HYPERFOCAL DISTANCE

This was taken from Andy Long's website...
if you have an iPhone you can also download a free app to determine hyperfocal distance (Tom uses it)


PHOTO TIPS - HYPERFOCAL DISTANCE

Ever wondered how those images were made with something very close in the foreground in focus and the background in the distance in focus? There is a simple way of doing this if you know the setting on your camera and lens. This is what's referred to as hyperfocal distance, a fancy term that means the distance setting at any aperture that produces the greatest depth of field.

When the digital age came around and crop / magnification factors of camera bodies replace full frame sensors, anyone who previously had learned where to focus for a given lens and aperture combination had to start all over again to find the settings that now worked for getting the maximum amount of focal distance. The chart below takes into account a factor of 1.6. If you have a full-frame camera body, you will need to adjust this a little bith.

Digital Hyperfocal Chart - make a copy of this and carry it with you in the field.

Lens f/22 f/25 f/29 f/32
18mm 2.1' 1.8' 1.6' 1.4'
20mm 2.6' 2.3' 2' 1.8'
24mm 3.7' 3.3' 2.8' 2.6'
28mm 5.1' 4.5' 3.8' 3.5'
35mm 7.9' 4' 6' 5.4'
50mm 16.2 14.2' 12.3' 11.1'
70mm 31.7 27.9' 11.1' 21.8'


To use this chart, manually set the indicated distance in feet for the chosen f/stop and lens combination on the focus mark of the lens. Make sure the lens is set to manual and do not refocus after setting it. The depth of field will being at half the distance between the camera and the number of feet set on the lens. EXAMPLE - 28mm lens set at f/32 - the lens is set at 3.5 feet and everything from 1.75 feet to infinity will be sharp.


Another great took to use when setting up shots with the technique is the depth of field preview button that is on many of today's cameras. Some people have a hard time mastering how to use this great tool, but once you do it's quite helpful. I use it quite a bit for both hyperfocal as well as for macro work to see what all is in focus.

Remember that hyperfocal distance is just a reasonable estimate for actual photographic lenses. Focus a little beyond the hyperfocal distance and you'll know that everything from at least 1/2 the focus distance to infinity will be acceptably sharp in the photo.
Just make sure that the primary subject you want in focus in the foreground is not closer than half the distance for where the focus is set on the lens.