Choose your sensor, focal length and aperture to see the hyperfocal distance (where to focus so everything from half that distance to infinity is sharp) and a chart for every f-stop of your lens.
mm
The real focal length on the lens
mm
Empty uses the sensor diagonal ÷ 1500: 0.029 mm
Hyperfocal distance
2.52 m
Sharp from
1.26 m to infinity
Hyperfocal chart: 24 mm on Full frame (35 mm)
Aperture
Focus at
Sharp from
f/1.4
14.29 m
7.14 m
f/2
10.01 m
5 m
f/2.8
7.16 m
3.58 m
f/4
5.02 m
2.51 m
f/5.6
3.59 m
1.79 m
f/8
2.52 m
1.26 m
f/11
1.84 m
0.92 m
f/16
1.27 m
0.636 m
f/22
0.932 m
0.466 m
Focus at 2.52 m and everything from 1.26 m to infinity is acceptably sharp: the most depth of field this lens and aperture can give.
H = f² ÷ (N × c) + f: 24² ÷ (8 × 0.0288) + 24 mm. Focus a little beyond it rather than short of it: the far limit drops from infinity if you focus closer.
A smaller circle of confusion, for big prints or viewing at 100%, pushes the hyperfocal distance further away.
How to use the hyperfocal distance calculator
Choose your camera's sensor and enter the focal length printed on the lens.
Pick the aperture you'll shoot at, or read the chart to choose one.
Focus at the hyperfocal distance shown: everything from half of it to infinity will be sharp.
Worked example
A 24 mm lens on a full-frame camera at f/8, with the usual 0.029 mm circle of confusion: H = 24² ÷ (8 × 0.029) + 24 mm ≈ 2.52 m. Focus there and the scene is sharp from 1.26 m to the horizon. At f/11 it's 1.84 m, sharp from 0.92 m.
Formula: H = f² ÷ (N × c) + f (thin-lens approximation, as in DOFMaster's equations). Everything runs in your browser.
Frequently asked questions
What is the hyperfocal distance?
The closest distance you can focus at while keeping infinity acceptably sharp. Focus there and everything from half that distance to infinity is sharp: the most depth of field the lens and aperture can give. A 24 mm lens at f/8 on full frame has a hyperfocal distance of 2.52 m, so it's sharp from 1.26 m to infinity.
How do I use it for landscapes?
Set the aperture, focus on something at the hyperfocal distance (or a little beyond), and the foreground from half that distance to the horizon will be sharp. If a closer foreground matters more, stop down or use a wider lens; focusing short of the hyperfocal distance makes the horizon soft.
Why does my sensor size change the result?
The circle of confusion (the blur that still looks sharp) scales with the sensor: about 0.029 mm on full frame and 0.019 mm on APS-C with the diagonal ÷ 1500 convention. The same 16 mm at f/11 has a hyperfocal distance of 0.82 m on full frame and 1.25 m on APS-C.
Which circle of confusion should I use?
The default is the sensor diagonal ÷ 1500, a common convention for prints viewed at normal size. For large prints or for looking at 100% on screen, use a smaller value (half, say): the hyperfocal distance doubles and the sharp zone starts further away.
Is focusing at infinity the same?
No. Focused at infinity, sharpness starts at the hyperfocal distance itself; focused at the hyperfocal distance, it starts at half of it, so you gain the foreground in between.
