The BEST Focusing Technique (FOR SERIOUS SHARPNESS!!)
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 26 พ.ย. 2024
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The beauty of the bright sunlight is all the color that jumps into the lens from the wooded area.
Been a BBF convert for a number of years (and could never go back!) and I use a similar technique to yours for landscapes. For extra extra sharpness, I also use a shutter release delay and turn off any lens stabilization so there is no chance of the camera wobbling when I finally hit the shutter release. Great videos - keep taking great shots !
Ive used this method and full manual at X10 mag since shooting landscapes and more recently, everything I shoot.
Other good tips to help ensure sharp focus include turning off image stabilisation when using a tripod, a shutter release timer (I use 10sec when using a 70-200 and 2sec for say a w/a zoom) and of course mirror lockup (if using a mirrored camera) to prevent mirror slam as that can cause shake and therefore unsharp images. However, you can ignore the last if using live view as your mirror is already locked up!
Another great vid Henry, your enthusiasm for wet days shining through yet again!
I use the same technique, but be careful - on high magnifications the image may look blurry on screen, depending on how sharp your lens is. So you might think the image is not in focus, while in fact your lens has reached its maximum detail resolving power.
Thanks for the tip! 👍🏾
Useful tip, I have experienced this myself getting frustrated why I could not see sharp focus 👍
@@RussWeymouthPhotography Yes, especially if you (like me) only have entry-level lenses. The preview might be 100% sharp only on high-end gear (pro lenses / high megapixel cameras). But don't worry, 99% of people don't view photos at 1:1 magnification
@@timelord2222 yes unless you're going to have a photo printed in enormous dimensions or you're a pixel peeper it's not going to be a big deal.
We're trying to take a photo of what we see with 2 eyes while using a 1 eye camera, add the fact that our eyes don't focus the entire image at the same sharpness it's like we're trying to reach into the magician's hat hoping to pull out a perfect image!🙂
Sharpness and obsessing about 'sharpness' is fast becoming the ultimate destination/ambition for many photographers.
It's a bit sad because it becomes so overridingly important to them, that other skills such as composition, exposures, creativity etc are all minor considerations when placed alongside the unalloyed and somewhat dubious joy of possessing a razor sharp optic. Enjoy discovering and creating the image and then if you're happy with your composition, rejoice in that moment before even thinking of checking the pixels, noise and technical stuff. And you don't even need a reversed admirals hat to achieve superb images.
Number one thing is to capture that moment before you miss it :) I have a wedding photo that many love, it’s a bit soft but not that bad! but it was one of those, have to take the pic now moments, zero time to mess with any settings :)
Indeeed but he's also focused on composition as he speaks abundantly about it... ;)
If your camera supports focus peaking, that is another way to confirm sharpness across your image. I first use auto focus and magnify just as you do. Then I switch to manual mode on the lens and focus peaking is set to automatically kick in. Everything that is in focus is in red. Yellow & white are also possible color options but red usually works best for landscape.
I used to hyperfocal focus my old prime lenses on my EOS 3 back in my slide film days and set the aperture to f11. Everything in the frame was spot on. Most of my landscapes were taken on a 35mm f2 USM. I also used a 50 f1.4 and a 20-35 f3.5-5.6.
Enjoyed your blog. It looks a beautiful woodland. I also use a D7200 with live view, back button focus and then zoom in to fine tune. One little trick I use is I have customized my ok button to zoom in to my preferred level of zoom for focus checking. It just saves having to press the magnify button multiple times. So I back button focus, hit ok to zoom in, fine tune the focus, and then hit ok again to get normal live view back
Hello, you can assign the OK button to the zoom function. Press the OK button to toggle zoom on and off. Choose the initial zoom setting from Low magnification (50%), 1 : 1 (100%), and High magnification (200%).The zoom display will center on the active focus point. It's easier and faster for me.
Thanks a lot for that Ralf 👍🏼
Cool! Thanks for the tip! 👍🏾
Run the "OK" Button for 100% Zoom, instead of pressing the zoom+ button a bunch of times. ❤ Press OK for 100% zoom press back button AF for focus then press OK again to zoom back out, Done and in focus..
Done. Thanks a lot mate
Jered... you mean “programming” the ok button
Jered... you mean.. programming the ok button so that when pressed the camera zooms in 100% automatically?? Is that what you’re saying??.. how do I do that?? Got a Nikon D7100.
@@karinaport Yes program it's command function, pretty sure anyway. 🤔 go to live view and press the OK button and see what happens?
If nothing other then centering the single AF area (if shooting in Single AF. ) then I would imagine it's able to be programed for 100% zoom in live view. Just have to look around in the settings.
@@jrrockett Ok!! I’ll check it out!! Gracias!!!
Henry - I've only recently come across your content but loving the down to earth approach you have to doing informational and educational content. As for BBF, well this video has just brought my BBF exploits into a whole new realm. Will be putting this technique into my workflow without hesitation
Definitely a good technique, use the same approach myself then you can't blame the camera if its not in focus. Like the F4 image Henry as with the main point of focus being at the forefront of the image, the natural fall off into a softer backdrop worked well
This is the exact way I focus after becoming a BBF convert earlier this year. Works a treat. It's also very nice to use the half press to activate the exposure meter without the camera trying to refocus
@Jolanda Wenning pervert
Hello Henry. I've just found your channel and this is the first video I've watched of yours. You explained back button focusing brilliantly. It's the first time I've actually understood back button focus. I'll be watching more of your videos. Thank you, stay safe and keep uploading.
I use live view to focus and back button as well. I find it slightly more accurate using single point AF-S instead of continuous. This is for stationary subjects. When I need continuous AF for action I use U1 and U2. It has been working out pretty good
I find the U1 and U2 to be very helpful as well, since I often find myself in similar situations.
It's a great tip for focusing, one that many of us do but always happy to be reminded of how good it is. Thanks for sharing.
Be quiet fool
This is actually a technique that videographers have been using for years. Many of the pro lenses have a Snap zoom btn that allows ou to zoom in and check your focus. Makes sense to use it in still photos as well. Nice vid! Keep it rocking bro!!
Man's Videos are underrated
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You're lucky. You have seasons. We in Australia only have summer and cold summer.
Same in U.A.E
Move states mate. We get all 4 seasons in NSW
Finally, a clear explanation, and a demonstration on a camera that looks like mine. Thank you!
If you're filming all that by yourself, great job. I know it must take time to set up plus you're carrying around that extra gear. Great video!
I look forward to the day you graduate to mirrorless. So many fun new features, but one of my favorites is focus peaking. It's especially helpful with my older eyes. Z6 rocks!
Nice little tip,thanks...enjoyed your video and your enthusiasm of getting the shots you want. Keep it up...👍👍..
One thing to be careful when focusing on something not in the center of the frame is that pretty much all cameras sensors are most accurate when focusing in the center. The further to the badges, the less accurate it is. I always put what I want in focus in the center to focus on it then recompose if I intend to offset that object in the frame. I tend to hyper focus most of the time. Usually on whatever is the lowest point in the frame the recompose. As long as I’m shooting f8 and up, pretty much everything in the frame will be in focus.
It’s why I love my D850 ..it focuses well in corners
Great video and nice shots. Good to see a video on getting the best out of gear and producing good stuff with the technology to hand. Its refreshing to see and informative, not caught up in the tech race. Thanks.
OH nice, it's the same thing i do when i shoot products or real estate. It's a MUST DO! i started doing this when my autofocusing sistem started to break. when you zoom in in live view, you actually zoom into the senzor, so the clarity and quality of what you'll see will be spectacular, you really have to try it.
Henry, just came across your videos, I love your enthusiasm and also how you take your time to get a composition, to really look at what you're shooting. I think this is so important, so many people think you can just click away and get a good photo. I'm just returning to photography in the last couple of years and now trying out some YT vids as well. I will definitely be learning from you.
Hi Henry, im new to photography and your videos really help me. this technique i have started to use and its fantastic for me. Thanks and keep up the great videos.
this is a new focussing technique i learned, i watch all this videos using expensive cameras in youtube, you are a first pro photographer who i saw uses a nikon d7200. btw i am from india and i love your shots. they are amazing. you are really pro.
Hi Henry. Lovely photos. Nice tip there I shell be going to my local woodland and defiantly be having a go with the focus technique over the weekend. Thanks.
As the great Bob Ross used to say “we don’t make mistakes, they’re just happy little accidents” that first image is 👌🏻 Henry. Great video as always. I use the same focus technique as well.
100%, I just loved Bob Ross with his "Happy little accidents"
That woodland is an ideal place to try focus stacking. THAT is the by far the best way to achieve focus throughout the length of shot. Combined with bracketing and an edited HDR and you're on to a winner.
Yes but only if there is no wind moving the tree boughs/leaves.
@@SteveP_2426 Not really. For a start, if its blowing a gale and everything is moving, your picture should reflect the movement. Focus stacking still captures every still object in focus yet will blur the moving leaves etc. makes for very interesting pictures.
Henry, have you seen that you can set the button in the middle of the multi selector to zoom in to 100% when in live view, saves lots of button pressing.
Thanks for that Bill :)
I got it! The light just came on. Now I understand the zoom in/back button focus technique. Your explanation was perfect. Thanks Henry. 📸👍
That first photo is what I'd call a happy accident. To really get the whole image sharp front to back, I'd have focus stacked it. OTOH the defocused background in this version implies depth. I really like it, and your painterly processing in general.
Good tip….what I do is …use the auto focus and still check if the focus is perfect before I click. This technique may be a sure way…let me see… followed your instructions… with f/11 and iso 400… the tree is clear with a clear depth of field.. using a 50 mm lens on Nikon D850
I've always wondered why a landscape photographer would need bbf but watching your vlog i could see myself using it. Liked your images, well explained and enjoyed watching Henry 👍
I think taking pictures in autumn with the sun out is great, so the yellowish light of the autumn sun brings out the autumn colours that can contrast against darker areas, so the leaves seem even more colourful.
Very good, surprised the first shot was f4, Beautiful. Very helpful and informative. Many thanks for sharing.
Nice video with good tips Henry. It does work through viewfinder as well, I’ve got the okay button set to 100%view then bbf and if okay press shutter. Thanks again.
Re my question below......I googled my issue. On Nikon d500 I had to reset f1 (custom control assignment ) the AF-ON from AF area mode + AF ON to just AF-ON. It fixed the problem. This may help others having the same issue.
Very helpful. I find your landscapes very informative cause we have quite similar gear system. Mine is d3500 w/ kit lens, 10-20mm and 70-300 lens.
Thanks keep it up.
I have often thought about back button focus but now I have seen your video will give it a go Thank you for explaining it so well
Didn't really understand how the focusing technique different from your previous but always enjoy the vids. Your eyes and facial expressions change every 2 seconds!
Great information, thanks for this excellent video.
Again a nice video Henry. I might try out the back button focus. It looks quite handy to use. Thanks for the tip.
Absolutely brilliant vlog Henry very useful advice, fantastic images..!!
Excellent video. I’ve never warmed to the BBF technique, I’ll need to try again. Take care and be safe!
very good idea and fast and easy . Thanks for sharing .
Another great tip, i now use the live view and magnify method too.. i also use the back button focus, so now i'll combine them.. cheers fella
Very nice technique; will definitely try it. Thank you.
I've just discovered your channel, and I like your style. I'll be looking for more of your videos!
Enjoyable Henry good tips nice images thanks for sharing and take care.
So are you primarily manually focusing your camera when your magnifying and using the back button focus,? Or are you shooting in aperture mode, shutter priority? Manual?
Do you use the same focus technique with wildlife?
Morning Henry; BBF I’ve used now for a couple of years and wouldn’t go back. Also I sometimes manually tweak the focus ring on lens when I am 100% focused in (as you say, occasionally the mechanical bit doesn’t quite get it). Hyperfocal distance also generally works for me as well. Keep up your enthusiasm which is still very catching 📷
Great video and great inspiration cheers mate,keep em coming
i loved those colors amazing photos congratulations
Thanks for the great practical tips! Very useful.
I use the same technique on my Canon. Using back button focusing using to be the holy grail of focusing for action photographers. But there are real benefits as you show here for using it in Landscape photography. I think the fall of in focus works ok. But maybe a little misbalanced now as the centre of interest is all on the LHside, with nothing sharp on the right to rebalance the composition, that’s just the photographic judge is me speaking so ignore it 😂 Still like the image 👍
Have you tried enabling focus peaking? Used with this method it’s tack sharp and other than your subject being in focus it’ll show you what else is in focus.
I'm just beginning to discover your videos and I absolutely love them, such a calm yet focused experience.
Nice idea For focusing Henry. Now trying to find the camera manual to see how to set it!
Great vlog Henry some invaluable tips re focussing I do pretty much the same thing as my eyes are stuffed so I magnify in press my BBF and lastly I use focus peaking highlights.
Fall colors are so beautiful at the moment, here in Holland as well! Been out to shoot yesterday, I also use the backbutton focus technique that you are using and it works like a charm!
Hey Henry, good feature. But I got two questions: 1. Do you really have to do this tedious ZOOMING OUT again before you take the shot? Why don't you just fire away once you got tack sharp zoom (since you composed the scene/photo BEFORE you zoomed in anyways)? 2. If you want to ZOOM OUT for some reason and nevertheless (s. Q1) + since you are a NIKON shooter, why not use the STANDARD behaviour of the 'Multi Selector Center Button', which is to zoom out totally in one button push, rather than using the 4 or 5 time button push of the ZOOM OUT button???
Is there a reason I do miss?
This is a handy tip. I’ve just began experimenting with BBF. I’ll have to see if that works with my EOS R. I’m still trying to figure it out.
All Canon EOS cameras have it.
@henryturner Goodness me I'm learning loads! Can't believe how easy it is to get that sharp focus every time.
Great video Henry ! I’ve been using the back button focus for a good few months now and absolutely agree with you it’s great - hands so much more control over to you so you only have to worry about using the shutter button for one thing 📸
Wow! Very well explained. 100% understood every sentence. Thank you.
Thanks for the focusing tips. Be safe out there
Oh you absolutely never return from BBF (back button focus), so a great tip for those not yet doing this.
Just come across your channel, Henry. Loving your on-camera style and your photography is stunning too. Thanks for the inspiration to get out - even when the weather isn't amazing!
I Love Rainy Falls ! But they’re a Bit melancholy ! I find Peak Fall the best with Morning SunI have some Great Landscapes , Wild Fall Flowers , Colorful Leaves and Wild Life Birds , mammals , reptiles , Insects Etc.! Guess You can’t pick the Weather ! But I would hate a lot of rain all the time !
I thought here we go, young Turner is short of content so rehashing old videos, then I tried it today in the woods....What an eye opener!...couldn’t believe the difference between what I thought was in focus on the LCD screen via autofocus and the magnified image?......quite often it was slightly out and manual focus and focus peaking on my Olympus got it nice and sharp..... Cheers Henry!....👍📸🌈
As a newbie to "Proper" photography im loving your channel at the minute Henry - Also cool that you are going to areas local to me (Heysham!!) If you go back to Sunderland point there is a boat called "Seagull" - id love to see how you would shoot that. Keep up the good work.
Great work! Never thought about it this way. Thanks, Henry!
Brilliant and informative video. I like the first image you took the best. Look forward to your creative talents now we have
Gone into another lockdown. Thanks Henry.
Hi Henry, thanks for the video. Loved both shots. For shots like these, what's your preferred lens ? Cheers.
Henry it's funny that I should find this video by accident 2 years after you posted it. I recently subscribed to your channel. However I didn't come to your youtube site looking for answers. I usually just type in what I'm looking for and see who comes up with a usable video.
I struggle with getting clear pictures. My images always seem to come out looking like a pre digital television screen. I came on youtube to see if I could find a few videos that might be able to provide a few soluttions for me. I had literally typed in taking high clarity pictures into youtube's search bar when I spotted this video. I hadn't even clicked the search icon when I spotted this video. I'm going to try your solution and see if it helps me. Thank you.
Henry, another great video from a down to earth photographer who tells it like it is. I'm off out on Monday to Thor's Cave so will be sure to give this a go. Thanks.
Hope you enjoy it! Thanks Peter.
I use this technique in low light sometimes if my camera won't grab focus, because I have to, so it is good to know I should try it more often! I really like that last image and the bokeh effect did seem to enhance the first! Great video!
Nice information. Great videos and images.
Hi Henry,I also find that a good method of focusing,and back button focusing is the way to go! Thanks for sharing your knowledge and your day. The tree was a beech tree,a beauty at that!
Hi Henry, I was wondering what is the handle you got fixed to the left side of the camera and its purpose. Cheers.
Thank you great video again. I tried your method yesterday the images looked ok on the back of the camera but haven’t loaded them in to lightroom as yet so hopefully will all be focused as I wanted them. Very good but simple method, thanks for sharing it. Oh and yes I do like the bocke effect in the first image 👍
Really enjoyed the music choice in this video.
Excellent presentation buddy.
So glad I came across your videos as a beginner photographer! Do you have social media with your work?
I would love to know what lens you're using for your shots, maybe you can include that info in the vids. Thanks
Very helpful! I’m touched by your beautiful image! The f/4 added a nice effect at the back tree! Cheers from Washington State, the Pacific Northstate!
Great tip on focusing! By the way, the log under the carved pumpkin at 8:07 looked like an alligator. If you go back to look at it, you won't be able to un-see it afterwards, lol. Also, the big old beech(?) tree seemed to be reaching out to help the young, thin birch(?) to stand up. It was not in the final shot, but I saw it while you were deciding on your composition during the video at 10:15.
Yeah great tip, but why do I have to watch someone walking through the woods for 6 minutes before I get to the information?
If you intend to give us tips about photography then please just do that, we certainly appreciate that. All the other stuff is nice but has nothing to do with the title of the video.
Enjoyed it
I thought the log looked a bit like a hippo.
Been using back button focus for years and would never go back to conventional focus set up, its so much better to separate the focus and trigger and as i have pretty poor eyesight i tend to trust my autofocus better than my own eyes !
Good tip Henry, will definitely try that method. Thanks.
Henry the Pig Iron LB-1 L-Bracket - (almost) perfect L-bracket, what makes it less than perfect ? Are you able to access battery & connect a shutter release cable ? Thanks love the video
My calendar arrived in Italy on Tuesday, beautiful,stunning shots. Thank you!
That’s brilliant, thanks so much!!
I have the d7200 great camera I’ve been watching your videos and getting lots of great tips so many thanks 🙏
In case you don't see my other comment on the older video - you can zoom into 100% with ONE press on the OK button if you set it up in the custom controls menu - save a lot of presses!!
Another great video Henry! I’ve been using the manual focus method you showed me on 1-2-1. Will definitely give this method a try. Stay safe mate.
Hi Henry - thanks for the videos and happily subscribed. Can I ask you to list the Nikon focus settings you are use when you take a landscape, I too use a Nikon but couldn't mirror the green focus box also being zoomed into on the LV window - which means I must be getting the setting wrong - love the technique by the way. Thanks. Gavin