Do you use back button focusing?

[Mike Buckley]

I commented previously that I do not use BBF. For any of you that shoot birds/nature, especially birds in flight, I want my thumb for the back wheel on Nikon's. I want this because I use the +/- EV control to change exposure. For dark birds against a bright sky +1EV, for white/light birds -1 EV. If my thumb was holding the AF-On button for continuous focusing I could not change the exposure.

I think everyone should use whatever method works best for them. It's in that context, Joe, that I don't understand your comment.

It seems to me that you are currently using your index finger to hold focus. Doing so prevents you from pressing the exposure compensation button. Similarly, those of us who use the back button to hold focus can't use our thumb to spin the rear command dial. Adjusting EV requires simultaneously pressing the Exposure Compensation button and spinning the rear command dial unless there is another method I haven't considered. So, it seems to me that the choice of whether or not to use the back button is irrelevant in the context of adjusting EV on the fly.

Or maybe I'm completely missing something. Probably so!

[Colin Southern]

Colin,

You can but other players cross in front of the goalie during live action grabbing focus from the goalie. If I want to keep the goalie in focus despite the interference, af-on is a good option. Is this not clear?

Are you using servo or 1-shot AF?

I would have thought that the goalie would be moving a lot of the time, thus requiring a change of focus if one wanted a tack-sharp shot. With my camera I'd have it on servo AF and simply tell the AF to ignore any momentary changes due to players running in front of the goalie. I guess it might allow one to hold focus on the area where the goalie was if he were completely obscured for some length of time, but then again, In essence that would just give me a shot with the (visible) players out of focus, which wouldn't make any sense to me.

So no, I'm afraid still not clear.

[jprzybyla]

Hello Mike... yup, your right. I set the exposure compensation as I am raising the camera.

[Brev00]

Colin,

You may be overthinking it. If I thought the goalie was going to move a lot, I wouldn't use this technique. It is for instances where I anticipate the action taking place in a particular spot. One thing I like about sports photography is feeling part of the action--the sense of anticipation can be strong. Now, I use a Nikon D90 so am unfamiliar with your terms. I use AF-C and single point af for soccer action. I cannot direct my camera to ignore passing objects. If a player passes in front of the goalie in one second, using the shutter for focus, my focus will go with that player. When the goalie is clear in the next second, it will be too late to bring focus back in that instant. By letting go of the af-on button, the focus will stay on the goalie (if she cooperates and stays put). When the player clears, the ball arrives, and goalie reacts, my focus will be ready. Or not. The action may not go that way. If the action goes another way, I just press the af-on button and I am ready for movement again. Very flexible. It does not take away any of the options you mention; just adds more.

[Colin Southern]

Colin,

You may be overthinking it. If I thought the goalie was going to move a lot, I wouldn't use this technique. It is for instances where I anticipate the action taking place in a particular spot. One thing I like about sports photography is feeling part of the action--the sense of anticipation can be strong. Now, I use a Nikon D90 so am unfamiliar with your terms. I use AF-C and single point af for soccer action. I cannot direct my camera to ignore passing objects. If a player passes in front of the goalie in one second, using the shutter for focus, my focus will go with that player. When the goalie is clear in the next second, it will be too late to bring focus back in that instant. By letting go of the af-on button, the focus will stay on the goalie (if she cooperates and stays put). When the player clears, the ball arrives, and goalie reacts, my focus will be ready. Or not. The action may not go that way. If the action goes another way, I just press the af-on button and I am ready for movement again. Very flexible. It does not take away any of the options you mention; just adds more.

Thanks Larry,

Sounds like it works well for you. I'm a Canon 1DX shooter, so not sure what Nikon AF-C is (C for Continuous perhaps?). With the 1DX (in servo mode which I suspect is the equivalent of your AP-C mode), all I need to do is acquire initial focus with the center AF point, and the camera will then track that object automatically from that point onwards (as long as the AF is engaged via AF-On or the shutter release being held 1/2 way down). AF options tell it to allow for the possibility of momentary obstructions in the FoV as the camera is panned (players, light poles etc).

Mostly though I just use 1-Shot AF - even in sports environments because if I stop focusing then the lens stops at that point - but resumes from the same physical position when re-focusing is requires - and since the plane of focus usually hasn't shifted much, focus lock is achieved pretty much instantaneously.

[Brev00]

Colin,

I would invite you to join me at a soccer shoot where I would mostly learn from you, but, unfortunately, the season has ended. Thanks for the repartee. I don't think my D90 has this sort of sophistication but I may be wrong.

Larry