Hyperfocal Distance Calculator

Master the focus of your lens with our free hyperfocal distance calculator. By entering your lens's focal length, aperture, and your camera's sensor size, you can instantly find the hyperfocal distance, near focus limit, and depth of field. An indispensable tool for landscape, portrait, and macro photographers. Explore more photography tools on CalculatorBolt.

Lens & Camera Settings

Lens focal length
f-number
Determines CoC
Optional reverse calc

Preset Lenses

Magnification at Focus

Export

How to Use This Calculator

Enter your lens's focal length and the aperture you plan to shoot at. Crucially, select your camera's sensor or film format, as this determines the circle of confusion. The calculator will then provide the hyperfocal distance and the total depth of field.

Understanding Hyperfocal Distance

Hyperfocal distance is the point at which a lens is focused to achieve a depth of field from infinity to half that distance to infinity. It's the 'sweet spot' for landscape photographers who want both foreground and background elements sharp. A smaller aperture (higher f-number) creates a deeper hyperfocal distance.

Example

For a 50mm lens at f/2.8 on a Full-Frame (35mm) camera:

  • Circle of Confusion (c): 0.035mm
  • Hyperfocal Distance (H): (50²) / (2.8 × 0.035) ≈ 25.5 meters.
  • Near Focus Limit: 25.5m / 3 ≈ 8.5 meters.
  • Total Depth of Field: 2 × 2.8 × 0.035 × (25.5 + 1) / 2.8² ≈ 1.87 meters.

Tips for Using Hyperfocal Distance

  • For Landscapes: Focus at the hyperfocal distance (or slightly beyond) to maximize sharpness from foreground to infinity.
  • For Portraits: Focus on a point closer than the hyperfocal distance to create a softer background blur while keeping your subject sharp.
  • For Macro Photography: Use a lens with a longer focal length to achieve a greater working distance and magnification.
  • Know Your Sensor: Using the correct sensor size (e.g., APS-C vs. Full-Frame) is critical for accurate calculations.

FAQs

It's the largest diameter of a circle of light that can enter the lens as a sharp point. It's determined by the camera's sensor or film size and is a key variable in optical calculations.

A wider aperture (smaller f-number) results in a shallower depth of field and a shorter hyperfocal distance. A narrower aperture (larger f-number) does the opposite.

Full-Frame sensors are larger, with a circle of confusion of ~0.035mm. APS-C sensors are smaller, with a CoC of ~0.025mm, which results in different hyperfocal distances for the same lens.

It helps you calculate a new hyperfocal distance if you change your focus plane, for example, when focusing closer than infinity for a specific shot.

Disclaimer

This calculator provides theoretical values based on optical formulas. Real-world results can be affected by lens imperfections, temperature, and diffraction. For professional work, always test your lens and use these calculations as a guide, not an absolute guarantee.

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Depth of Field Calculator
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Author: CalculatorBolt Editorial Team
Reviewed by: Photography Specialist
Published: • Updated: