Photography Tips & Tutorials. One Vision Imaging Ltd - The UK's Leading Professional Photographic Laboratory (Pro Lab) Nikonistas.multiply.com. Burning Man Photos by Phil Steele. 500px / Home. Hyperfocal Distance. The concept of hyperfocal distance is easy to understand: focus a lens at the hyperfocal distance and everything in the photograph from some near distance to infinity will be sharp. Landscape photographs are often taken with the lens focused at the hyperfocal distance; near and distant objects are sharp in the photos. Application of the concept leads to many questions: Which lenses are best for using hyperfocal distance focusing?
What is the hyperfocal distance for a lens? How do I focus at the hyperfocal distance? Do I have to focus exactly at the hyperfocal distance? In this article we'll look at the basics of using hyperfocal distance to maximize depth of field in a photograph. Hyperfocal Distance Definition When the lens is focused on the hyperfocal distance, the depth of field extends from half the hyperfocal distance to infinity.Photography, Phil Davis, 1972. Choosing a Lens Telephoto lenses are rarely used for hyperfocal distance focusing. Calculating the Hyperfocal Distance. How to Select the Sharpest Aperture.
Home Donate New Search Gallery How-To Books Links Workshops About Contact Selecting the Sharpest Aperture © 2006 KenRockwell.com I originally wrote this article back in 1999. If you read all of it, I'll probably lose you, but I'll summarize it all right here. Depth-of-field calculations are flawed. They calculate the largest aperture that will give barely passable sharpness. Depth-of-field charts and scales came from an era where film was very slow and we always needed the widest aperture possible. If you stop down more you get sharper results, but if you stop down too far, diffraction gives you softer results, just like squinting your eyes. If you're shooting flat subjects, the sharpest aperture is usually f/8.
What do we do when we do need depth of field? It's very complex if you want to read this whole thing, but for 99% of you, here's all you do. You use your existing depth-of-field scales, and simply use the apertures shown on my chart instead of those read on your lens. Do this: 1.) 2.)
Websites for Photographers and Artists. Hyperfocal Distance and Depth of Field Calculator - DOFMaster. Photography, Cameras and Taking Better Pictures. SOUTH LONDON PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY: WELCOME TO OUR WEBSITE. Shops. What filter system - Nikonians Guide. Welcome to Flickr - Photo Sharing. Nikon Lenses.