Knowing how to calculate hyperfocal distance isn't actually as complex as its technical name implies, but mastering this important photography technique can make all the difference to your photography. Here we answer all of the common questions photographers have about hyperfocal focusing.
Images by Marcus Hawkins. Click on the infographic to expand.
Hyperfocal focusing? Sounds a bit 'new age'…
It's actually an old-school technique that helps you maximise sharpness in a photo. A camera lens can only focus to a single distance at any one time, but there's an area that extends from that point, both towards the camera and towards the horizon, where things still look sharp. This area is known as the depth of field.
The DoF isn't a fixed distance: several factors can make it wider or narrower, including the lens' focal length and the aperture you set.
The distance to which the lens is focused makes a big difference, which is where hyperfocal focusing can help.
SEE MORE: 7 common focusing problems that plague photographers (and how to avoid them)
Where is the hyperfocal focusing mode on my camera?
It hasn't got one. You set your lens to manual focus, then focus it to the hyperfocal distance.
And the hyperfocal distance is…?
The point at which everything from half of this distance through to infinity falls within the depth of field, and so looks acceptably sharp.
Shorter focal lengths and smaller apertures bring the hyperfocal distance closer to the camera, increasing the DoF as a result.
Longer focal lengths and larger apertures have the opposite effect, pushing the hyperfocal distance back and decreasing the depth of field.
SEE MORE: Manual focus – everything you need to know to get your sharpest images
Click on the cheat sheet to see the larger version, or drag and drop to your desktop to save.
So how do I know what the hyperfocal distance is?
There are a number of printed hyperfocal distance charts, such as the ExpoAperture2 ($40, www.expoimaging.com), as well as online calculators.
There's also a wide range of free or cheap depth-of-field apps you can download to a smartphone, including Hyperfocal, DOFMaster and Depth Of Field Calculator.
Enter your camera and lens details along with the aperture, and you'll get your answer.
How can I tell if my lens is focused at this distance?
Many lenses have a distance scale window built into the lens barrel. These aren't a patch on older manual lenses, which have more detailed DoF markings, but they enable you to place the focus in roughly the right area.
SEE MORE: How to take sharp landscape photos
None of my lenses have a scale…
That makes it more difficult, but not impossible. You can measure the hyperfocal distance using a tape measure.
For full accuracy, you need to do this from the 'focal plane' (the camera sensor) rather than the front of the lens, but your camera should have a focal plane marker near the viewfinder. Look for a small circle with a line through it.
You could also invest in a laser measuring tool, or buy a second-hand lens with distance markings. Alternatively, just guesstimate!
The viewfinder looks blurred when my lens is focused at the hyperfocal distance. What's going on?
The image in the viewfinder is always at the lens's largest, brightest aperture. The lens is only switched to the aperture you've set when you take a picture.
However, most digital SLRs have a DoF Preview button, usually near the lens mount. This temporarily sets the lens to the f/stop you've dialled in, enabling you to see what will be sharp in the image.
The viewfinder gets darker as the aperture gets smaller, though, so it's better to use the camera's Live View function.
Live View makes it easy to set the near-as-dammit hyperfocal distance. Focus on the furthest part of the scene you want to be sharp before pressing the DoF Preview button, then manually pull the focus closer until the nearest part of the scene you want to appear sharp slides into focus.
Being able to magnify the image on the Live View screen means you can focus with precision and check both the background and the foreground for sharpness.
SEE MORE: Focus and focal length: the TRUE benefits of using a DSLR
What if neither the foreground nor the background looks sharp?
Setting a smaller aperture extends the depth of field, although you'll need to change the hyperfocal distance.
Avoid using the smallest aperture available: this increases diffraction, where light essentially gets bent out of shape by the diaphragm blades in the lens. You'll get soft pictures despite the gain in depth of field.
Many landscape photographers avoid going higher than f/11, which provides a sweet spot between depth of field and sharpness.
But by setting the hyperfocal distance, it's surprising how much you can bring into focus, even with wide apertures.
SEE MORE: How to be a landscape photographer: 10 simple concepts that guide every image
Hyperfocal distances for common camera settings
PAGE 1: Answering common questions about hyperfocal focusing
PAGE 2: How to set hyperfocal distance
PAGE 3: How to set hyperfocal distance using Live View
READ MORE
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Pre-focus vs Tracking: when and how to use each technique
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