Back button focusing is exactly what it sounds like. One of the most asked questions that i get on email is about back button focusing. How do i set up my 50d for back button focusing canon. The shutter button has two distinct switch levels, socalled half.
The afon button is located just to the left of the button. Were sending the camera back to canon along with a bunch of other 40d s btw and i tried to set up the custom function to do this but it doesnt seem to work. Could someone provide the steps required to configure my 50d for back button focusing. Settings are registered as c1, c2, or c3 through the camera user setting menu. Back button focus alone is beneficial, but if you frequently photograph moving subjects, you can really take your ability to nail focus up a notch by utilizing a continuous focus mode along with.
I very occasionally swap back to shutter button focusing, but. Software canon 40d eos 40d dslr software users manual. Canon s somewhat poorly written user manual has a lot to do with the arcane functions becoming more obtuse. It is the successor of the canon eos 30d, and is succeeded by the eos 50d. Apr 06, 2018 i learned about back button focus very early in the photography career and i could never go back to shooting without it. I have used bbf canon 40d for some time now, and i would never go back to. Canons eos 630 camera, a 35mm film slr, launched the concept of back button af activation. The other focus points will stop flashing when focus has been achived. Want to use autofocus on your canon eos camera with a greater degree of control. Only on canon eos 5d mark iv 12 back button focus options. If shutterae lock button is assigned to something other than the default afae lock function in the custom function cfn settings of the camera, the autofocus will not operate and therefore, the focus confirmation light may not light in certain settings even if the shutter button. The shutter button focuses the lens and locks the exposure.
Playback mode lets you erase images, protect them, or. I had a 20d with back button focus set, and it took some experimentation to get it right on the 40d and i knew what i wanted. Aug 28, 2012 using backbutton focus bbf on your canon camera. Fns are for back button aelockaf, but i dont think theres anything that allows both aelock and af on the shutter button. The eos 40d combines canon s tremendous knowhow in both the digital and photographic worlds, creating a camera that not only does everything one would expect of a traditional digital slr, but one that incorporates staggering leaps forward in technological. While same basic principles as outlined below still apply, the canon 40d provides live view capability which makes checking for back focus a lot easier. What is wrong with auto focus canon eos 40d ifixit.
How to select the af points with the canon 40d wonderhowto. Other additions on the canon 40d include interchangeable focusing screens, a muchneeded afon button, the eos integrated cleaning system for sensor dust. This mode is entered by pressing the play button on the back panel. There are two ways to initiate and lock focus on your canon dslr using the shutter button, and or using the afon button on the back of the camera, near your thumb the afon button can be set to be the only way to initiate focus, disallowing the shutter button from doing so. Press the shutter button completely to take the picture. In this video, see how back button autofocus can be a useful tool.
I would be extremely grateful for your help on the back button focus with the 40d. However, on the 40d you do it as described in the manual on pg. I was so excited about it, i had to show you more so i made. Apr 11, 2011 hi brian, now thats a bit spooky it was literally only the other day that i was contemplating my focus button assignment. Canon suggests that if youre shooting action at long focal lengths then camera movement while focusing can make it more difficult for the camera. It seems like such a small thing, yet its such a huge difference in the way your camera works. One of the most frequent questions i have received in the last month has been about back button focus and how to use it on canon and nikon dslr cameras. Jul 07, 20 in this video i show you how to set back button focusing on your canon t3i. Canon 5d mark ii camera settings for tack sharp james. The two main types of auto focus on your camera are on a canon oneshot. Until the arrival of the eos 7d on previous eos dslrs back button focus had always been accessed via custom functions. There is a third af mode on my 40d, ai focus, which combines single and servo. There are two ways to initiate and lock focus on your canon dslr using the shutter button, and or using the afon button on the back of the camera, near your thumb. So, instead of just blogging it, i decided to do a quick video explaining why you want to use back button.
Lexy savvides cnet to fully enable back button focus using afon only, you will need to disable focusing when pressing the shutter button. Dec 31, 2012 there is an alternative to this focusing method. Todays vlog will explain the advantages of back button focusing with a canon 5d mark ii. The afon button can be set to be the only way to initiate focus, disallowing the shutter button from doing so.
But, autofocus isnt some mindless beast out there snapping your pictures in and out of focus with no feedback from you after you press that button. I can not figure out what option in the custom function menu area allows me to use a backpanel button for focusing and the shuttler button for just tripping the shutter. I have used back button on my 40d for a couple of years yet even still i sometimes forget and think that my cameras broke when it doesnt focus on the shutter button. Then try back button focusing which transfers control away from the shutter button to the afon button. When the exposure and composition is set, you can magnify the view, and then focus using the afon button on the camera or manually using the lens focusing ring, depending on your setting for c. This girl was walking along the ice and then decided it was break time.
This means that your index finger is now solely responsible for releasing the shutter, and your thumb is now responsible for focus. My 40d will not focus with the center point or the top three other points. When you autofocus with your dslr default settings, here is how it basically works. This mode is entered by pressing the play button on the back. This is good focusing with 1785mm lens back focusing with 70300mm lens at 70mm back focusing with 70300mm lens at 300mm super clean lens after canon repair.
I have a 7d mark ii, shoot mostly in ai servo, burst mode, center point af. I have just gotten a 40d and cant find a way to do focus lock in the manual. Since then ive gotten the xt1, then the x100f and now the xt3. Since the 50d has an af on button, all that is required is to remove focusing from the shutter button. Autofocus does not work in liveview mode on the 40d, you must use manual focus but you can use the magnifier function to focus more precisely. These are settings for using and configuring it on canon cameras. Moon photography for beginners how to photograph the moon with a nikon or canon dslr camera duration. I have the function set to p which i understood to. Canon 7d mkii, canon 50d, pentax 67, canon 30d, baker custom 4x5, canon ef 24104mm f4, canon ef 100mm f2.
To save battery power, your 40d doesnt start to focus the lens until you partially depress the shutter release. Later models you set up bbf simply by disabling it from the shutter release button done from the button assignment screen. Heres an extract from an article in the julyseptember 20 issue of eos magazine which explains it all. Back button focus for canon what is it and how to use it. You can still select your focus point and you still get the af.
Back button focus simply changes the method of focusing by assigning the focus function to another button on the back of your camera this button will differ depending on your camera model. It was initially announced on 20 august 2007 and was released at the end of that month. Normally pressing the afon button is the same as a shutter halfpress i. You can then recompose the shot and press the shutter button completely to take the picture. I have no idea how to unlock the set exposure, except by cycling the power or tapping the afwb or driveiso. Canon was the first camera manufacturer to implement back button focus in 1989 and has put the feature in all dslr models made in the last 8 or 9 years yes, even the canon rebel xt and xti. The button locks exposure, too, and holds it after youve released it.
By default canon eos cameras use front button focus. Try setting the af mode to ai focus or aiservo, this works better when tracking moving subjects, but requires a snappy lens. How to use back button focusing when taking pictures. Oct 11, 20 canon 5d 50d 40d d 450d live view stop motion animation and time lapse software tutorial. See, back button af turns focusing into an almost instinctive act for many photographers.
There are several settings you can modify that return at least a modicum of control. Many people complained that on the 450d you had to use the star button to focus in this mode, but i liked it. For the full series, check back frequently on the canon digital learning. You need to change a custom function or two to set up rear focus. After a few months of using my 40d i realised the pictures from my old 300d were sharper. Using tethered or wireless connection canon eos 40d guide. Rear button or two button focusing is a technique to maximize control over the af system. Back button focus why and how with canon setup, afon. The confirmation light in the view finder when using the 4 bad focusing points just keeps flashing and never confirms focus. Use button toggle to select canon camera focus point.
I cannot get my 6ds back button focus afon to work. There are lots of situations in which using back button focus will ensure sharp photos and easier shooting, especially with moving subjects. Do aftermarket shutter remotes work with back button focus. Then, it will show you how to set your camera up to back button focus. I have a canon 40d need to use the back focus button to focus, then recompose the shot and then hit the shutter butter without refocusing.
Shutter button ae lock button chooses the function of these two buttons. Aug 04, 2014 back button focus is often used by advanced photographers as it provides a means to have separate control of the autofocus and shutter release. Nov 05, 2014 the afon button on the canon 5d mark iii. After following directions on canon s website on how to set it up, the button just does not do anything. Focus is very slow in this mode, but once you are focused, its nice to be able to take several pictures without the camera going. Using lightroom getting photos organized with acdsee dam software. Canons ai servo af is the same as nikons continous c and likewise, canons one shot is nikons single servo s. Once you set the shutter button to metering start only, you need to press the af on button to focus and use the shutter button to take the picture.
And with some systems you set up rear focus via the cameras menu. Back button af allowed me to instantly lock focus on his eye and make the shot. Press the shutter button halfway, and the lens will move to focus. M5 and back button focus in reply to dreamlander nov 25, 2016 havent seen the camera, but the pic in the manual you provided thanks looks close to that on the rebel sl1, and it works well for meactually better than the dedicated afon button on the 5d and 7d. Ive not been more excited about learning about a new feature on my canon eos 5d mark iv or any body in a long time but yesterday i was so thrilled to learn this new feature i not only tested it out i fell in love the canon eos 5d mark iv gives you the ability to have up to 12 unique sets of back button focus buttons. I did the settings in the menu, and all is working fine except when i set the focus to ai servo. Welcome to the next generation of digital slr photographythe canon eos 40d. Canon eos 40d canon eos 300d canon eos 7d canon eos 80d canon ef 50mm f1. The canon eos 40d has such a button close to the bayonet, but its not labeled any closer. These newer cameras all have excellent autofocus using the shutter release but i still use the back button as its now muscle memory. Its been eighteen months since the eos 30d, and although on the surface the 40d looks like a fairly subtle upgrade, theres a lot that makes this an even better camera.
Watching this video will teach you a couple different ways to use the autofocus function on your canon 40d camera. Often referred to by pros as backbutton af, this feature lets the user customize the camera so that focusing is performed by pressing a rear button with the photographers right thumb. Canon 5d 50d 40d d 450d live view stop motion animation and time lapse software tutorial. It also works when liveview is activated, which theoretically allows focusing at working aperture. The eos 40d becomes the sixth canon prosumer digital slr, a line which started back in 2000 with the eos d30, and how far weve come. Back button focus why and how with canon setup, afon chad barry.
Cant figure out the exact cfns please advise, thank you, rod. Whichever one you choose, this video makes it easy to understand. From main menu, go to the second from the last menu tab with all the custom function options. Other cameras like a d7000 or a canon rebel allow the photographer to program the ael, afl button to work for back button focusing. Why use back button focusing and how slickpic photography blog. When your focus is set to your shutter button, you have to switch your lens to manual. How to back button focus by amy rizzuto photography youtube. Learn tips for using the canon eos 40d digital slr camera in this free canon. If youve determined that the 40d is more camera than you need, then consider a few other alternatives from canon. What i really love about back button focusing is the ability to pair it with a continuous focus mode for accurate and quick focusing in all situations. Back focus is when the lens focuses behind the intended target, and back button focusing is a technique used by advanced photographers to focus by separating the focus and shutter activation of the shutter button. I learned about back button focus very early in the photography career and i could never go back to shooting without it.
Could somebody explain what these settings would do. I thought the only way to do back button was the afon button, which is not on the grip. On a nikon camera, it is a bit easier to set up back button focusing than it is on a canon, but you still have to know exactly what to look for. I honestly dont know why this isnt the standard setting. In one shot mode the cameras focus works fine,but when i want to do action shots and keeps. New videos will be added regularly, so check back to keep expanding your canon knowledge base. At the time of writing this canon 40d guide, there are three other consumerlevel canon digital slrs you can choose from. I have a 5dsr and need specific instruction for back. In the full auto mode, while you press the shutter button halfway to focus a still subject, the focus will be locked. Digital photo professional main window opens with the image selected.
A continuous focus mode ai servo for canon, afc for nikon allows you to track a moving subject and keep it in focus. The af point which achieves focus will briefly flash in red. Hit set on your scroll wheel to go into the menu options and change the option from the factory setting 0. It also engages the focus assist peaking which lets me know where the focus is happening. The odd thing is, i got my 40d right when they came out and i set the camera to focus on the back button. The 40d was one of the first models to have an afon button. There are a lot of people who love it and i am not grasping the concept. Canon s eos rebel sl3 eos 250d is the latest in the companys line of diminutive dslrs. When you ask somebody else like a waiter to take a photo of you using the camera, you usually end up with a blurry picture because the person would.
It was one of the most revolutionary changes i ever made to how i take pictures. I dont think the 40d can do what the op is wanting. Sep 03, 2009 dont forget that the 40d has a third button under your thumb on the back of the camera. Check to see if any af points are shown as active in the pictures using canon s software applications like digital photo professional or even the rear of the camera lcd. The shutter button still wakes up the camera with a halfpress, and fires the shutter with a full press downward. I learned this a long time ago with the 60d and have never looked back. Back button focus is often used by advanced photographers as it provides a means to have separate control of the autofocus and shutter release. Fwiw i use back button focusing almost exclusively on all my cameras. It is focusing using a button at the back of your camera, not your regular halfpress shutter button method. Find a feature to focus on, change the autofocus point if required. Much more precision, much more control over your focus.
You can set the autofocus to the same for every shot, or you to change it for every shot very easily. Back button focusing with the t2i may 5, 2010 i think this feature is great and use it all the time. Discussion in canon eos started by blackriverimages, sep 3, 2009. Rear focus involves focusing by pushing a button on the top right back of the camera rather than by pushing the shutter button.
Over the past couple of years ive become a huge advocate for making the switch to back button focus. Ok, i am trying to understadn about back button focus, but i am not truly underatnding it. Depending on your camera, you can use the afon button this is the one i am using on my canon 5d markii, or the afl button for nikon users, or even the star button. I sent the camera and a few lenses to canon for calibration and the difference is really noticeable now much better.