Hyperfocal distance calculator
Focus at the hyperfocal distance and everything from half that distance to infinity is acceptably sharp — the classic technique for landscapes, street and astro foregrounds.
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Leave empty to use the standard value for the sensor. Halve it for pixel-level sharpness.
For a 24 mm lens at f/8 on full frame, focus at 2.42 m and everything from 1.21 m to infinity will be acceptably sharp.
24 mm at other apertures
| Aperture | Hyperfocal | Sharp from |
|---|---|---|
| f/1.4 | 13.7 m | 6.87 m |
| f/2 | 9.62 m | 4.81 m |
| f/2.8 | 6.88 m | 3.44 m |
| f/4 | 4.82 m | 2.41 m |
| f/5.6 | 3.45 m | 1.73 m |
| f/8 | 2.42 m | 1.21 m |
| f/11 | 1.77 m | 88 cm |
| f/16 | 1.22 m | 61 cm |
| f/22 | 90 cm | 45 cm |
Hyperfocal focusing in the field
- Choose the aperture you would use anyway — f/8 to f/11 is sharpest on most lenses.
- Read the hyperfocal distance above, then focus on something at about that distance. Most cameras show a distance scale in the viewfinder while focusing; otherwise pace it out or use a laser rangefinder app.
- Switch to manual focus so the camera does not refocus, and check the foreground at 100% magnification on the screen.
The formula
H = f² ÷ (N × c) + f. The near limit when focused at H is exactly H ÷ 2. Because H grows with the square of the focal length, a 50 mm lens has a hyperfocal distance more than four times that of a 24 mm lens at the same aperture — wide-angle lenses are what make front-to-back sharpness easy.
Hyperfocal distance chart (full frame, c = 0.030 mm)
| Focal length | f/2.8 | f/4 | f/5.6 | f/8 | f/11 | f/16 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 mm | 2.35 m7.70 ft | 1.65 m5.40 ft | 1.18 m3.87 ft | 83 cm2.73 ft | 61 cm1.99 ft | 42 cm1.39 ft |
| 16 mm | 3.06 m10.1 ft | 2.15 m7.05 ft | 1.54 m5.05 ft | 1.08 m3.55 ft | 79 cm2.60 ft | 55 cm1.80 ft |
| 20 mm | 4.78 m15.7 ft | 3.35 m11.0 ft | 2.40 m7.88 ft | 1.69 m5.53 ft | 1.23 m4.04 ft | 85 cm2.80 ft |
| 24 mm | 6.88 m22.6 ft | 4.82 m15.8 ft | 3.45 m11.3 ft | 2.42 m7.95 ft | 1.77 m5.81 ft | 1.22 m4.02 ft |
| 28 mm | 9.36 m30.7 ft | 6.56 m21.5 ft | 4.69 m15.4 ft | 3.29 m10.8 ft | 2.40 m7.89 ft | 1.66 m5.45 ft |
| 35 mm | 14.6 m48.0 ft | 10.2 m33.6 ft | 7.33 m24.0 ft | 5.14 m16.9 ft | 3.75 m12.3 ft | 2.59 m8.49 ft |
| 50 mm | 29.8 m97.8 ft | 20.9 m68.5 ft | 14.9 m49.0 ft | 10.5 m34.3 ft | 7.63 m25.0 ft | 5.26 m17.3 ft |
| 85 mm | 86.1 m282 ft | 60.3 m198 ft | 43.1 m141 ft | 30.2 m99.0 ft | 22.0 m72.1 ft | 15.1 m49.7 ft |
For other formats, see the charts for APS-C, Micro Four Thirds and every sensor size. The hyperfocal distance guide explains when to use it and when to focus stack instead, and the depth of field formula explained derives the near and far limits step by step.
More photography calculators
- Depth of field calculatorNear and far limits of sharpness, with a diagram
- Equivalent exposure calculatorTrade aperture, shutter and ISO at the same brightness
- ND filter calculatorLong exposure times for ND8 to ND64000, with a timer
- Crop factor calculatorEquivalent focal length, aperture and field of view
- 500 rule & NPF calculatorLongest exposure for pinpoint stars
Frequently asked questions
What is the hyperfocal distance?
It is the closest focus distance at which the far limit of depth of field reaches infinity. When you focus there, everything from half the hyperfocal distance to infinity is acceptably sharp — the deepest depth of field that lens and aperture can give.
How do you calculate the hyperfocal distance?
H = f² ÷ (N × c) + f, where f is the focal length in millimetres, N the f-number and c the circle of confusion (0.030 mm for full frame). A 24 mm lens at f/8 on full frame: 24² ÷ (8 × 0.03) + 24 = 2,424 mm, or about 2.4 m.
Should I focus exactly at the hyperfocal distance?
It gives the most depth of field, but the far background is only just "acceptably" sharp. If distant detail matters most — mountains, city lights, stars — focus a little beyond the hyperfocal distance. If the foreground matters most, check that the near limit really covers it.
Why is the hyperfocal distance different on my crop-sensor camera?
Smaller sensors are enlarged more for the same print size, so they use a smaller circle of confusion. With the same lens and aperture, the hyperfocal distance is longer on APS-C or Micro Four Thirds — but you are also using a shorter lens for the same framing, which brings it back down.
Is f/22 the best aperture for landscapes?
Usually not. Diffraction softens the whole image at very small apertures — noticeably beyond about f/11 on full frame, f/8 on APS-C and f/5.6–f/8 on Micro Four Thirds. Use f/8–f/11 with hyperfocal focusing, and focus stack if the scene needs more.