Hyperfocal Distance
Calculator

Hyperfocal distance is the closest focus distance at which everything from half that distance out to infinity appears acceptably sharp, making it the optimal focus point for maximizing depth of field in a landscape or scene shot. Focusing exactly at this distance, rather than at infinity, actually yields sharper near-ground detail without sacrificing sharpness at infinity.

It uses the formula H = f²/(N x c) + f, where f is focal length, N is the f-number (aperture), and c is the circle of confusion for the sensor size, so a wider aperture or longer focal length increases the hyperfocal distance while a smaller aperture (higher f-number) decreases it.

Focusing exactly at infinity wastes some of your depth of field range on distances beyond infinity, which don't exist, so focusing instead at the hyperfocal distance shifts that unused sharpness range to cover closer foreground elements, extending sharp focus all the way from half the hyperfocal distance to infinity. This is the standard technique for keeping both a foreground rock and a distant mountain sharp in one landscape shot.

A smaller aperture (larger f-number) inherently produces greater depth of field at any focus distance, so it needs a shorter hyperfocal distance to achieve the same 'sharp to infinity' result, whereas a wide aperture needs to focus much farther away to stretch its narrower depth of field out to infinity.

Yes, because the circle of confusion used in the formula is tied to sensor size, a smaller sensor (like a smartphone or compact camera) has a smaller acceptable circle of confusion at the same output size, which generally results in a shorter hyperfocal distance compared to a full-frame camera at equivalent settings.