I saw a reference to "Back Button Focus" in the Shroud of Turin thread and thought I make the comment here.
After trying Back Button Focus quite some time ago it's become my preferred method of setting focus on the camera. My eyesight has demanded the use of auto-focus for many years and I find separating focus from the shutter button to be a much more natural way to use the camera. Once you focus on a subject, the focus stays put and you don't need to worry about keeping that shutter button half-pressed. Follow-focusing a moving subject becomes a bit easier for a lot of people. Leave the camera in continuous focus mode, when you're ready to shoot, let go of the focus button and press the shutter. It's one thing that I teach as a "suggested method" in my classes. It's interesting that people seem to fall into two camps. Some people get the hang of it right away. Most of that group acts like a light bulb was suddenly turned on and they wonder why the cameras don't come set that way from the factory. The other group doesn't find it useful and wonders why you would ever do such a thing. I don't say either way is the best way for everyone. It's definitely a personal preference. I do suggest that if you're going to try it, do so for at least a week. It takes a little while to get used to it and switching back an forth is confusing for most people. For me, it seems very natural to focus with the back-button, the half-press only effects the light meter, and a full-press fires the shutter. Maybe it's because I'm an older guy. For the first thirty-odd years that I used cameras, focus was left-hand, shutter was right hand. There are a couple of generations of people that have never known anything but auto-focus cameras. Maybe that separation from the shutter button seems unnatural. gs George Sinos -------------------- [email protected] www.georgesphotos.net plus.georgesinos.com -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List [email protected] http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
