Hyperfocal Distance Calculator

How it is calculated

The hyperfocal distance is H = f² / (N × c) + f, where f is the focal length in millimetres, N the f-number (aperture) and c the circle of confusion in millimetres. The calculation is done in millimetres and divided by 1000, so the result is in metres, to two decimals. All three inputs must be greater than zero.

If you focus the lens at H, everything from about half of H to infinity is acceptably sharp. The circle of confusion is the largest blur you accept as sharp, and it depends on the sensor size and how big you print or view the image. The figure 0.03 mm is a common choice for full-frame; smaller sensors use smaller values, so use the value for your own camera. Enter the real focal length of the lens, not the 35 mm-equivalent.

Common mistakes

• Entering the circle of confusion in the wrong unit. It is in millimetres, so 0.03 is right and 30 is 1,000 times too large.
• Using the 35 mm-equivalent focal length of a cropped sensor. Use the true focal length printed on the lens, together with a circle of confusion for that sensor.
• Focusing at infinity instead of at the hyperfocal distance. Focusing at H is what brings the foreground back in.
• Entering a stop number such as 1.4 as a shutter value. Aperture here is the f-number, and a bigger number means a smaller opening and a nearer hyperfocal distance.
• Expecting crisp detail across the whole range. 'Acceptably sharp' depends on the circle of confusion, so large prints or pixel peeping may need a stricter value.