How to Set Hyperfocal Focus on Wide Angle Zoom Lenses

Hyperfocal focus is a photographic technique used to ensure a nearby tree is in focus as well as the distant mountain range. When a camera is focused on an object, the area which will be in focus is determined by the aperture setting of the lens, the focal length of the lens and the distance the object is from the camera. About half of the area in focus will be in front of the lens focus point and the rest behind. This is known as the depth of field. As the aperture is stopped down to a smaller opening, the depth of field gets longer and a larger area will be in focus. When the depth of field is large enough, everything behind the subject will be in focus and a portion of the area between you and the subject will be in focus. If autofocus is used to focus on the distant mountain range, approximately half the distance to the mountain range will be in focus, leaving a lot of fuzzy objects between the camera and the mountain range.

Instructions

1

Download a hyperfocal chart from nikonians.org, dofmaster.com or site of your choice (see Resources).

2

Set up your camera, preferably on a tripod.

3

Set the camera for manual zoom and aperture priority.

4

Compose your photograph by adjusting angle, elevation and zoom level (focal length).

5

Estimate the distance to the closest object that is needed to be in focus. Double this distance to give you the hyperfocal distance.

6

Set focus point to hyperfocal distance using distance ring on lens.

7

Pick a value for the aperture from the hyperfocal chart based on the focal length used and the hyperfocal distance calculated. Set aperture to value from chart.

8

Verify desired composition using camera Depth of Field (DOF) preview capability.

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Hyperfocal focus is a photographic technique used to ensure a nearby tree is in focus as well as the distant mountain range. When a camera is focused on an object, the area which will be in focus is determined by the aperture setting of the lens, the focal length of the lens and the distance the object is from the camera. About half of the area in focus will be in front of the lens focus point and the rest behind. This is known as the depth of field. As the aperture is stopped down to a smaller opening, the depth of field gets longer and a larger area will be in focus. When the depth of field is large enough, everything behind the subject will be in focus and a portion of the area between you and the subject will be in focus. If autofocus is used to focus on the distant mountain range, approximately half the distance to the mountain range will be in focus, leaving a lot of fuzzy objects between the camera and the mountain range.

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Instructions

1

Download a hyperfocal chart from nikonians.org, dofmaster.com or site of your choice (see Resources).

2

Set up your camera, preferably on a tripod.

3

Set the camera for manual zoom and aperture priority.

4

Compose your photograph by adjusting angle, elevation and zoom level (focal length).

5

Estimate the distance to the closest object that is needed to be in focus. Double this distance to give you the hyperfocal distance.

6

Set focus point to hyperfocal distance using distance ring on lens.

7

Pick a value for the aperture from the hyperfocal chart based on the focal length used and the hyperfocal distance calculated. Set aperture to value from chart.

8

Verify desired composition using camera Depth of Field (DOF) preview capability.

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