Hyperfocal Distance Calculator
The One Focus Point That Maximizes Sharpness
Focus a lens at its hyperfocal distance and everything from half that distance out to infinity falls within acceptable sharpness — it's the single focus point that extracts the maximum depth of field a given focal length and aperture can produce. Landscape photographers lean on it constantly, because it removes the guesswork of deciding where exactly to focus when both a foreground rock and a distant mountain need to be sharp.
The Formula
where f is focal length, N is the aperture f-number, and c is the circle of confusion — the largest acceptable blur spot for the sensor format, set here at 0.030 mm (full frame), 0.020 mm (APS-C), 0.015 mm (Micro Four Thirds), 0.011 mm (1-inch), 0.045 mm (medium format), or a custom value you supply. Once H is known, focusing exactly at that distance places the near limit of acceptable sharpness at H/2.
Where This Calculation Matters
- Landscape photography — setting focus at the hyperfocal distance for a chosen aperture is the standard way to get front-to-back sharpness in a single frame.
- Street and documentary work — pre-focusing at hyperfocal distance lets a photographer shoot instantly without hunting for focus.
- Astrophotography — focusing at (or just past) the hyperfocal distance keeps foreground elements sharp alongside a star field focused near infinity.
- Video and gimbal work — hyperfocal focusing avoids visible focus racking when a shot needs consistent sharpness throughout a move.
Hyperfocal Distance by Focal Length and Aperture
| Focal length | f/8 | f/16 |
|---|---|---|
| 24 mm | 2.42 m | 1.22 m |
| 35 mm | 5.14 m | 2.59 m |
| 50 mm | 10.47 m | 5.26 m |
| 85 mm | 30.19 m | 15.14 m |
Hyperfocal distance grows with the square of focal length but only shrinks linearly as you stop down — doubling focal length has far more impact on hyperfocal distance than doubling the f-number.
How to Use This Calculator
- Enter the lens focal length in millimeters.
- Enter the aperture as an f-number.
- Select the sensor format, or enter a custom circle of confusion in millimeters if you know a specific value.
- Select Calculate to get the hyperfocal distance.
Related Calculations
To see the exact near and far limits around any focus point — not just when focused at the hyperfocal distance — use the Depth of Field Calculator. For the field of view a given focal length produces, see the Camera Focal Length Calculator.