All your tutorial videos are well done, succinct, just the right amount of information and pauses in the step so we can follow along. Congratulations on a great job.
Thank you for the disable the Pre-AF step. A lot of other videos leave that part out and it was driving me crazy because the camera kept auto focusing even without the AF-On buttom pressed!
Thanks! You've brought out some interesting purpose behind this technique that I wasn't clear on, especially around using the back button to momentarily go into continuous autofocus. As a former professional I never used this method on the full sized SLR's, as I got very good with the half press on the shutter button and use that technique, even today, as a semi-pro and enthusiast on my a6000, A7, RX10 and RX100M3. Since I have assigned the center button other uses I probably won't change my technique, but you have finally justified the technique, at least for me. Very useful and clear vid, Bob!
Great video , love using the AEL button and the use of DMF and hold the AEL pushed while being able to manually control the finetuning of focus on the lens by hand.
Great explanation. I've shot this way on my DSLR but nice to have it easily implemented on the a6000. Two thoughts: - I've tried, but not been able to figure out a way to save the back button focus as "Memory 1" and then have a normal shutter button focus in "Memory 2". I'd really like to be able to switch back and forth between the modes quickly. Can you think of a way to use the Memory feature of the camera to do this? - Another thing might be to touch on where/how to re-locate the AEL feature after reassigning the button, but I suppose most folks will get this after having just reassigned the AEL button. thanks!
Another excellent video. More folks should try BBAF and see if it works for them. Pros always use this feature especially sports photographers. It usually takes 1-2 weeks to get used to it so try it and keep trying. Dont give up. Like anything in life, change is hard but practice makes perfect. Try it with your kids / friends on non-paying clients before you use this for a paying job of course. Never try any new techniques with a paying client until you are completely clear on how to do this technique without any questions or worries. Keep it up Rob. Do you plan to do one on Eye AF? that is one that is very cool and helpful and many dont know about and its not setup correctly to use out of the box and needs to be customized to make use of it fully.
I find that if the camera is in AF-S mode it does not change the focus even if I continue to press the AEL button down. It retains the original focus.Back button autofocus seems to work with AF-C ok, but I use AF-A with back button autofocus and so far that has worked best for me.
+Tony Prince The idea is to use AF-C. If you just press the AEL button and then release it again it's essentially the same as using AF-S even though you're in AF-C mode. Then when you press the shutter it won't change the focus so you can do focus and recompose. And then if you see something you want to track you just keep the AEL button held down and you have AF-C. You can't use AF-C like that if it's on the shutter button because as soon as you half press the shutter again it will try and track. That's the advantage of back button focus, you can make the AF-C work like either AF-C or AF-S
But you would need to do that on the a6000 having the lock on af function on it.? since for my understanding this function is to lock and track what are you focusing....
This does not work on my A6000. I bought it used but have found no other abnormalities. It simply does not continuously autofocus when pushing the AEL button after set up as described here when in Single Shot focus. I do prefer using the back button when in Continuous Autofocus instead of the shutter button. I cannot think of any other setting which would defeat this. Any suggestions?
+Rapier P he idea is to use AF-C. If you just press the AEL button and then release it again it's essentially the same as using AF-S even though you're in AF-C mode. Then when you press the shutter it won't change the focus so you can do focus and recompose. And then if you see something you want to track you just keep the AEL button held down and you have AF-C. You can't use AF-C like that if it's on the shutter button because as soon as you half press the shutter again it will try and track. That's the advantage of back button focus, you can make the AF-C work like either AF-C or AF-S
Rapier P is right, in the AF-S mode AF-On button fix focus until the next tap of AF-On. There an error in the video. Focus tracking technique with AF-On button hold working only in the AF-C mode.
Hi Rob I really like your videos. Thankyou. I have just set up my camera back button auto focus, meticulously following your directions, but it does not do continuous shooting when I press both buttons. I am in Manual mode. I have followed the directions twice. Any clues? Thanks Kaz
MsFredien I believe he said to put it in AF-S so that you can take advantage of both AF-C And AF-C if you hold in the AEL button which hitting the shutter button for fast moving subjects
Robert Wilson Are you sure about that? Everything I read / watched about BBAF on the a6000 says you need to disable AF on the shutter or else it wont work. hence why they have a menu setting for it
Hi. Thanks for the video. I think a step 4 is needed? i.e. to set focus mode to continuous focus. When I followed this, it Back button focus wasn't working correctly. Then I noticed I was in single shot focus mode. Just wanted to share for others. thx.
Yes I found this out too. Last step is to set camera to continuous focus and then one press of the ael button focuses on subject whilst holding same button down will continuously focus on subject :)
Good video, but my A6000, by default, uses the "enter" button as the back button focus. Can anyone confirm this happens to their A6000 as well? It has been that way since I bought it back in May of last year.
Need to pick your brains Robert. I had a stroke three years ago, not the usual kind of stroke but what is called a pure sensory stroke. This has left me with a usable right hand for most things but with the AEL button used for BBF I have difficulty feeling it with the camera to my eye. Question, do you know of anyway I can make the button stand out a little more so I can find it easily?
+Al Barber I don't have your problem, but I found the AEL button on the A6000 small and too flush with the back of the camera. I solved it by placing a dob of silicone sealant on the center of the button. Now I can feel the button when the camera is at my eye. Hope this helps you. Just be careful and don't put too much sealant on the button or it could creep into the edges around the button. Also, clean the button with alcohol so the sealant will adhere better.
But why would you dumb down your very smart camera? I honestly can't think of a scenario this is beneficial to Sony's face detect (reportage, wedding, just snapping), eye focus (Sony/Zeiss lenses), or DMF+peaking (portraiture with high-speed 3rd party lenses). I used to use this method on my D7000 but since the move to mirrorless I haven't even considered it.
This only works with Sony lenses is that correct? I have tried this with a minolta mount and minolta lens and it doesn't even let me select the Pre-AF it isn't on? Do you have a video on setting up your A6000 with manual lenses.
Yes, some features of this camera only work with Sony E-mount lenses. I currently only have one lens for my A6000 and that is the Sony 20 mm E-mount lens.
Robert Wilson Rob you really should get an old legacy lens (for under $50) and an adapter that goes from said legacy lens to the NEX/ E mount so you can take advantage of all that great old glass. its a lot of fun. Im glad I can use my old FD Canon lenses that I bought back when I first started in photography 30 yrs ago!! when I was in High School. Can go wrong for less than $100 and be able to make a video on it to share :) Photodiox and others are good for adapters (all manual no AF) that let you mount legacy glass. Some lenses like a 50 f1.4 give gorgeous bokeh and you can get more light than just that f2.8 20mm lens you have.
Rob, Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but, I believe that your explanation on the set-up and use of BBAF on the Sony A6000 in incorrect. The Sony A6000 will not, repeat, NOT continuously auto focus while in the AF-S mode. You MUST have the camera set to AF-C or AF-A to be able achieve continuous auto focusing on a moving subject while using BBAF regardless of the button it is assigned (AEL button). This has been verified by every other TH-cam video that I have observed on this subject such as those presented by Tony Northrup, Jeff Cable, Gary Fong and Steve Perry to name a few. Please correct your posting so others won't waist hours of research as I did trying to understand how your explanation will work while, in the end, it doesn't!
+John You keep the camera in AF-C. You press the back button once to focus and then release and you basically have AF-S, you're now free to recompose without the focus changing. If you suddenly want to track something using AF-C you just hold down the back button and it will continually focus. The point is that this allows you to essentially have AF-S and AF-C at the same time. Pressing the back button once and then releasing essentially does the same thing as AF-S even when the camera is in AF-C.
+fatdeeman I agree but, that is not what Rob's video says. I have viewed it many times and he appeared to be saying that you can leave the camera in AF-S and when action starts, you simply hold down the BBAF button (AEL) and it will continue to refocus. As you and I both agree, you MUST have the camera set to AF-C when holding down the BBAF button for the auto focus to refocus in motion shots. I was suggesting that Rob's video is confusing at best and inaccurate at worst and that he might want to clarify what he meant to avoid the confusion that I and apparently many others suffered trying to master this technique.
+John question guys: all this, especially the fact of keeping the focus 'untouched' after releasing the BBAF (AEL on this case) will ONLY work if in fact I have disabled the pre-AF, correct? I have tried this without disabling the Pre-AF but it then seems that the AF just keeps the focus as long as I keep the BBAF pushed down. Please advise! Thanks in advance!
![Sony a6000 AUTOFOCUS guide for BEGINNERS [Selecting Focus Mode & Focus Area for Photography]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/HkDW3rxS61g/mqdefault.jpg)
All your tutorial videos are well done, succinct, just the right amount of information and pauses in the step so we can follow along. Congratulations on a great job.
Thank you for the disable the Pre-AF step. A lot of other videos leave that part out and it was driving me crazy because the camera kept auto focusing even without the AF-On buttom pressed!
Thanks! You've brought out some interesting purpose behind this technique that I wasn't clear on, especially around using the back button to momentarily go into continuous autofocus. As a former professional I never used this method on the full sized SLR's, as I got very good with the half press on the shutter button and use that technique, even today, as a semi-pro and enthusiast on my a6000, A7, RX10 and RX100M3. Since I have assigned the center button other uses I probably won't change my technique, but you have finally justified the technique, at least for me. Very useful and clear vid, Bob!
Five Form Thanks!
Thank you for your straightforward videos....I've learned a lot from you, Sir! With appreciation, Neil
Thinking of purchasing the Sony a6000 - find all your videos 'spot on' - clearly explained and demonstrated - most most helpful - thank you
Great video , love using the AEL button and the use of DMF and hold the AEL pushed while being able to manually control the finetuning of focus on the lens by hand.
Andy M That is a very good combo! I am going to try that! Thanks!
I really appreciate your videos. They are concise and easy to understand. I just got the A6000 a week ago, so I've got a lot to learn.
Thank you very much. Have fun with the camera!
This is great, clear, and simple. Love it!
I have made changes to my Sonya6000. Very much informative. Thanx
Thank you very much! Your video had wonderful explanation!
a million thanks for this
this was a big help
Very good explanation. Thanks!
Very nice and easy to follow tutorial...thank you,
Solid my guy!
Very very helpful and timely. I will try it and see if it works for me.
Great video. Well explained. Thanks.
Great explanation. I've shot this way on my DSLR but nice to have it easily implemented on the a6000.
Two thoughts:
- I've tried, but not been able to figure out a way to save the back button focus as "Memory 1" and then have a normal shutter button focus in "Memory 2". I'd really like to be able to switch back and forth between the modes quickly. Can you think of a way to use the Memory feature of the camera to do this?
- Another thing might be to touch on where/how to re-locate the AEL feature after reassigning the button, but I suppose most folks will get this after having just reassigned the AEL button.
thanks!
Steve Fines I would like to do that to to have a memory setting for when I do want use BBAF but normally it will be in normal AF mode.
It may be 3 years late, but at 0:14 Liam Neeson is hunting the guys from taken using sony A6000's back focus function :)
Thank you so much for that VDO
Another excellent video. More folks should try BBAF and see if it works for them. Pros always use this feature especially sports photographers. It usually takes 1-2 weeks to get used to it so try it and keep trying. Dont give up. Like anything in life, change is hard but practice makes perfect. Try it with your kids / friends on non-paying clients before you use this for a paying job of course. Never try any new techniques with a paying client until you are completely clear on how to do this technique without any questions or worries.
Keep it up Rob. Do you plan to do one on Eye AF? that is one that is very cool and helpful and many dont know about and its not setup correctly to use out of the box and needs to be customized to make use of it fully.
+Stephen Soukup AF stands for Auto Focus of course, but what is "BBAF" and where is it on Sony A6000?
+Stephen Soukup Don't mind about my question. I've just realized it means Back Button Auto Focus. Tks anyway.
Great video. Subscribed.
I prohibit my family members from using my A6000 :)
In a million years I NEVER would have figured that out.
2:17 - to get to the point
Really helpful cheers
Great video
So nice!!
Really helpful thank you : )
I find that if the camera is in AF-S mode it does not change the focus even if I continue to press the AEL button down. It retains the original focus.Back button autofocus seems to work with AF-C ok, but I use AF-A with back button autofocus and so far that has worked best for me.
+Tony Prince The idea is to use AF-C. If you just press the AEL button and then release it again it's essentially the same as using AF-S even though you're in AF-C mode. Then when you press the shutter it won't change the focus so you can do focus and recompose. And then if you see something you want to track you just keep the AEL button held down and you have AF-C.
You can't use AF-C like that if it's on the shutter button because as soon as you half press the shutter again it will try and track. That's the advantage of back button focus, you can make the AF-C work like either AF-C or AF-S
But you would need to do that on the a6000 having the lock on af function on it.?
since for my understanding this function is to lock and track what are you focusing....
how do i lock exposure then? thats what i need more often actually. if the cam had an actual switch for afs afc it would be easier :p.
@@muskata1 yeah, bought a Fujifilm camera ;).
Thank you
wont you lose eye auto focus?
Sony A6000 is worth buy in 2019?
I use mine as an alternative when on vacation or doing street photography. It's amazing. And it's an entre' to Zeiss lenses. And it's very affordable.
I just bought one, and am VERY happy :-) if you have the extra scratch, grab a 6100 instead, as it improves upon the 6000
So this is just for AF-C its not working with AF-S ?
nice
Skip to 3:00
This does not work on my A6000. I bought it used but have found no other abnormalities. It simply does not continuously autofocus when pushing the AEL button after set up as described here when in Single Shot focus. I do prefer using the back button when in Continuous Autofocus instead of the shutter button. I cannot think of any other setting which would defeat this. Any suggestions?
+Rapier P he idea is to use AF-C. If you just press the AEL button and then release it again it's essentially the same as using AF-S even though you're in AF-C mode. Then when you press the shutter it won't change the focus so you can do focus and recompose. And then if you see something you want to track you just keep the AEL button held down and you have AF-C.
You can't use AF-C like that if it's on the shutter button because as soon as you half press the shutter again it will try and track. That's the advantage of back button focus, you can make the AF-C work like either AF-C or AF-S
Rapier P is right, in the AF-S mode AF-On button fix focus until the next tap of AF-On. There an error in the video. Focus tracking technique with AF-On button hold working only in the AF-C mode.
I like how you added in the a6300 after it was announced to ramp your views
is there a problem with that tho?
Good day, Rob how is the menu settings on this camera similar to that of the A77M2?
I'll play with that, but, I'm not sure if this will worth having on the a6000 the lock on AF :/...
Hi Rob
I really like your videos. Thankyou. I have just set up my camera back button auto focus, meticulously following your directions, but it does not do continuous shooting when I press both buttons. I am in Manual mode. I have followed the directions twice. Any clues? Thanks Kaz
IT DOES CONTINUOUS FOCUSING NOT SHOOTING
Than you.
Hi Rob, Thanks for this geat tip. Should the mode be AF-S or AF-C if you are using back button autofocus?
MsFredien I believe he said to put it in AF-S so that you can take advantage of both AF-C And AF-C if you hold in the AEL button which hitting the shutter button for fast moving subjects
Hi Rob. Thx of the clear instructions. Is it not possible possible to leave AF on the shutter button AND use back button AF as well for AF-C? thx.
After doing some test in my house, it appears that you can. But I need to do some field testing. But it appears that it is possible!!
Robert Wilson Thx. That's really helpful in my decision to go with this camera in the near future.
Robert Wilson Are you sure about that? Everything I read / watched about BBAF on the a6000 says you need to disable AF on the shutter or else it wont work. hence why they have a menu setting for it
Please mention that you can not use the back button on manual lenes
Hi. Thanks for the video. I think a step 4 is needed? i.e. to set focus mode to continuous focus. When I followed this, it Back button focus wasn't working correctly. Then I noticed I was in single shot focus mode. Just wanted to share for others. thx.
Yes I found this out too. Last step is to set camera to continuous focus and then one press of the ael button focuses on subject whilst holding same button down will continuously focus on subject :)
I thought the idea was the BBF button changes it from AFS to AFC
That’s if you wanna take more than one shot of the same picture right?
Any way to get the AEL button to hold focus and exposer?
If I use this AEL back button then how can I use the self timer ?
Is that the Boston Bridge? Nice video thank you for this!
Cilla Latte This is a bridge in Valencia, Spain.
Beautiful thanks for the clarification
Good video, but my A6000, by default, uses the "enter" button as the back button focus. Can anyone confirm this happens to their A6000 as well? It has been that way since I bought it back in May of last year.
Need to pick your brains Robert. I had a stroke three years ago, not the usual kind of stroke but what is called a pure sensory stroke. This has left me with a usable right hand for most things but with the AEL button used for BBF I have difficulty feeling it with the camera to my eye. Question, do you know of anyway I can make the button stand out a little more so I can find it easily?
+Al Barber I don't have your problem, but I found the AEL button on the A6000 small and too flush with the back of the camera. I solved it by placing a dob of silicone sealant on the center of the button. Now I can feel the button when the camera is at my eye. Hope this helps you. Just be careful and don't put too much sealant on the button or it could creep into the edges around the button. Also, clean the button with alcohol so the sealant will adhere better.
Thanks Michael, I'll give that a try.
+Al Barber you can always customize another button for the 'AF On' feature, if you prefer to do so.
Sugru may be your friend here.
But why would you dumb down your very smart camera? I honestly can't think of a scenario this is beneficial to Sony's face detect (reportage, wedding, just snapping), eye focus (Sony/Zeiss lenses), or DMF+peaking (portraiture with high-speed 3rd party lenses). I used to use this method on my D7000 but since the move to mirrorless I haven't even considered it.
It gives you more control.
This only works with Sony lenses is that correct? I have tried this with a minolta mount and minolta lens and it doesn't even let me select the Pre-AF it isn't on? Do you have a video on setting up your A6000 with manual lenses.
Yes, some features of this camera only work with Sony E-mount lenses. I currently only have one lens for my A6000 and that is the Sony 20 mm E-mount lens.
Robert Wilson Rob you really should get an old legacy lens (for under $50) and an adapter that goes from said legacy lens to the NEX/ E mount so you can take advantage of all that great old glass. its a lot of fun. Im glad I can use my old FD Canon lenses that I bought back when I first started in photography 30 yrs ago!! when I was in High School. Can go wrong for less than $100 and be able to make a video on it to share :)
Photodiox and others are good for adapters (all manual no AF) that let you mount legacy glass. Some lenses like a 50 f1.4 give gorgeous bokeh and you can get more light than just that f2.8 20mm lens you have.
Rob,
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but, I believe that your explanation on the set-up and use of BBAF on the Sony A6000 in incorrect. The Sony A6000 will not, repeat, NOT continuously auto focus while in the AF-S mode. You MUST have the camera set to AF-C or AF-A to be able achieve continuous auto focusing on a moving subject while using BBAF regardless of the button it is assigned (AEL button). This has been verified by every other TH-cam video that I have observed on this subject such as those presented by Tony Northrup, Jeff Cable, Gary Fong and Steve Perry to name a few. Please correct your posting so others won't waist hours of research as I did trying to understand how your explanation will work while, in the end, it doesn't!
+John You keep the camera in AF-C. You press the back button once to focus and then release and you basically have AF-S, you're now free to recompose without the focus changing. If you suddenly want to track something using AF-C you just hold down the back button and it will continually focus.
The point is that this allows you to essentially have AF-S and AF-C at the same time. Pressing the back button once and then releasing essentially does the same thing as AF-S even when the camera is in AF-C.
+fatdeeman
I agree but, that is not what Rob's video says. I have viewed it many times and he appeared to be saying that you can leave the camera in AF-S and when action starts, you simply hold down the BBAF button (AEL) and it will continue to refocus. As you and I both agree, you MUST have the camera set to AF-C when holding down the BBAF button for the auto focus to refocus in motion shots.
I was suggesting that Rob's video is confusing at best and inaccurate at worst and that he might want to clarify what he meant to avoid the confusion that I and apparently many others suffered trying to master this technique.
+John question guys: all this, especially the fact of keeping the focus 'untouched' after releasing the BBAF (AEL on this case) will ONLY work if in fact I have disabled the pre-AF, correct? I have tried this without disabling the Pre-AF but it then seems that the AF just keeps the focus as long as I keep the BBAF pushed down. Please advise! Thanks in advance!
Just Manual focus