Better way to Focus
A quick tip!
A few years ago my super talented friend Pepper Nix showed me a technique that I've been using ever since. It's a new way to focus that most of us aren't accustomed to. We have all three of our cameras, our 1D Mark II N, 20D, and 5D set up this way. I'm sure that there's a way to set this up on Nikon's camera's, but I'm not sure what it is. (Maybe a Nikon shooter can explain in the comment's section).
The idea is to seperate the shutter function from the focus function. While this technique may take a little getting used to, in the long run you'll be far more accurate with your focus. My buddy [b]ecker does this as well.
1. To do this, go to custom function 4 and set it to setting 1. (setting 0 is default)
2. Turn your AF setting to AI Servo. Leave it there from now on and never take it off.
From here, your focus will be controlled by the * button on back of the camera by your right hand thumb. When you press the * button the AF will be engaged and will focus on whatever the red box in your viewfinder is set on. To stop focusing simply take your thumb off the * button.
The only time you'll take your camera off AI Servo is if you use your AF assist beam on your flash to focus. Your camera must be set up in Single Shot drive mode as well as One Shot AF mode.
Like I said, this may take a little bit of getting used to, but I don't think you'll find yourself ever going back once you do. :)
Hope you all are having a great weekend!
Cheers!
I completely agree! Once I learned how to do it I can never go back! It's so much more accurate! Mike Colon shoots that way too so I guess there's a way to do it with Nikon too:)
Posted by: Sarah Barlow | April 07, 2007 at 02:58 PM
ok. ok. you've convinced me to try this! love love the new blog! congrats! it looks awesome!
Posted by: jenna walker | April 07, 2007 at 09:19 PM
I think I'm gonna have to take at least take partial credit for converting you to back button focusing!
:-)
Posted by: Jerry Lai | April 07, 2007 at 10:18 PM
Hey Chris, I learned this from fellow Nikon shooter Mike Colón ;-) and haven't changed that setting on my D2X ever since.
Great tips you're sharing... I really enjoy to read useful blogs like yours... keep'em coming.
Posted by: Rodolfo Arpia | April 08, 2007 at 09:00 PM
Yeah, Jerry I guess that's fair. :) Pepper planted the idea in my mind and got me pretty interested, but I guess you were really the one who got the idea to stick! :)
Posted by: Chris Humphreys | April 09, 2007 at 09:07 AM
B needs to separate the shutter function from his finger! lol :P
Posted by: David Jay | April 09, 2007 at 11:42 AM
im adjusting now :) thanks for the tip!
Posted by: Angela Hubbard | August 30, 2007 at 08:04 PM
Hi chis, I appreciate you sharing the photography tips, but i had a question about the back focus button and wondered if maybe you could help me. I have the 5D, and I readjusted my buttons so that my back button is my focus but for some strange reason my back button only works in the AI Focus and not in the AI SERVO, not sure what i could be doing incorrectly. Any suggestions?
Posted by: michelle white | September 07, 2007 at 07:44 PM
That is a great tip. I've been struggling with getting spot of focus sometimes with this technique and was wondering if you had some more advice. When you focus, do you just press the * button and as soon you it seems focused, you release? and how do you know when to release? and also, on the 1d cameras, do you leave the AI servo speed on standard or do you change the speed of that in custom functions?
Thanks a lot for the help!
Posted by: David Lai | October 24, 2007 at 12:58 AM
Chris YOU ROCK! This is AWESOME. I don't know how I got by without this. MUCH more control.
Posted by: Jameel Morrison | January 17, 2008 at 02:01 PM
Chris, I am still a bit confused on this technique. I have a 5D and shoot a lot of weddings. Do you use back button all the time or only in certain situations? I'd apprecitate any further help you could send my way! Thanks for sharing!
Posted by: Christina Sandberg | April 28, 2008 at 07:38 AM
i found your blog today and i still cant tare myself away from it... I appreciate your help so much, you are awesome!!!!!!!! i am trying to figure out the focus trick, and i m pretty sure i got my settings right.. but i m not sure how to use them... meaning how do i know iam focused? how do does one know when you are doing it right?? i hope this is not a dumb question!!! :D could you reply to my email address?????? thank you soo much in advance!!!
Posted by: Vania | February 21, 2009 at 12:59 PM