Hyperfocal Distance and Depth of Field Calculator [feet]

hyperfocal distance

& depth of field calculator

Select your Format

35mm	(7 x 11 Print)	645	(8 x 10 Print)
6x6	(9 x 9 Print)	6x7	(8 x 10 Print)
6x9	(7 x 11 Print)	6x12	(6 x 11 Print)
6x17	(4 x 12 Print)	4x5	(8 x 10 Print)
5x7	(7 x 10 Print)	8x10	(8 x 10 Print)

**These calculations are based on acceptable quality for the above print sizes, viewed from approximately 13 inches.**


*Enter the Focal Length* of your lens**

Enter an f-stop




Set your focus in feet to —		This is your Hyperfocal Distance.

Depth of Field extends from —		feet in front of your lens to infinity.

		For calculations in meters click here.

Following are Hyperfocal Distance and Circle of Confusion calculations using standard 35mm format;

Since a normal human eye can resolve 5 lines per millimetre at a distance of 25cm, and the diagonal measurement of a 7 x 11 print (for an uncropped 35mm frame) is 330mm, then;

Diagonal of print in millimetres
Diagonal of film format in millimetres

x 5

Resolution Factor

35mm film's diagonal measurement is 43mm, therefore the Resolution Factor = 38.372

1
Resolution Factor

Circle of Confusion

The Resolution Factor enables us to calculate the Circle of Confusion of .026 for 35mm.

Focal Length²

Circle of Confusion per Format x Aperture

Hyperfocal Distance

The Circle of Confusion for 35mm is .026, so if your 35mm format lens has a focal length of 50mm and the aperture is set to f8, then the Hyperfocal distance is 12019mm (12 meters or approximately 39.4 feet).

So, if you're using a 35mm camera with a 50mm lens and you set your aperture to f8 and your focus to
39.4 feet (or 12 meters), subjects that are between half this distance (19.7 feet or 6 meters) and infinity,
will be acceptably sharp on a 7 x 11 print.