Why not focus closer than the hyperfocal distance to get more depth of field?
Asked 3/11/2015
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I’ve read that focusing at the hyperfocal distance means everything from half that distance to infinity will appear acceptably sharp. Why, then, wouldn’t you focus even closer to maximize depth of field?
For example, if a 20mm lens at f/11 on full frame has a hyperfocal distance of about 1.2m, then focusing at 1.2m gives acceptable sharpness from about 0.6m to infinity. If I instead focus on something at 0.4m, wouldn’t that give even more of the scene in focus and cover nearby and distant subjects too?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
11y ago
2 Answers
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Then why don't we set the focus distance to be the nearest as possible, as this will achieve the maximum depth of field?
Because it won't. If you focus on a point closer than the hyperfocal point, then the depth of field gets shorter. Infinity is no longer in focus.
So the best would be to focus on the object at 0.4m, as it will cover 0.2m to infinity
No, it would cover 0.3m to 0.6m. The depth of field quickly gets shorter when you focus on a point closer to you.
Originally by user149. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user149
11y ago
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No. Focusing closer than the hyperfocal distance does not increase total depth of field; it shifts the focus zone toward you and loses the far end.
Hyperfocal distance is the closest focus distance that still keeps infinity acceptably sharp. At that point, depth of field runs from about half the hyperfocal distance to infinity.
If you focus closer than hyperfocal, the near limit moves closer, but the far limit moves in dramatically. Infinity is no longer in acceptable focus. In your example, focusing at 1.2m gives roughly 0.6m to infinity. Focusing at 1.0m might give something like 0.55m to only several meters, not infinity. Focusing at 0.4m would give a much narrower range around that distance, not 0.2m to infinity.
So hyperfocal focus is already the setting that maximizes depth of field while still including infinity. If you need a nearer object sharp as well, your options are typically to stop down more, use a wider lens, move farther back, or use focus stacking. Also, “everything in focus” is not always the creative goal.
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