Back button focus reduces focus accuracy and sharpness?

8 years 10 months ago #441444 by Ontherocks
So I started using back button focusing and personally like it.  A friend told me he used to use it too, till he found out it reduced focus accuracy and sharpness.  I have looked over the internet and really haven't found much on the topic.  Can any of you confirm this?  

I have paid close attention and personally, don't see any difference. 


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8 years 10 months ago #441458 by Ben Vanderbilt
I don't think so, why would it? 


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8 years 10 months ago #441459 by Vespista
Did your friend tell you this on April 1st?
The back button accesses the same camera function and electronics as the shutter button - no difference at all.
Cheers,
Neil.


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8 years 10 months ago #441469 by Shadowfixer1

Ontherocks wrote: So I started using back button focusing and personally like it.  A friend told me he used to use it too, till he found out it reduced focus accuracy and sharpness.  I have looked over the internet and really haven't found much on the topic.  Can any of you confirm this?  

I have paid close attention and personally, don't see any difference. 

I wouldn't put much stock into this friends advice. He is completely wrong on this one. Where do people come up with this stuff?
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8 years 10 months ago #441482 by Ontherocks
That's what I thought!  Well I gave him benefit of doubt, but figured he must have been mistaken-ed.  


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8 years 10 months ago #441502 by Kayce
Why would it?  That doesn't make sense.  


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8 years 10 months ago #441565 by No Show

Shadowfixer1 wrote:

Ontherocks wrote: So I started using back button focusing and personally like it.  A friend told me he used to use it too, till he found out it reduced focus accuracy and sharpness.  I have looked over the internet and really haven't found much on the topic.  Can any of you confirm this?  

I have paid close attention and personally, don't see any difference. 

I wouldn't put much stock into this friends advice. He is completely wrong on this one. Where do people come up with this stuff?




The internet :rofl:

D300| Nikkor 24-70mm 2.8 | Nikkor 70-200mm VR 2.8 | Nikkor 50mm 1.8 | Nikon 2x Teleconverter | Sigma 105mm 2.8 | Tokina 12-24
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8 years 10 months ago #441594 by garyrhook
This would be a problem if you locked focus then moved forward or backward, adjusting your focal plane. Obviously a bigger problem with a shallow depth of field.

But it comes down to photographer technique, not the method, IMO.


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The following user(s) said Thank You: JeremyS
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8 years 10 months ago #441660 by Joe Peterson
:goodpost:


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8 years 10 months ago #441725 by Stanly
Nope, they are incorrect

Nikon Z6 | Nikon FM10 | Nikon D80 | Nikon 50mm f/1.8D | Nikon 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6 AF-S VR | 35-105mm f/3.5 Macro | 80-200mm f/4.5 | SB600 | Pocket Wizard II
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8 years 10 months ago #441811 by Roger Lang
:agree:   with Gary's statement


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8 years 10 months ago #441888 by Frank The Tank
:blink:


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8 years 10 months ago #441964 by GreenMary
I first read about back button focus at keepsnap  (there's a whole article about it) and use it since then. From my personal experience I can tell that everything is OK with it, at least I didn't notice any lack of accuracy and sharpness.


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8 years 10 months ago #442204 by Karen Comella
What is the big deal about back button focus anyway?


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8 years 10 months ago #442234 by garyrhook

Karen Comella wrote: What is the big deal about back button focus anyway?


There are times when you might want to hold the focus and take more than one shot. Having an alternate button to control that is convenient. It is especially helpful in dark environment where the AF system may have trouble locking onto something. In this case, for example, you can get the focus set, hold it, and then take pictures without the camera telling you, "no, I won't take a shot because I can't focus on anything."

There are other scenarios, too.


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