Hyperfocal Distance
Hyperfocal distance is the closest distance you can focus at while still keeping infinity within the acceptably sharp range. Focus exactly there, and everything from half the hyperfocal distance out to infinity reads as sharp — the maximum total depth of field a given focal length and aperture combination can produce.
It shortens as aperture narrows (a higher f-number) and grows sharply with focal length, roughly with the square of it — a wide lens at a moderate aperture typically has a hyperfocal distance of a few meters, while a normal or telephoto lens at the same aperture can push it out to dozens of meters, well past where the technique remains practical.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is focusing at the hyperfocal distance always better than focusing at infinity?
Usually, since it extends usable sharpness closer to the camera without sacrificing infinity sharpness — the only exception is a scene with nothing closer than the hyperfocal distance anyway, where both approaches give an identical result.
Does hyperfocal distance depend on sensor size?
Yes — a smaller sensor's stricter circle of confusion changes the hyperfocal distance at a fixed real focal length and aperture, which is why this site's calculator asks for your specific sensor format rather than using one universal figure.