2 months to really "reprogram" my brain/muscle memory to use the AF-ON button properly without thinking. Never looked back. I use BBF for everything, with single point AF and servo, all the time. Merging shutter and focus into one button 40 years ago was a huge mistake. Now they have to use a zillion focus points and powerful CPU so the camera can make an "intelligent" guess about where you want to focus.

[cathyash]

I've watched countless Back Button Focusing videos before, but they frequently leave out crucial information. This one is by far, the most thorough and clearly explained. What a great job!! Thank you so much! Subscribed!

[wiseoldfool]

Jan, this is a really helpful lesson on both the how and the why of back button focus.

[johnsamuelmcelroy]

I've used BBF combined with shooting in manual for about a year now and can't believe how much better results I've gotten as a result. Like you said, there's a learning curve but once you've got it there's no turning back!

[joshuasmith]

So I didn’t think my camera had back button focus so I had excepted that but then I ran across a video that showed me how to do it on my camera, then I ran across this video explaining how to use it. THANK YOU so much, you are Amazing and I love watching your content and learning more about photography. I can’t wait to use it🤙📸👍

[NishitDave]

I went back, but mostly because I was using a camera skin and shooting mostly birds in flight. I kept suspecting that the misses were higher with BBF. I guess I might have been taking my thumb off the button momentarily. Now with Sony's tracking AF, I don't need it so much.

[Cybot]

I've been a convert to BB focusing for over 3 years now. I can't believe how I managed without it.

[mpmcclell]

After several years of doubt I shifted to BB focus two years ago. After a very short adjustment period I can't imagine ever going back. So much better!!

[JaredEagles]

I switched to back button focus for my birding about 2 months ago, and you're totally right. I'm never going back.

[ConcealedWeapon]

I use the button the other way around. I own a A7M2 and use the AM/MF button to change to MF temporarily, that way I focus with shutter button but only have to use two buttons when recomposing, thus reducing strain on my fingers. Same functionality but less button use.

[wildnature]

I never liked usual BBF but instead I use inverted BBF which is basicly taking photos the normal way, and when bird lands and does not move I press AF ON button to turn off my AF completely. This allows me to take the best out of both worlds. Also it makes my thumb free to move AF point when some mammal is moving slowly, I can move my joystick around and when it stops, and f.e. looks in the other direction I just press AF ON to stop my camera from focusing. But I guess it is just personal preferance ;) Great video Jan, love it.

[ianfirth-clark]

I have only recently switched to back button focus and still getting used to it. Your video is the best Ive seen to date in explaining the benefits. Thank you Jan

[steverubin]

I’ve recently started doing more serious wildlife photography (well, before COVID-19 anyway) and read about back button focus and switched to it. There’s still some “muscle memory” that has to happen, but you’re points are spot on. I heard about these points somewhere else and that convinced me and I’ll never go back. Thanks for a great video.

[praharshamajeti]

Very useful video Jan.. i believe most of the people will actually understand the importance of Back button focus.. beautiful content..

[jimpeyton]

Wow!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you! Finally I found someone (you) who properly explained back button focus. Everyone else said you have to use BBF, but always they made it seem so complex, that only an expert photographer could even think of doing it. I just followed your steps and now I am set to go. And I did have a huge problem of losing focus because of having the front button doing two things at once. You are like a magician explaining his secrets, I hope the other pro photographers don't get mad at you!!!

[cristinaszeraws]

Ein tolles instruktives Video Highlight für jeden ernsten Vogelphotographen . Danke Jan für die wunderschönen Bilder 💙🙋🏼‍♀️

[nikilk]

I believe I switched to BB autofocus when I watched Morten Hilmer or Nikon Ricci talk about it years ago. I loved your take on BB autofocus and it definitely gave a unique perspective. Nice job.

[shawngerman]

Hello Jan, I’m relatively new to photography so still learning so much… I’ve been hearing about ‘back button focussing’ a lot and so started my journey down the ‘YouTube’ rabbit hole, in search of informative videos about the subject. Well, after a whole lot of confusion, I came across this one.. thank you! Clear, practical and …the birds..wow! Thanks again.
*(and yes, , I have definitely started using it..😊)

[milanchristi]

I learned to do it in about two minutes. It's the most intuitive way for me to use autofocus.

[denniswilson]

Thank you so much for explaining the back button focus. I'm about to take 14 students to Namibia (not far from you??) and just bought the RF 100-500 lens to go with the R5 for this trip. I've been playing with the lens and was frustrated with missed shots for exactly the reasons you brought up. It's certainly some relearning, but should solve the problem. Again, thank you. I've learned a lot from your other videos too.