back button focus

[fuzzyedges]

I was wondering how many of us customize there camera settings

I have a canon which allows me to swop button functions

For a long time now I have customized it so the auto exposure lock button * auto focus's and the shutter release button half pressed locks exposure

For me (after getting used to it) is brilliant for the following reasons

I can set the AF to servo all the time but use it as AF lock by releaseing the button or servo by keeping it pressed

This means I can use the center AF sensor to focus release the rear button and recompose with AF locked

Or if a moving shot keep rear button pressed and follow

A plus point is the exposure is locked just before you shoot

There are four custom settings in the menu (see which menu in your manual)

0: AF/AE lock

1: AE lock/AF

2: AF/AF lock, no AE lock

3: AE/AF, no AE lock

before / shutter button

After / * button

This is a fifty fifty setting loads of people think its great Loads dont

Personaly its the first thing I do to a canon is set this menu to 1

[Heather]

ermmm all i can say on that is i hear a loud WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSH sound as it goes straight over my head lol ;)

[FUJI]

Me too.........I have never known what the AE Lock button does.......but....or day I will find an experienced photographer who will show me.

My discalculia addled brain just can't handle that kind of instruction list........but I admire you if yours can.

FUJI

[Barbara]

I still haven't managed to get this into my head yet

I keep going back to the manual but, II'm not sure it would help me cause I don't think I could remember which function I had set for what :phew:

[fuzzyedges]

Basically it means instead of half pressing the shutter release to focus you press the asterick button on the back

Giving you a lot more freedom to work

[Guest DaveW]

AE lock description for Nikon:-

http://support.nikonusa.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/440/~/when-should-i-use-%22ae%22-lock%3F

For Canon:-

http://www.learn.usa.canon.com/resources/articles/2011/autoexposure_ae_lock_article.shtml

Most other cameras are similar:-

http://cameras.about.com/od/Advanced-Camera-Modes/a/What-Is-Af-Lock.htm

My camera has some programmable buttons but I never bother changing them as the manufacturers settings suit my type of photography.

DaveW

[Black Pearl]

A mate of mine swears by his back focus button - actually he swears at cameras that don't have them which is odd as he's ordered a D600 but I digress - as he likes to be able to focus on a landscape at the point of the frame that he chooses then have the focus stay there until he's taken a shot, regardless of how many times he presses the shutter button.

I kind of get where you're both coming from but I can't get used to it - different styles of shooting I assume.

I would recommend anyone who has the button to give it a try as they may just fall in love with that technique.

Look for this button or the one next to it that can be programmed in the way fuzzy explains.