How to Switch Your Nikon Camera to Use Back Button Focus

Heard about the Back Button Focusing and wonder if your Nikon D3100 can do that!? It can. Just follow these steps.

Method 1
Method 1 of 7:

Nikon D3100, D3200, D5100

  1. Image titled Switch Your Nikon Camera to Use Back Button Focus Step 1
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    Turn your camera on.
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    Access the Menu.
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    Select the Wrench. That is where the option that you need is.
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    Locate the Buttons option.
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    In that submenu, find the option that says, AE-L/AF-L button and select it.
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    Scroll to the bottom where you see AF-ON. This changes your camera to back button focus.
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    Get out there and practice. If you don't, you will forget that you just changed it over.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 7:

Nikon D5600

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    Go to the Custom Settings menu and then select Controls.
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    Choose "Assign AE-L/AF-L" button and scroll to AF-ON.
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    Press Ok.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 7:

Nikon D7000

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    Assign the AE-L/AF-L button to AF-ON.
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    Go to the camera menu and locate the Custom Setting menu (the pencil).
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    Go to Controls, and then choose F5: "Assign AE-L/AF-L button."
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    Choose "AF-ON".
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    Set up the camera so that it will take a picture, even when your image is not in focus.
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    Go to the Custom Setting menu and select Autofocus.
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    Select A1: "AF-C Priority Selection" and set it to "Release".
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    Set the AF-S Priority Selection to "Release" also.
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Method 4
Method 4 of 7:

Nikon D850

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    Disengage the focus from the shutter button.
    • Go to the Custom Settings menu, under A4.
    • Change the setting from "Shutter/AF-On" to "AF-ON Only".
    • Press OK.
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    2
    Configure the camera for back button autofocus.
    • Under A1, be sure that the "AF-C Priority Selection" is on either "Release" or "Release and Focus". "Release and Focus" is a good choice to start with.
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    Put your camera in Continuous-Servo Mode.
    • Press the AF mode button (side of camera).
    • With the command dial, toggle from AF-S to AF-C.
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Method 5
Method 5 of 7:

Nikon D500

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    Disengage the autofocus from the shutter release.
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    In the Custom Settings Menu (CSM), go to A8 (AF Activation).
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    Choose "AF ON only".
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    Set "Enable" out of focus release.
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    Go to the CSM and then to A10: "Autofocus mode restrictions" and set it to AF-C. (Continuous Servo mode)
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Method 6
Method 6 of 7:

Nikon D90

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    Using the F4 setting, set up the AE/AF-lock button to act as the AF-ON button.
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    Be sure that your camera's autofocus is on Continuous Servo mode (AF-C).
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Method 7
Method 7 of 7:

Using the Back Button Focus

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    Focus on your subject, like you normally would, however, once you have everything that way you want it, and are ready to focus, press the BBF (Back Button Focus/AE-L/AF-L) and focus the camera where you want it.
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    Hold it down if you want to keep moving around and have your camera autofocusing the whole time.
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    If you have the focus you want, you can release it.
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    Take the shot. You have to hold down the BBF and the shutter button at the same time. Otherwise, your camera won't fire.
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References

  1. https://improvephotography.com/4552/back-button-focusing/
  2. https://petapixel.com/2016/06/11/use-back-button-af-nikon-dslrs/

About This Article

wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, volunteer authors worked to edit and improve it over time. This article has been viewed 44,022 times.
6 votes - 93%
Co-authors: 8
Updated: May 6, 2021
Views: 44,022
Categories: Cameras
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