Hyperfocal Distance Calculator — Maximise Depth of Field
Enter focal length, aperture, and sensor size to find the hyperfocal distance H — the closest focus point that keeps everything from H/2 to infinity acceptably sharp. Also computes near and far depth-of-field limits for any subject distance.
mm
Camera sensor
m
Focus here to maximise depth of field — sharpness from H/2 to infinity
- 1
Focal length squared (f²)
50 mm × 50 mm = 2,500 mm²The numerator of the hyperfocal formula. - 2
Aperture × circle of confusion (N × c)
8 × 0.029 mm = 0.232 mm - 3
Hyperfocal distance (mm)
2,500 ÷ 0.232 = 10,775.9 mm - 4
Hyperfocal distance (m)
10,775.9 ÷ 1,000 = 10.78
How does this calculator work?
H = f²/(N×c): focal length f (mm), aperture N, circle of confusion c (mm, e.g. 0.029 mm for full-frame). Focus at H for sharpness H/2 → ∞. Near DoF = H×d/(H+d), far DoF = H×d/(H−d) for any focus distance d.
Formula
How this is calculated
The hyperfocal distance H = f²/(N × c) is the focus distance that gives the maximum depth of field for a given lens focal length f, aperture f-number N, and circle of confusion c. The circle of confusion (CoC) is the largest blur spot still perceived as a sharp point on the final image — it depends on sensor size and typical viewing conditions. Common presets: 0.029 mm for full-frame 35 mm, 0.019 mm for APS-C 1.5× (2025 standard estimates, editable).
When the lens is focused at H, depth of field extends from H/2 to infinity. For a general focus distance d, the near and far sharp limits follow DN = H×d/(H+d) and DF = H×d/(H−d) — note DF → ∞ when d ≥ H. These are simplified thin-lens approximations, valid when d is much greater than the focal length (true for most photographic distances).
To use hyperfocal focusing in practice: set the aperture you want, look up H for your lens, and focus at that distance. Every landscape or cityscape from H/2 outward will appear sharp. A smaller aperture (larger f-number) or shorter focal length reduces H and increases depth of field.
Frequently asked questions
If you focus your lens at the hyperfocal distance H, everything from H/2 to infinity will appear acceptably sharp in the final image. For example, with a 24 mm lens at f/8 on full-frame (c = 0.029 mm), H ≈ 2.5 m — focus there and you get sharpness from about 1.25 m to infinity.
The circle of confusion (CoC) is the maximum blur size the eye perceives as sharp on the final print at a standard viewing distance. Larger sensors use larger CoC values. A smaller CoC (or larger sensor) means shallower depth of field and a longer hyperfocal distance.
The formulas H = f²/(N×c) and DN = H×d/(H+d) omit the "+f" term in the full thin-lens formula. This is accurate when focus distances are much larger than the focal length — which is the norm in landscape photography — but breaks down for macro photography.
TG we-Calculate Editorial Team. (2026). Hyperfocal Distance Calculator — Maximise Depth of Field [Online calculator]. TG we-Calculate. https://we-calculate.com/calculator/hyperfocal-distance-calculator
TG we-Calculate Editorial Team. "Hyperfocal Distance Calculator — Maximise Depth of Field." TG we-Calculate. 2026. https://we-calculate.com/calculator/hyperfocal-distance-calculator.
TG we-Calculate Editorial Team, "Hyperfocal Distance Calculator — Maximise Depth of Field," TG we-Calculate, 2026. [Online]. Available: https://we-calculate.com/calculator/hyperfocal-distance-calculator
@misc{wecalculate_hyperfocal_distance_calculator, title = {Hyperfocal Distance Calculator — Maximise Depth of Field}, author = {{TG we-Calculate Editorial Team}}, howpublished = {\url{https://we-calculate.com/calculator/hyperfocal-distance-calculator}}, year = {2026}, note = {TG we-Calculate} }
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