Back Button Focus | Olympus EM1ii Setup | Photography Vlog
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 27 มิ.ย. 2020
- Back Button Focus |Bird Photography Vlog | Benefits of using back button focus and how to set up the back button focus on the Olympus OM-D EM1ii. In this video, I photograph small birds such as the yellowhammer, whitethroat and treecreeper.
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10:31 Benefits of Back Button Focus
17:20 How to Set up Back Button Focus on the Olympus
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I'm originally from Norway, but I have lived in Scotland since I studied wildlife biology a long time ago. In Scotland, I’ve worked as an ecologist and occasionally still do some freelance ornithology work. I have a passion for the natural world and I believe it’s our duty to keep as much wildlife and ecosystems alive for ourselves, for future generations and for nature's own sake.
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Thanks again Espen for this wonderful and inspiring video. Loved the music by the way!
Back button focus almost essential for birds in flight I would suggest. On your bike wildlife photography is a great way to go, you can cover a lot more ground I use mine all the time. The Yellowhammers have changed their tune as we are near the end of June. Nice to get a Treecreeper in good light and Whitethroat as well. Excellent video thanks for sharing
Thank you for another great video. Sunday morning, coffee....what could be better. Overcast and raining here in Nova Scotia. Have a great week.
Great video as always, Espen! Loved those Treecreep shots! Keep up the good work! 👍
Thanks a ton!
Great captures in your video, as always! 😁 Really love watching your videos!
Thank you very much!
Great stuff Espen - some really nice birds there, especially the treecreeper :) Back button focussing is one of those things I only learned a couple of years ago and just couldn't believe how I'd functioned without it before!!
Thanks Geoff!
Beautiful vid. Love that slider shot at the beginning.
Thank you :)
TY! That's a really good explanation as to why to use BBF!
Great video again with nice birdshots! BBF is super!
Thanks!
Fantastic vlog really informative got some great ideas for when i go out next
Glad you enjoyed
Great Video, small birds can be quite tricky to capture. Beautiful Photos, very Helpful, Many Thanks for sharing.
Thank you very much Paul :)
I use back button focus when shooting S-AF, but NOT when in C-AF especially with tracking. I find it cumbersome to control at the same time two fingers. In S-AF I do my focusing first and then slight composition - slight because if I would change the focal plane to a greater extent - e.g. by turning - I would loose focus.
But especially with tracking I have to follow the motif pressing the shutter button half way to be read to shoot. So focusing and being ready to shoot is ONE activity!
Informative video
great im new at it photography love it
I fully feel for you when being chased by cows. It has happened to me a few times. Once I got an electric shock at least 4 times from the electric fence trying to get away. I am very suspicious of cows now if I enter a field, in fact I've started avoiding them all together. Agree with you on using Back Button Focus, it was a game changer for me when I started using it about 5 years ago - there's no going back.
Oh man, that's no fun! I think moving slowly usually works, just not cycling through a field.
Nice vlog
Amazing 👏👏
Thank you! Cheers!
very different setting these common whitethraot find when they come to our desert country. yet they come and seem to enjoy coming.
thanks for the great video.
Interesting! Thank you :)
I completely agree about BBF. These days, with eye detect, I have dual back buttons set up for auto focus. One triggers eye detect. The other triggers standard auto focus. This works well because the eye detect system is not 100% perfect. Sometimes it will not work well and I can quick switch to normal auto focus. I set my shutter button so it does not focus, just exposure and shutter. Something to consider. (I'm using a Canon R6 body).
On Olympus cameras setting up back button focus has been the same procedure on every camera. I still shoot the E-510 4/3's body with the ED 300 F.4 and setting up the back button focus was done the same way.
Thanks!
Thank you 🙂
Hi ,
First time to watch. Very interesting. Not a lot of photos though. The camera person was brilliant. Very well done to them.
Spoke too fast for me on back button focus but will follow the information up.
Love the program though. Will certainly follow you.
Thank you.
Thanks, sorry about the speed, there's a link to the blog post that hopefully will help :)
Been doing photography for 51 yrs, retired just as digital came about. Did mostly editorial and sports. Back. Focus is new to me. Used Nikon for 46 yrs, due to medical problems switched to Oly & three pro lenses. Watched you post on setup of BBF several times for the M1mii menu on my camera is a little different, took me time to find what was needed. Not your fault by the way. Going out this week to try it out. I’m limited in mobility, shoot mostly from truck, different but I’m still shooting. LOL.
Hope you got on alright! Apologies, sometimes I miss comments only to randomly see them way later.
Hi Espen good video and some beautiful images, I have to say you looked really nervous walking that field with the cows lol. Until next time take care and stay safe.
Scary stuff ;)
I find another advantage of back button focus (at least on Canon - I have no experience of other makes) is that it enables you to have two differing AF points available for instant use. I set the AF-on button to use the normal AF point choices set in the usual way , then have the star button set to point focus. This enables me to work normally, but if a bird goes in to foliage and I need to use point focusing, all I have to do is move my thumb half an an inch to the right and press the shutter. Very quick and very easy.
My set up too on Canon 👍🏻
Interesting and useful, I will try that, thanks 🙏
Good tip!
On the R5 I have 3, shutter button for single point, af on for tracking and star for eye af. I just bought an OM1 + 300mm lens and am trying to figure out a similar setup.
There is no other way for me now than back button focus, doesn't matter whether it is wildlife, wedding s or landscape. Just gives that great options to focus then recompose the image. I am also impressed you can say "back button focus" so many times. I did a video on small birds in flight a short while ago and at the end of the video demonstrated how hard it can be to say it....lol.
😅👍
Hello KG. I am using BBF on my E-M1 MKii and am trying to figure out how to focus then recompose. How do you set up BBF (I'm using the AEL/AFL button) and the focus doesn't lock on the point that I select. If I recompose, the focus is now on a different point since I moved the camera to recompose.
Great explanation of the benefits of BBF. I'be been using BBF for quite a while on my Nikon & set up my Olympus the same way. The only downside to BBF I have found is that when you press the AEL/AFL button it also engages the In Body Image Stabilisation & this can put extra drain on the battery. I have not found a way yet to separate the IBIS from the BBF and would like the IBIS initiation to stay on the Shutter button. If you know how to separate this I'd appreciate the advice. Great Channel.
Thanks! Will do 👌
Hi Espen,
For those who are new to back button focussing, you fail to mention that you have to release your thumb from the back button to freeze focus which allows you to change composition or stop the auto focus from hunting due to moving branches, etc.
HTH,
Bruce
Good point, thanks!
@@EspenHelland how does this work? I've been using BBF for some time but can't figure out how to freeze the focus to allow me to recompose. E-M1mkii; using AFL/AEL for BBF. If I release my thumb from the BBF and recompose, click the shutter, there is no green box focus indicated when reviewing the image in-camera. Also, IS is tied to the AFL/AEL button so that is not activated if I release the shutter. Have tried with C-AF and S-AF but same results.
Ive been wanting to do this on my em1 mark i
Excellent presentation on back button focus
And how to setup the half press on the shutter button for exposer.
Thanks! Glad you found it useful
Hello Espen,
Thank you for the 'back-button' tip, and how to set it up.
One aspect of Olympus cameras and PRO Lenses is the "weather seal"... do you ever get caught with a good scene and showery, or even rainy, weather and choose to take the shot; if so how? I'm yet to see anyone talk/show rainy days on TH-cam. I know we get them in Scotland!
New video inspired by your comment :)
I use pre mf at 0m. for shooting insects or birds close up. My other custom assigned button is for af limiter, extremely handy. i have 3 settings. 0-7m , 7-20m and 20-infinity. when shooting insects or swallows the af limiter is a must for me.
I also have mf setup as a button and af on mf with front fn button. prefer not to decouple shutter/focus in caf
instablaster...
Interesting, I might reconsider using bbf. Focus an recompose is probably safe with the 300mm prime, but it should be said that it can fail with some wide lenses, especially the 7-14mm, due to field curvature or focus shifts while recomposing.
Yeah sometimes when you have the time it’s best to just to move the focus point 👍
You’re absolutely right with Backbutton Af! If you one time come to Germany NRW, let us visit together the local birding places👍🏻
Great video! Minor question, when setting up BBF for the EM1ii (at 17:51 in the video), you set AEL/AFL to mode3 for C-AF. Should you also do the same for S-AF (and MF)? In the video you already have S-AF set to mode3, but my EM1ii currently has AEL/AFL set to S1/C2/M1 (which I believe is the default).
I must ask, us there a second person with you doing the videos? The panning of you, while shooting is why I ask. Both video and photos are fantastic.
My new motorised slider friend :) Thank you
"When cows attack!" Lol...Thanks for sharing that Espen cos I didn't know that these milk factories had a dislike for photographers. Moo Moo Mooove...lmao
Photografia Australis we have at least a couple of fatalities a year in the UK from cattle
@@RogerJones-mountfield That's amazing. I didn't know that. I have had a few runnings with Kangaroos which at times can be aggressive.
@@RogerJones-mountfield Cows with young are more dangerous than bulls. They will act as a herd to protect their young
Vanessa Price-Adams errr yes? If we really need to in depth on this, they are also far more likely to attack if you have a dog on a leash and should you get in that situation let the dog go
They definitely do ;)
Hi espen... great photos and video as usual. I have a question for you... when you mention putting on your extender as the bird was too far, do you use an extender tube or does it come with a lens? I'm asking as I have extender tubes but have only managed to take photos by getting really really close to the subject (so great for macro). Can you explain what you use exactly and how ours placed on the camera, as I always have issues that any birds I see are way too far to get a good shot
Hi Tessa, it’s a 1.4x extender so it gives me an extra 40% reach. You usually have to buy it separately from the lens and depending on what gear you have they can compromise quality of your images and in some cases stop the autofocus to work so it’s worth doing some research first. The extension tubes you mention are just to allow you to focus closer to the subject, so like you say good for macro. Hope that makes sense 🙂
@@EspenHelland Ok yes totally clear thanks. It's completely different to what I have, but will look into these extenders you use for my Nikon. Thanks again
Great video! Thank you! I`m considering buying this camera. Could you please guide me if this camera and the AF system (also with the PRO option) handles situation when the animal is running towards you? I would really appreciate your answer. I would love to take photos of dogs running towards me and I wonder how AF would work in such hard situation. Thank you! Regards!
Yes the auto focus is really good, but it will depend on the lens you use as well I think.
Back button focus is a non issue if you use any of the Pro lenses with the L-fn button ...... just hold this button when you have locked focus and the auto focus is diabled ..... the reg shutter release button will still set exposure and initiate IBIS ...... using this method, I have no need to reprogram any buttons from the defaults..... I did try reprogramming for BBF in the past, but I have become so comfortable with using the "stop auto focus" on the L-fn button ...... holding the button still allows manual override using focus peaking for tweaking with S-AF+M ....... :-)
I tried using the L-fn button for focus for a bit, but it doesn’t suit me as when I lie in a hide with the lens in a beanbag it’s difficult to focus. It’s always a bit of back and forth testing to find what suits you best for how you shoot 🙂
@@EspenHelland ..... I guess I never ran into this as I've never been in a Hide ..... I agree, you use what works for you .... :-)
One thing I found difficult with bbf was using it when it's very cold (below 30 and windy), wearing gloves and your hands are frozen stiff. I found it easier to switch back to standard mode because I could not feel my fingers..
Yeah, certain times it makes to go with standard 👍
I wish they can make the back button focus works with pro capture. It seems that even you can the focus button to the Ael/afl, when you press it, it starts the af but it does not activate the buffering of pro capture?
good morning I want to ask how do videos come out so steadily with the telephoto lens? Is a tripod used in the filming? congratulations your work inspires us.
Thank you 🙂 it’s the image stabilisation that’s really good in the Olympus!
I use back button focus. I started when I began shooting sports. It was a game changer for me. This is my 6th week photographing birds. I'm loving it. I would like to know if you have any suggestions for keeping the camera still. I saw one of you previous videos and you were shooting at 1/160 which is impossible for me. Usually I'm at 1/1000 or maybe 1/800 and it's all because I can't keep the camera still. I'm shooting with a Nikon D500 and a Nikon 200-500, 5.6. If I shoot a burst of photos the bird is all over the place. If I lean up next to something it's a lot better but when I'm standing and shooting I get so many out of focus shots. The bird is just sitting there and I can't keep it in focus. Any pointers would be appreciated.
Is there image stabilisation on the lens? If it's a big problem I would start using a monopod. It's a bit easier to handle in the field than a tripod for photographing birds.
@@EspenHelland There is image stabilization and I use it. I would love to use a monopod or tripod but it's just too much for me to carry. I live in Kansas so a lot of my photography is walking on trails looking for birds and I'm up there in years so the lighter the better. I appreciate you taking the time to respond. Also, I really enjoy your videos. I just subscribed a couple of days ago so I have a lot of catching up to do. Thanks again.
Hi Espen, enjoyed the video (as usual). Just got the Olympus E-M1 mk iii (entirely your fault-lol) have set bbf ok but how do you get rid of that irritating 'explanation' box on the menu? Keep up the great work.
Don't worry I've just worked it out
Hope you're getting on well with it :)
Buen vídeo Espen, escribano cerillo, agateador me imagino que el común, curruca creo que zarcera o zarcerilla, y en un paisaje espléndido. Una curiosidad, en las orillas de ese río no tienes chorlitejos chicos. Un saludo
Según el guía de Dierschke, el chorlitejo chico no llega a Escocia.
Hi Espen! Is it possible, on Olympus, to take a photo while filming? In which quality? And why did you choose the Mark ii and not the iii?
I haven't been able to no, but I haven't checked if there's a setting I can change for it yet. Just financial, wanted to invest in the lens first :)
Espen Helland Good choice! And the mark ii is already fantastic for Birding. The mark iii makes more sense for other types of fotografy. For Birding they are near identical. I bought the mark iii because of a special Summer offer hier in Germany. I love your videos! Thank you!
Espen does BBF work with the Pro Capture?
Focus with bbf, but engage and use pro capture with shutter button
Trying to set up back button focus on 300f4 using L-fn button on lens. Is this possible?
I think so, you might have to google it though I haven't tried it.
BBF was an entire new world. Never go back.
Hi Espen , I need help. When I want keep focusing. Do I have to keep holding the AEL button continuously? Or just press it once and the camera refocuses by itself and I just press the shutter button. Or do I keep holding the AEL button continuously and pressing the shutter button at the same time? For example, birds in flight. Thank you very much for your help. Thomas
Sorry for the late reply. You can press the AEL button to acquire focus, then you can let it go and recompose and take your image by only pressing the shutter. However if you want it to work like continuous focus and definitely for birds in flight you need to keep holding it in and press the shutter at the same time. hope that explains it
@@EspenHelland Thank you very much Espen. This is very helpful advice.
Newbie question Espen. Can you use back button focus with pro capture? Thankyou
Yes, bbf to focus and half press shutter to activate pro capture
would you or could you use back button focus with Pro-Capture??
Yes, but you can only use continuous focus while using Pro-capture low
Nice mt bike
Can't wait for it to warm up so i can ride my bikes in the morning
People wonder why we spend money on quality products its because they last for years
Just been out again these last couple of days, been so nice!
One drawback for me. Don’t know why but face and eye detect works only on shutter button. Back button focus will always focus on the selected focus area even tough Thera are faces detected on scene. How to fix this? ( Olympus M1 iii)
Any idea more than welcome!
Hmm, I didn't know that, I guess I don't photograph people that often. Have you updated the camera with the latest software? If not it might be worth contacting OM System.
Hi Espen, I have the same camera and I'm currently saving for the 300mm Pro lens, a) do you use a 1.4 converter on that lense, B) do you use the 150-400mm Pro lens .?? If not 2hy please
Thanks for any feedback all the best Lee
Subbed to channel too
Thanks Lee
Thanks Lee! Good choice saving for the 300, it’s an excellent lens. I use it with the 1.4 all the time. I’m saving for the 150-400 lens
Where about along the River Dee was you?
Close to Ballater
Can you use Pro Capture with back button focusing please?
yes, but with pro capture H you only focus once and then it's set
@@EspenHelland Thank you, that's most helpful. Sorry for the late reply!
BBF does not work with the E-M1 Mark III. Every mode refocuses when the shutter release button is depressed half way. Or I’m missing something. Your method does work with the Mark II.
Sorry I must have missed your comment. I've never tried the em1iii, but can't imagine it wouldn't work. Hope you got it sorted
On yer bike
Can I just say I am really Jealous of where you live beautiful countryside Scotland.
You're not alone my brother. Such beautiful sceneries.
Super scary Bull tried to maul me and my kids.
I was on a photo walk with my kids near the Columbia river.
We were hiking up Juniper canyon
And I had my 5 youngest kids with me. The yougest was 7
We were about 2 miles in, when we seen some cows up on the step hill side above are location.
We were on the trail near the bottom of the canyon, Which has 20 ft drop to the bottom of the canyon.
My kids were behind me, when a 2000 pound bull came charging towards us. I yealed to my kids run , but I did not move I was frozen scared for my childrens lives.
When it was inches from my chest
I mad a quick ninja move to the side and the Bull drop off the bluf and crashed head first into some brush. And was definitely dazed stupid cow.
Hike over. we ran back to the suburban.
That was almost as scary as the time we were herding cows and was was nearly ran over by 1600 pound steer that had rabies or pink eye. Lucky for me I had Learned how to whistle loudly the day before.(1 was aboutg 8 years old )
The steer veered to the right and ran through a barbed wire fence cutting its jugular vein. Bleed out right there.
Wow! Luckily I’ve never come that close