Mastering BBF on the Fujifilm X-T5

Unlock the Full Potential of Your Fujifilm X-T5 by Separating Focus from the Shutter with Back-Button Focus (BBF)

Photography relies on two essential settings: Focus and Exposure. Mastering these parameters ensures sharp, well-balanced images that accurately reflect your creative vision.

On the Fujifilm X-T5, the default camera behavior provides a smooth and efficient experience: a half-press of the shutter button activates both autofocus and exposure adjustment, while a full press captures the image. This intuitive system works well in most situations and allows for excellent image quality.

However, to take greater control over your photography, you can separate focus and exposure from the shutter button. This is where two advanced techniques come into play:

• Back-Button Focus (BBF), which assigns focusing to a dedicated button,

• Back-Button Auto Exposure (BBAE), which lets you manage exposure independently from the shutter release.

In this two-part series, we will explore both techniques in detail:

• Today, we will focus on BBF, a method that can revolutionize the way you handle focus.

• In two days, we’ll dive into BBAE to further refine your control over exposure.

Get ready to rediscover your X-T5 from a whole new perspective!

Focus and Exposure: Default Modes on the X-T5

The Fujifilm X-T5 is designed to provide a smooth and intuitive experience when it comes to focus and exposure. By default, everything is controlled through the shutter button:

• A half-press activates autofocus (AF) and automatically adjusts exposure (AE) based on the lighting conditions.

• A full press captures the image with the settings locked at that moment.

This system is highly effective and allows you to take high-quality photos effortlessly. It works well in most situations, ensuring fast and accurate shooting.

A Simple Trick for More Control

If you want to maintain control over your composition after setting focus and exposure, here’s a useful technique:

1. Half-press the shutter button to activate AF and adjust exposure.

2. Keep holding it down while reframing your shot.

3. Once satisfied with the composition, fully press the shutter button to take the photo.

This ensures precise focus and exposure while keeping the flexibility of recomposing your shot.

Going Further: Separating Focus and Exposure

While this default system works well, it has limitations when you need full control over your settings. Linking autofocus and exposure to the shutter button can sometimes be restrictive, especially in situations like:

• When the subject is moving, and you want to keep focus locked.

• When lighting conditions change, requiring exposure adjustments independent of AF.

• When the subject is completely off-center, and you need to lock focus on it before composing the final shot.

This is where Back-Button Focus (BBF) and Back-Button Auto Exposure (BBAE) become game-changers. They allow you to separate focus and exposure from the shutter button, giving you greater precision and creative freedom.

Switching to these techniques requires breaking old habits, but once mastered, they quickly become essential and can revolutionize the way you shoot.

Back-Button Focus: More Precision, More Control

Back-Button Focus (BBF) is a technique that separates autofocus from the shutter button, assigning focus control to a dedicated button—usually the AF-ON button.

With this method, focus no longer resets every time you press the shutter button. Once set, it remains locked until you decide to change it. The shutter button is then solely dedicated to capturing the image.

Why Use BBF?

🎯 Increased Precision: Lock focus on a subject and take multiple shots without it shifting.

📷 Easier Recomposition: Focus on a key subject, reframe freely, and shoot without autofocus interfering.

⚡ Faster Action Photography: In AF-C mode, BBF allows smooth subject tracking without relying on the shutter button.

🔄 Better Manual Focus Control: Combine BBF with fine manual adjustments for quick and precise focusing.

🎭 Adaptability for Any Situation: Whether shooting portraits, sports, wildlife, or landscapes, BBF enhances your workflow and efficiency.

In the next section, we’ll see how to activate this feature on the X-T5 to fully unlock its potential.