Using Star Button to lock focus. Canon 7D

On many forums I have read about the benefits of back focus for bird photography. I have tried very hard to make this work but find that I achieve better focus using the front shutter button. One benefit I do miss is the ability to lock focus using the back* button. I have read on this forum that people use this method but I don't know how to set this up. The options for configuring the * button on the 7D are - AE Lock - Metering and AF Start - AF Stop - FE lock none of which allow me to lock focus. Any advice would be very welcome.
Thank you.

I have just answered my own question. It is metering and AF start. I didn't realise that you could have both buttons set to this.:e3

No, that doesn't work either because as soon as I press the shutter button the camera refocuses. What I want to do is lock focus on a certain point, say a birds eye, and then recompose the image and take the shot at the best moment. Perhaps this can only be done with the camera set to BBF.

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Originally Posted by David Cowling

No, that doesn't work either because as soon as I press the shutter button the camera refocuses. What I want to do is lock focus on a certain point, say a birds eye, and then recompose the image and take the shot at the best moment. Perhaps this can only be done with the camera set to BBF.

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I don't have a 7DII but on the 7D if I remember correctly in order to set the * button to be primary focus you also have to turn off the shutter release focus.

That's correct. Do it in the same menu, the first item.

David,

You want to set it to AF OFF. This is the same thing as AF Lock.

Thank you Jim. All set up now.

David