![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
Hyperfocal Focusing: What Is It And Why Should You Use It?
When should you use hyperfocal focusing? Well, sometimes when shooting a landscape, you want everything sharp from the front to the back of the scene. Setting a small aperture such as f/16, f/22 or even f/32 can help, but if you really want to maximize depth of field, hyperfocal focusing is the technique you need to use. To do this, you need a camera where you can switch to manual focusing and a lens inscribed with a depth of field scale (not all modern lenses have these markings, especially zoom lenses). If you're not familiar with these kinds of lens markings, here's a quick explanation: Lens Markings Primer A typical lens shows four sets of markings. At top (looking from behind the camera) is the distance scale (on the lens' focus barrel) showing figures in feet and meters (this also shows the infinity position). Below that are a set of lines beneath which the f-stops of the lens are marked. This is the depth of field scale. For each f-stop, there are two equidistant marks, one to the left and one to the right of the central mark on the scale. The last set of figures shows the selected f-stop for the lens. These are on the lens aperture ring and, as you change the aperture, the selected f-stop under the central line on the depth of field scale will tell you what aperture you've selected. To find out what part of a scene is in focus is simply a matter of reading the distance scale for the two marks for your selected f-stop on the depth of field scale. For example, let's say you've focused on something that's 3 feet away. If your lens is set at f/2.8, then reading the distance values at the two "2.8" marks on the lens shows that everything just shy of 3 feet to about 3.5 feet will be in focus (a little guesstimation is required in reading the distances). This is fine for isolating your subject from everything else. If you close the lens down to f/11, then reading the distances for the two "11" marks shows that everything between just over 2 feet and 5 feet will be in focus. If the lens is set to focus in infinity (the infinity mark is over the central mark on the depth of field scale), then you only need to read off the distance value for the f-stop mark to the left of the central depth of field scale as everything between it and infinity will be in focus. If you'd set your f-stop to f/5.6 on the 28mm lens, everything from just over 10 feet to infinity would be in focus. If you'd selected f/16, it would be everything from 5 feet to infinity. Hyperfocal Focusing Hyperfocal focusing is based on the fact that depth of field typically extends 2/3 behind the point focused on and 1/3 in front, but if you focus on infinity, the depth of field behind is completely wasted. You can make use of it if you refocus, putting the infinity mark (an "8" on its side) on the focusing ring against the aperture set on the depth of field scale (this is known as the hyperfocal point). If, for example, you set a 28mm lens to f/11 and focus on infinity, everything from about 9 feet (2.5m) to infinity will be sharp. Align the infinity mark against the "11" position to give hyperfocal focusing and the depth of field now extends from 4 feet (1.2m) to infinity, which is essential if you want foreground interest to be pin-sharp. If you set your lens to f/16 and rotate the focus barrel to place the infinity mark over the "16" position, then reading the scales shows that everything between just under 3 feet to infinity will be sharp. The Hyperfocal distance is the that point above the central mark on the depth of field scale when the infinity mark has been put over the required f-stop mark on the depth of field scale. In the case of the 28mm lens at f/11, that's 9 feet / 2.5m. At f/16, the hyperfocal distance would be 5 feet. Remember that the hyperfocal distance will be different for lenses of different focal length and different f-stops. There's a table on the webpage mentioned at the end of this article that shows the hyperfocal distance for different lens and f-stop combinations. The figures have been calculated mathematically. If your lens has a distance scale but lacks a depth of field scale, you can use this table to set your lens to the hyperfocal distance required. Don't forget that the wider the angle of a lens, the shorter its focal length and the deeper its depth of field. So, as an example, an 18mm lens will have deeper (longer) depth of field than a 105mm. Also, the smaller the aperture you use the greater the depth of field; i.e. for a lens of any given focal length, there's more depth of field with it at f/16 than at f/4, for example. Seeing the Difference A subject like this benefits from a few pictures to illustrate the principles and show the results. Explanatory images showing the various lens markings and how to use them along with pictures to illustrate the results of using hyperfocal focusing can be found at: http://www.great-landscape-photography.com/hyperfocal.html Gary Nugent is a software engineer by profession and has been in the business for over 20 years. Photography has been a hobby for an even longer period of time and he's now even more passionate about it since making the switch to using a digital SLR camera. Gary is also passionate about astronomy and cats and publishes the Photon PDF astronomy ezine along with writing the acclaimed LunarPhase Pro and JupSat Pro astronomy software packages (available through his Night Sky Observer website). Great Landscape Photography: http://www.great-landscape-photography.com
MORE RESOURCES: From skater girls to climate illusions: Meet the winners of the 2025 Sony World Photography Awards Euronews.com Getty Images Editorial Photography Internship Program Returns for 2025 Getty Images Newsroom Meet the Upstate NY man who left tech for his dream job: Photographing dogs around the world newyorkupstate Arts council presents photography event The Republic News Photography Instructor Awarded Guggenheim Fellowship Humboldt NOW Lushfoil Photography Sim review Rock Paper Shotgun Grand opening of Monica Stevenson Photography Studio set for April 25 The Tryon Daily Bulletin My parents holding hands after their assisted deaths: Martin Roemers’ most personal photograph The Guardian Cal Poly Humboldt’s Justin Maxon Wins Guggenheim Fellowship for Photography Project Exploring Opioid Addiction on the Hoopa Valley Reservation Lost Coast Outpost “The iPhone Has Taken Over”: Arthur Elgort on the Fashion and Photography That Staked His Legacy Interview Magazine Women photographers share their ‘light and shade’ stories at Lynnwood Event Center reception My Edmonds News Tips for Great Street Photography Fstoppers Director of photography, videography departs college The Lafayette – The Oldest College Newspaper in Pennsylvania This sibling duo is too iconic. ✨ Instagram In Thread Memory, photography of Palestinian tatreez resists forgetting British Journal of Photography Spring Spectacular Photography Contest to accept entries starting April 28 Johnson City Press A Hall of Fame baseball player picked up photography in retirement. He captured one of the defining shots of the Masters. Business Insider Photographer Lowell Wolff focuses on 'intentional' images in his work Detroit Lakes Tribune Aline Manoukian and the Specter of War Photography Hyperallergic Taiwanese youth wins 2025 Sony Photography Award Focus Taiwan What a 19th-Century Photograph Reveals About Power, Privilege and Violence in the American West Literary Hub Get Into the Revolutionary Spirit With These Beautiful Photographs of Boston Smithsonian Magazine EMERGING FEMALE PHOTOGRAPHERS YOU SHOULD BE FOLLOWING CR Fashion Book Cannes Selects Film on Gaza Photographer Fatma Hassona; A Day Later, She’s Killed in Israeli Strike Democracy Now! Overall winners have been revealed World Photography Organisation | Reflective Puddle Wins Close-up Photographer of the Year’s ‘Something Beautiful’ Contest My Modern Met The Company That’s Not Trying to Screw Photographers Over The Phoblographer From photography to Richter: exhibitions 2025 at the Pinakothek der Moderne in Munich finestresullarte.info 2025 Sony World Photography Awards Announce Spectacular Winners of the Professional Competition My Modern Met Existing Next to Each Other: Monica Strømdahl Turns a 15-Year Photography Project Into ‘Flophouse America’ International Documentary Association Ken Griffey Jr. Explains How He Became a Photographer at This Year's Masters Sports Illustrated Want to make it as a photographer? Being a little “strange” may help, plus 5 more takeaways from a key industry survey Digital Camera World See Free Press photographers' winning photos from MPPA conference Detroit Free Press Mother honors late son with dual photography exhibition YourHub/Denver Post Local photographer highlights the history of Milwaukee buildings people 'love to hate' in new series Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Winners Announced for the 2025 Sony World Photography Awards Imaging Resource The 2025 Masters In Photographs The New York Times Masters 2025: MLB Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr. working as photographer at Augusta National Yahoo Sports Sony World Photography Awards 2025 winners announced Amateur Photographer The Week In Photos - April 18, 2025 CapeNews.net See the Spectacular Winners of Smithsonian Magazine’s 22nd Annual Photography Contest Smithsonian Magazine |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
RELATED ARTICLES
Start a Photography Business from Home Anyone with the right camera equipment, and the necessary skills can set up a home business, marketing photography. You need only to convert a room of your house into an office, and then you can work immediately. Digital Camera Memory Cards A digital camera accessory you should purchase is a spare memory card. Most cameras are sold with a 'starter' memory card that is usually a low capacity card that's enough to take a few sample photos on, but not enough for day-to-day use. Camcorder Techniques: How To Make Home Movies Your Family And Friends Will Be Excited To Watch Pre-Production:It's all got to start somewhere, so before you even charge your batteries, rewind those tapes or pack the car, take a seat and have a good think about what you are planning to shoot with your camcorder. 'Planning is the key' to a good production even if you're just shooting a small home movie. Memories That Get Lost How many people have pictures in a shoe box? In a drawer? Inside a book? Sitting in the garage?Imagine 40 years from now. Someone will get those pictures and they will say: Who are these people? What are they doing in this boat?They won't have a clue about the stories that those pictures tell and they will probably throw part of your story away. Tips for Taking Better Vacation Photos Photos are a great way to share your travel experiences with family and friends. Here are a few suggestions to help you capture vacation memories you will treasure for years to come. Basics of Photography Understanding light is one of the very basic principles of learning to be a photographer. When you have a group of people in front of you with smiling faces ready for you to say 'cheese' or if you are taking a shot of a scenic area, the most important consideration is the light factor. Buying Your Child A Digital Camera - What You Need To Know Purchasing any gift item for your child is a mind-numbing task. You can never be sure whether they will like what you buy for them or not. Where Do Great Ideas Come From? At a Photo Club meeting I attended recently, the President made a comment on another meeting he had attended, where someone in the audience asked the presenter where to find good subjects to photograph. The presenter in question started giving specifics instead of identifying the core issues in question, Attitude and Perspective. 10 MORE Ways to Make Money with Your Digital Cameras 1. Pet photos - advertise a Pet Photography business where you photograph pets with their owners. Digital Film Processing is Really the Only Option for Truly Quality Prints Digital photography has taken off like wildfire these days, primarily due to its ease and quality in its digital film processing. With a good digital camera, it's as though you're using the very best Kodak film for every single one of your digital photos. Photography Contest - a fun and rewarding experience Do you like to take photos? Are you always standing by with your camera waiting for that moment that is meant to be captured on camera? You may even be taking photography classes or maybe you have already completed a photography course and you want to share your photos with others. You may want to get into photography as a career and winning a photography contest will help you get recognized. African Safari Photography Best Five Destinations Good wildlife safari photography is not only about composition and camera equipment because you first need to find your subjects before you can even lift your camera. This best five African wildlife destinations list helps you do that. Photography Jobs: Do You Have a Future in Photography? There is a wide world of photography. It touches each of us in our lives on a daily basis in some form or another. How to Easily Select the Important Photography Category for Your Home Based Business You may have already started to make money from your photography, but if you are still a gifted amateur, then there are effective methods you can use to kick start your chances of making a profit. At the present time there has never been more opportunities for the photographer. Picture Framing for Photographers - Part 2 There are two sources for obtaining the moulding for making a frame. You can firstly start with a straight piece of timber, and using a home routing system make your own moulding shape with a rebate to take the art work. Using Film Speed Effectively (Black & White Film Thoughts) It's hard to find sometimes but it's making a resurgence, black and white film. If you've never used this film now is the time to try it out. Digital Cameras vs. Film Cameras- the debate goes on One of the biggest debates in the photography world is whether digital cameras are better or film cameras better? The answer to this question cannot be answered in a simple yes or no. There are several issues which need to be considered while answering this question. Digital Camera Bags - Purchasing and Using Some compact cameras are small enough to fit in your handbag or pocket, but I still recommend purchasing a camera case. It will save your camera from unnecessary wear and tear. How To Avoid Or Reduce Red-Eye Photography with the aid of a digital camera is beyond doubt very fascinating. However, it also has many a nooks that the users of the digital camera must be aware of and also must be well educated to deal with in order to produce good photographs worth the most prized digital camera. Digital Camera Disc Formats As it is a fact that digital cameras are comprised of miniature computers that have storage discs for retrieving the images as digital information, so a certain amount of knowledge is necessary regarding the digital camera disc formats. A proper understanding of the disc formats of the digital camera memory can help the photographer or user make efficient use of the device in a correct and useful fashion. ![]() |
home | site map |
© 2006 KeralaClick.com |