Using Star Button to lock focus. Canon 7D

[David Cowling]

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.

[David Cowling]

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.

[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.

[DickLudwig]

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.

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.

[Diane Miller]

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

[Jim Neiger]

David,

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

[David Cowling]

Thank you Jim. All set up now.

David