Hyperfocal Distance Calculator

Pick sensor, focal length and aperture — get the hyperfocal distance to focus at so everything is sharp from half of it to infinity, ideal for landscapes.

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Your camera & lens

Sensor
Units
Hyperfocal distance
0
Focus at this distance and everything is sharp from half the hyperfocal to infinity.
0sharp from
0circle of confusion (mm)
0focal length
0aperture
Quick combos
Where the sharpness falls
Blurred Sharp zone sharp to ∞ Sharp from here — Focus here (H) — ∞

Hyperfocal table

Hyperfocal distance by focal length and aperture for the chosen sensor. Focus at this value: sharp from half of it to infinity.

How hyperfocal distance is calculated

The hyperfocal distance comes from the focal length, the aperture and the sensor's circle of confusion:

H=focal²aperture × circle of confusion+ focal

Focus at H and everything is sharp from H/2 to infinity. The circle of confusion is taken as the sensor diagonal ÷ 1500 (0.029 mm on full frame), a common convention; with 0.030 mm, another value widely used on full frame, the hyperfocal comes out slightly shorter and the depth slightly larger. The shorter the focal length and the narrower the aperture, the smaller the hyperfocal and the larger the sharp zone.

Hyperfocal distance example with a wide lens

A 24 mm f/8 on full frame:

  • Hyperfocal ≈ 2.52 m.
  • Focusing at 2.52 m, everything is sharp from 1.26 m to infinity.

With a 16 mm f/11, the hyperfocal drops to 82.3 cm: sharp from 41.1 cm to infinity.

Hyperfocal distance FAQ

What is the hyperfocal distance?
It is the focus distance beyond which everything is sharp from half that distance to infinity. Focusing at the hyperfocal maximises depth of field — ideal for landscapes.
How do I focus at the hyperfocal?
Work out the distance from your sensor, focal length and aperture, then focus manually at that distance (not at infinity). Everything from half the hyperfocal to infinity will be sharp.
What reduces the hyperfocal distance?
A shorter focal length and a narrower aperture shorten the hyperfocal, which means more depth. That is why landscape work thrives on wide angles and f/8-f/11.
Why not just focus at infinity?
Because you waste depth of field: focusing at infinity throws everything close out of focus. The hyperfocal uses that near zone without losing infinity.
Does the sensor matter?
Yes: a smaller sensor has a smaller circle of confusion and, at the same focal length and aperture, a different hyperfocal. The calculator accounts for it automatically: it takes the sensor diagonal ÷ 1500 as the circle of confusion (0.029 mm on full frame). With the 0.030 mm many tables use for full frame, the hyperfocal comes out slightly shorter (about 4 %).