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DOF and hyperfocal distance calculator

Only one plane in a frame is truly sharp; depth of field is an agreement about how much blur we're willing to call sharp. Set the format, focal length, aperture, and distance — the calculator computes the hyperfocal distance and the near and far limits of the sharp zone.

The sharp zone from camera to infinity, with the hyperfocal point in the middle — 0 ∞ Hyperfocal —
The distance axis is compressed so the hyperfocal point sits exactly in the middle and infinity fits on screen. The shaded stretch will render sharp; the mark is the focus point.

Input data

Result

Hyperfocal distance H, mThe distance you focus on to get sharpness from half that distance to infinity. On a wide-angle landscape shot, this lets you skip focusing altogether. —
Near sharp limit, m —
Far sharp limit, m“∞” means the far limit has gone to infinity: everything from the near limit to the horizon is sharp. —
Depth of field, m —
Circle of confusion c, mm —

The circle of confusion isn't a camera constant — it's an assumption about output size and viewing distance, which is why it's selectable here. A frame that's sharp in a phone feed can miss on a meter-and-a-half print.

How it's calculated

  1. The circle of confusion is an assumption about how much blur we're willing to call sharp. It depends on output size, not the camera.
  2. The hyperfocal distance shrinks the shorter the focal length and the more closed the aperture.
  3. Focusing on the hyperfocal distance gives sharpness from half that distance to infinity — on a wide-angle lens, this lets you skip focusing altogether.

Example: Full frame, 25 mm at f/8 → hyperfocal 2.63 m. Focused at 3 m, sharpness starts at 1.4 m and reaches infinity.

H = f²/(N·c) + f, where c is the format's circle of confusion. Near limit = s·(H − f)/(H + s − 2f), far limit = s·(H − f)/(H − s); at s ≥ H the far limit goes to infinity and the near limit equals exactly H/2.

This is an estimate

Verify final values against current standards, the project design, and equipment nameplates.

Explained in the article Глубина резкости, гиперфокал и зонная фокусировка

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