What is hyperfocal distance?

The hyperfocal distance is the closest focus point at which objects out to infinity remain acceptably sharp. Focusing at the hyperfocal distance maximises depth of field: the near limit becomes half the hyperfocal distance and the far limit is infinity.

How is hyperfocal distance calculated?

H = (focal length squared) divided by (aperture × circle of confusion), with focal length and CoC in millimetres. The result, in millimetres, is converted to metres. A smaller aperture (larger f-number) or shorter focal length gives a nearer hyperfocal distance and more depth of field.

What circle of confusion does this use?

The standard CoC scales with format diagonal: roughly 0.029mm for full frame, 0.019mm for APS-C, 0.015mm for Micro Four Thirds, and 0.011mm for 1-inch. These are the widely used d/1500 values that assume a normal print viewed at normal distance.

Where do I focus once I have the number?

Focus manually at the hyperfocal distance shown. Everything from half that distance to infinity will be sharp. For example, if the table says 4.0m, focus at 4m and everything from 2m to the horizon is in focus at that aperture.

Why are wide lenses easier for landscapes?

Because hyperfocal distance grows with the square of focal length, a 16mm lens has a tiny hyperfocal distance while a 100mm lens has a huge one. Wide lenses let you get sharp foreground and background at moderate apertures, avoiding diffraction from very small openings.

Hyperfocal Depth Chart Generator

This generator builds a complete hyperfocal distance table for your kit: pick a sensor format, list your focal lengths, and get a grid of focus distances for every standard aperture. Focus at the listed distance and everything from half that distance to infinity is acceptably sharp — the classic landscape technique for front-to-back sharpness.

How it works

The hyperfocal distance H is:

H = f² / (N × c)

where f is the focal length in millimetres, N is the f-number (aperture), and c is the circle of confusion for your sensor in millimetres. The result is in millimetres; divide by 1000 for metres. The formula technically adds one focal length (H + f) for the true focus point, but at landscape distances f is negligible, so the simplified form is used throughout.

The circle of confusion scales with sensor size. This tool uses the common d/1500 standard:

Format	CoC (mm)
Full frame (36×24)	0.029
APS-C (≈24×16)	0.019
Micro Four Thirds	0.015
1-inch	0.011

Worked example

A 24mm lens at f/8 on full frame:

H = 24² / (8 × 0.029) = 576 / 0.232 ≈ 2483mm ≈ 2.5m

Focus at 2.5m and everything from about 1.25m to infinity is sharp. Stop down to f/11 and the hyperfocal distance shrinks to about 1.8m, pulling the near limit even closer.

Tips and notes

Smaller sensors have a smaller circle of confusion, which partly cancels their apparent extra depth of field — compare like for like using this table.
Beware diffraction: past roughly f/11 on APS-C or f/16 on full frame, overall sharpness can drop even as depth of field grows.
Print the generated grid and tape it to your tripod leg — it is faster than recalculating in the field.
Focus at the hyperfocal distance, not at infinity; focusing at infinity wastes the entire near half of your depth of field.