| When should you use hyperfocal focusing? Well, | | | | that everything between just over 2 feet and 5 feet |
| sometimes when shooting a landscape, you want | | | | will be in focus.If the lens is set to focus in infinity (the |
| everything sharp from the front to the back of the | | | | infinity mark is over the central mark on the depth of |
| scene. Setting a small aperture such as f/16, f/22 or | | | | field scale), then you only need to read off the |
| even f/32 can help, but if you really want to maximize | | | | distance value for the f-stop mark to the left of the |
| depth of field, hyperfocal focusing is the technique you | | | | central depth of field scale as everything between it |
| need to use.To do this, you need a camera where you | | | | and infinity will be in focus. If you'd set your f-stop to f |
| can switch to manual focusing and a lens inscribed | | | | 5.6 on the 28mm lens, everything from just over 10 |
| with a depth of field scale (not all modern lenses have | | | | feet to infinity would be in focus. If you'd selected f/16, |
| these markings, especially zoom lenses). If you're not | | | | it would be everything from 5 feet to infinity.Hyperfocal |
| familiar with these kinds of lens markings, here's a | | | | FocusingHyperfocal focusing is based on the fact that |
| quick explanation:Lens Markings PrimerA typical lens | | | | depth of field typically extends 2/3 behind the point |
| shows four sets of markings. At top (looking from | | | | focused on and 1/3 in front, but if you focus on infinity, |
| behind the camera) is the distance scale (on the lens' | | | | the depth of field behind is completely wasted. You |
| focus barrel) showing figures in feet and meters (this | | | | can make use of it if you refocus, putting the infinity |
| also shows the infinity position).Below that are a set of | | | | mark (an "8" on its side) on the focusing ring against |
| lines beneath which the f-stops of the lens are | | | | the aperture set on the depth of field scale (this is |
| marked. This is the depth of field scale. For each | | | | known as the hyperfocal point). If, for example, you set |
| f-stop, there are two equidistant marks, one to the left | | | | a 28mm lens to f/11 and focus on infinity, everything |
| and one to the right of the central mark on the | | | | from about 9 feet (2.5m) to infinity will be sharp. Align |
| scale.The last set of figures shows the selected f-stop | | | | the infinity mark against the "11" position to give |
| for the lens. These are on the lens aperture ring and, | | | | hyperfocal focusing and the depth of field now |
| as you change the aperture, the selected f-stop under | | | | extends from 4 feet (1.2m) to infinity, which is essential |
| the central line on the depth of field scale will tell you | | | | if you want foreground interest to be pin-sharp. If you |
| what aperture you've selected.To find out what part | | | | set your lens to f/16 and rotate the focus barrel to |
| of a scene is in focus is simply a matter of reading the | | | | place the infinity mark over the "16" position, then |
| distance scale for the two marks for your selected | | | | reading the scales shows that everything between |
| f-stop on the depth of field scale. For example, let's | | | | just under 3 feet to infinity will be sharp.The Hyperfocal |
| say you've focused on something that's 3 feet away. | | | | distance is the that point above the central mark on |
| If your lens is set at f/2.8, then reading the distance | | | | the depth of field scale when the infinity mark has |
| values at the two "2.8" marks on the lens shows that | | | | been put over the required f-stop mark on the depth |
| everything just shy of 3 feet to about 3.5 feet will be in | | | | of field scale. In the case of the 28mm lens at f/11, |
| focus (a little guesstimation is required in reading the | | | | that's 9 feet / 2.5m. At f/16, the hyperfocal distance |
| distances). This is fine for isolating your subject from | | | | would be 5 feet. Remember that the hyperfocal |
| everything else.If you close the lens down to f/11, then | | | | distance will be different for lenses of different focal |
| reading the distances for the two "11" marks shows | | | | length and different f-stops. |