which finger do you use on the Shutter button?

[Gregory]

for my entire (amateur) photographic life, I have used my index finger to press the shutter button, but there's a drawback. if I want to change the aperture value after obtaining the focus, I have to let go of the shutter button, roll the Main Dial to set my aperture value and then press the shutter button again.

I have begun experimenting, using my middle finger instead to press the shutter button leaving my index finger free to roll the Main Dial whenever necessary. for the time being, it's working although my middle finger doesn't respond as quickly as my index finger (yet), and my two smaller fingers get tired quickly holding the Mark III in place.

out of curiosity, does anyone else here use their middle finger to press the shutter button when hand-holding their DSLR?

regards,
Gregory

(edit: clarified finger nomenclature using DarkPenguin's thumb-index-middle-ring-pinky)

[DarkPenguin]

If I go by the thumb-index-middle-ring-pinky standard of digit naming, then, yes, I do use my index finger.  I also sometimes use my middle finger.  Depends on what I'm doing.

[Jonathan Wienke]

I've always used my trigger finger.

[Ken Bennett]

I've always used my trigger finger.
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Just to add to the confusion, some people teach pistol shooting using the middle finger on the trigger, and the index finger to "point" at the target. <g>

I've always used my index finger, and just go back and forth between the shutter button and the main control dial. It's quick enough, anyway.

[Jonathan Wienke]

Just to add to the confusion, some people teach pistol shooting using the middle finger on the trigger, and the index finger to "point" at the target.

That's a pretty small minority, though, and a really stupid idea in general. That grip makes it a lot harder to hold the pistol consistently from shot to shot, which is critical to decent accuracy. Also, with most semi-auto models, the index finger ends up rubbing against the slide and blocking the ejection port, which is likely to cause injury to the finger and jam the weapon. If you want fast target acquisition beyond "point-and-click" range, a laser with a pressure pad activation switch on the grip, a "ghost ring" sight with an easy-to-see front post, or red dot/holographic sigh are much better ideas.

[Hank]

This all makes me wonder if all these posts are from Canon users.  It sounds so awkward!  Using a D2X I use my first finger on the shutter while my thumb rests on the rear command dial and my second finger rests on the front dial.  The thumb has the exposure and focus lock buttons within easy reach,  while the second finger is within easy reach of the +/- button and the mode button.  I can do it all and watch settings through the viewfinder while never lowering the camera from my eye or removing my finger from the release.  Is that strictly a Nikon arrangement, or am I more dexterous than I realize?

[Ken Bennett]

Jonathan,

I wasn't advocating that sort of thing.... I was taught the proper way by an old SF master sergeant who was our shooting instructor. But this is off-topic.

Hank,

You may be correct. I am always amazed at how many fingers Nikon users can employ at the same time. I don't mean that in a bad way.

--Ken

[X-Re]

Just to add to the confusion, some people teach pistol shooting using the middle finger on the trigger, and the index finger to "point" at the target. <g>
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     Those people are idiots   Aside from the slide rub issue that Jonathan mentions, that grip disrupts your ability to control recoil on the gun in a serious way. Motor control of the middle finger is also not as sharp (as someone mentioned discovering above), so trigger actuation is slow and sloppy. My other expensive hobby (as if photography weren't enough) is competitive pistol shooting, so I know a few things about this subject....

     Like Jonathan, I use my trigger finger  Although, I'm intrigued about keeping the index finger free to operate controls... but I've never had a problem adjusting and getting back on the button, either - and since I back-button focus, moving the index finger doesn't disrupt my ability to quickly get back to focusing the camera....

[Eric Myrvaagnes]

I use my ring finger on the shutter, the thumb across the face of the lens, and my pinky on the trigger. But I only use a pistol grip on my 8x10 view camera.