Does hyperfocal distance apply with autofocus, or only manual focus?
Asked 12/28/2014
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I’m trying to understand hyperfocal distance. On my DSLR I can tap the LCD and focus on something near or far at the same aperture and focal length. Does hyperfocal distance only matter when focusing manually, or does it apply with autofocus too? If I focus on some other distance instead of the hyperfocal distance, am I giving up the maximum possible depth of field to infinity?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
11y ago
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'Hyperfocal distance' is a distance and as such has nothing to do with the method of focussing. It is the shortest distance focussed upon for a given f/stop and lens focal length that gives depth of field to infinity (obviously focusing at infinity will also give depth of field to infinity). It varies with aperture, of course, for a given focal length, and varies with focal length for a given aperture. For example, with a 21mm lens focused at 4 feet, the depth of field may extend to infinity at f/11, but at f/4 it may not. At f/4 it may be necessary to focus at 10 feet for the depth of field to extend to infinity with that 21mm lens. In other words, the 'hyperfocal distance' in the first case (f/11) is 4 feet, but in the second case (f/4) it is 10 feet. The depth of field does extend closer to the camera than the focused-upon distance, but that is irrelevant for the purposes of discussing hyperfocal distance, which is the distance beyond which everything is in focus, and always extends to infinity.
Originally by user34178. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user34178
11y ago
0
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Hyperfocal distance has nothing to do with whether you focus manually or with autofocus. It’s simply a focus distance for a given focal length, aperture, and acceptable circle of confusion.
If you focus at the hyperfocal distance, you get the nearest focus point that still gives acceptable sharpness all the way to infinity. If you focus closer than that, infinity will no longer be acceptably sharp. If you focus farther away, infinity will still be sharp, but you give up some near depth of field.
So yes: if your goal is the greatest depth of field that still reaches infinity, focusing at the hyperfocal distance is the “best” choice. But if your subject is at some specific distance, you may intentionally focus somewhere else.
Autofocus can still be used—you would just aim AF at something located around the hyperfocal distance, or focus and then lock focus/recompose. The concept is the same either way.
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