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Photography Calculators

Hyperfocal Distance Calculator

Work out the focus distance that keeps everything from half of it to infinity sharp, for your sensor, focal length and aperture.

Built and written by Jernej Letica

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Sharp zone
Near limit
Far limit

Hyperfocal distance

How to find the hyperfocal distance

  1. Choose the sensor format. Full frame is the default, and the circle of confusion changes with the sensor, so set it before you read the result.
  2. Enter the focal length in millimetres and the aperture as the f-number, such as 8 for f/8.
  3. Read the hyperfocal distance. The page focuses at that distance, so it has no subject distance field.
  4. Set the lens focus to the hyperfocal distance on its scale or in the camera. Everything from half that distance to infinity is then sharp.

Why the page starts at the hyperfocal distance

I built this page for one question: where to focus so that the far end of the picture has no limit. The hyperfocal distance is that point, so the page opens focused there and the sharp zone follows from the number it shows.

My kit is a Sony A7 III, a full-frame camera, with a 16-35 mm f/4 zoom, a 24 mm f/1.4 GM and an 85 mm f/1.8. The numbers here come from the calculator itself. A 24 mm lens at f/8 has a hyperfocal distance of 2.42 m, and the 85 mm at f/1.8 has one of 133.88 m, so with that lens the far limit reaches infinity only for a subject 133.88 m away or more.

The near limit at the hyperfocal distance

Focused at the hyperfocal distance, the near limit is half of it. For a full-frame 24 mm lens at f/8 with a circle of confusion of 0.030 mm, the hyperfocal distance is 2.42 m and the near limit is 1.21 m, so everything from 1.21 m to infinity is sharp. A subject beyond 2.42 m, such as one at 3 m, also has a far limit of infinity. For a 16 mm lens at f/4 focused at 3 m the sharp zone runs from 1.25 m to infinity.

Stopping down brings the hyperfocal distance closer

A smaller aperture lowers the hyperfocal distance, so the same focus setting covers more of the scene. The same 24 mm lens at f/16 has its hyperfocal distance at 1.22 m, against 2.42 m at f/8, and its near limit at the hyperfocal distance is 0.61 m, against 1.21 m at f/8.

Focusing closer than the hyperfocal distance

Focus closer than the hyperfocal distance and the far limit becomes a finite distance, so the sharp zone ends behind the subject. With a full-frame 50 mm lens at f/2.8 the hyperfocal distance is 29.81 m. Focused at 3 m instead, the zone runs from 2.73 m to 3.33 m, which is 0.60 m deep. The depth of field calculator gives those limits for any distance you enter.

Tips for better results

  • Use the distance to the subject you focus on. Lens scales are read from the sensor plane, so a distance measured from the front of the lens is slightly off.
  • Change one setting at a time and watch the diagram: a smaller f-number narrows the zone, a larger one widens it.
  • For a landscape with a far horizon, focus at the hyperfocal distance so the far limit is infinity.
  • The result is the arithmetic of the formula. Check one frame on the camera display before a shoot that depends on it.

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Your entered content never leaves your device. The calculations and the diagram run locally in your browser.

Frequently asked questions

What is the hyperfocal distance?

It is the focus distance at which the far limit of the sharp zone reaches infinity. The formula is H = f² / (N × c) + f, with f the focal length in millimetres, N the f-number and c the circle of confusion for your sensor. A full-frame 24 mm lens at f/8 gives 2.42 m.

How do I find the hyperfocal distance on a lens?

Enter the focal length and the aperture here and read the result, then set the lens focus to that distance on its scale. Lens scales are marked by the manufacturer, so check one frame on the camera display before you rely on the setting.

What is the near limit at the hyperfocal distance?

Exactly half the hyperfocal distance. A full-frame 24 mm lens at f/8 has a hyperfocal distance of 2.42 m, so the near limit is 1.21 m, and everything from there to infinity is sharp.

Does the hyperfocal distance change with the sensor?

Yes, through the circle of confusion: 0.030 mm for full frame and 0.020 mm for APS-C 1.5x. A 50 mm lens at f/2.8 has a hyperfocal distance of 29.81 m on full frame, and 44.69 m with a 0.020 mm circle.

Does the subject distance change the hyperfocal distance?

No. It depends only on the focal length, the f-number and the circle of confusion. The subject distance sets where the sharp zone ends: a 50 mm lens at f/2.8 focused at 3 m has a far limit of 3.33 m, and at 29.81 m or beyond the far limit is infinity.

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