Hyperfocal Distance Calculator

Hyperfocal distance is the closest distance at which a lens can be focused while keeping objects at infinity acceptably sharp. When you focus your lens at the hyperfocal distance, everything from half of that distance to infinity will appear in focus in your final image.

This is a powerful concept for landscape, architectural, and street photographers who want to maximize depth of field in their images.

To use hyperfocal distance effectively:

1. Calculate the hyperfocal distance for your current lens, aperture, and camera using our calculator.
2. Set your focus manually to that distance (using distance markings on your lens or estimating).
3. Everything from half the hyperfocal distance to infinity will appear acceptably sharp in your image.

For example, if the hyperfocal distance is 10 meters, focusing at that distance will render everything from 5 meters to infinity in acceptable focus.

Three main factors affect hyperfocal distance:

• Focal length: Longer focal lengths result in greater hyperfocal distances. A 100mm lens will have a much longer hyperfocal distance than a 24mm lens at the same aperture.
• Aperture: Smaller apertures (larger f-numbers) decrease the hyperfocal distance. At f/16, the hyperfocal distance will be shorter than at f/2.8.
• Circle of Confusion: This depends on your camera's sensor size. Larger sensors (like full-frame) have larger circles of confusion, resulting in longer hyperfocal distances compared to smaller sensors at the same settings.

The circle of confusion (CoC) is the largest blur spot that still appears as a point to the human eye in the final image. It defines what is considered "acceptably sharp" in a photograph.

The CoC value depends primarily on the camera's sensor size, viewing conditions, and print size. Different sensor formats have different standard CoC values, which is why hyperfocal distances vary between cameras even with the same lens and aperture.

Typical values range from about 0.029mm for full-frame sensors to 0.015mm for Micro Four Thirds sensors.

Yes, there are a few practical methods to estimate hyperfocal distance without complex calculations:

• The one-third rule: Focus approximately one-third into the scene. While not exact, this often gives good results for landscapes.
• Double the distance: Identify the closest object you want in focus, double that distance, and focus there.
• Use hyperfocal distance markings: Some older manual lenses have hyperfocal distance scales marked directly on the lens.
• Apps and charts: Use our calculator or dedicated apps that can quickly provide hyperfocal distances for your equipment.

Several factors might explain why your image is not completely sharp despite using hyperfocal distance:

• Estimation errors: Accurately focusing at the precise hyperfocal distance can be difficult in the field.
• Modern high-resolution sensors: Traditional CoC values may be too large for today's high-resolution cameras, which can reveal more blur.
• Diffraction: Very small apertures (f/16+) can introduce diffraction, reducing overall image sharpness.
• Lens limitations: No lens is equally sharp across the entire frame, especially at wider apertures.
• Camera movement: Even slight camera shake can reduce perceived sharpness.

For critical work, consider focus stacking (taking multiple images focused at different distances and combining them) as an alternative.

Yes, sensor size affects hyperfocal distance indirectly through the circle of confusion value. Smaller sensors have smaller circles of confusion, which generally results in shorter hyperfocal distances compared to larger sensors when using the same focal length and aperture.

However, if you account for equivalent focal lengths to maintain the same field of view across different formats, the relative depth of field and practical application of hyperfocal distance remain consistent.

For most landscape and architectural photography using hyperfocal focusing:

• Apertures between f/8 and f/11 typically offer the best balance between depth of field and overall image sharpness for most cameras.
• Avoid going beyond f/16 in most cases, as diffraction begins to noticeably reduce overall image sharpness.
• For wide-angle lenses (24mm and wider), you can often achieve excellent depth of field even at f/5.6 or f/8.
• For telephoto lenses, you'll typically need smaller apertures like f/11 or f/16 to achieve adequate depth of field.

Always test your specific lens to find its "sweet spot" aperture where it delivers the best overall sharpness.