This is a video of professional photographer Mike Browne, using a Nikon camera to capture a kid with his skateboard.
Mike carefully explains the best settings for this type of shot and you can see how sharp his subject is in all the example photos, even though he was moving very quickly towards the camera. Camera manufacturers have different names for their focusing modes even though they work the same way, so make sure you read your camera manual carefully to choose the right settings.
If you want the best of both worlds, you should really start using back button focusing. It makes a huge difference and increases your chances of getting more images with a perfect focus.
If You’re Using The Front Auto Focus Button Of Your DSLR You’re Probably Missing 50% Of The Great Shots You Could Be Taking.
CLICK HERE FOR A VIDEO ON BACK BUTTON FOCUSING
Why are you applying this to if you shoot with a Nikon? It applies to all cameras the one shot and Al Servo.
The concept is the same Rick Kuperberg One Shot with Canon is AF-S with Nikon. AI Servo with Canon is AF-C with Nikon. Same principles apply. Would be nice if they both just called it the same thing.
This was a great tip. Especially in low light when getting focus can be hard. I’m officially a convert to back button focusing after just a few minutes of playing with it.
What is front focus vs back focus?
James Schultz, another article that may be helpful( especially using back button focus near end of article).
The only time my focus is on one shot is in my studio. In shooting belly dancing events in low light, road racing where cars are moving at speeds of 100 mph or more and roller derby where skaters are coming right at you, AI servo is the only way to go.
I do better with manual focus in those conditions
Seems to me back button auto focus gives me the best of both
to use the back button on Nikon anyway .. you have to be AF-C for it to work ……
The lady asked about back focus and front focus ….. check the video out about assigning the back button as your focus button rather than depressing shutter half way ……. when shooting something moving, keep holding back button down .. when it stops or your shooting static .. press back button down, let it up and shoot .. can let it up and recompose to as long as subject or you don’t move to change distance to the focused subject ……….
Fowling