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Originally Posted by wsbII
Is there a diffrence between hyperfocal and just making sure you are focused right for DOF shots?
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Yup. Hyperfocal is specifically if you want to get the deepest DoF possible for that sensor/aperture/focal length combination. Generally, if you can find the hyperfocal distance, everything from half the hyperfocal distance to infinity will be in focus. This is generally something useful only for landscape photographers.
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What I am hearing is that in order to shoot DOF from front to back in focus I need to do the calculation (or carry a chart) and focus on an item that distance away, recompose, and shoot.
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No, you don't need to do this just to get something in focus. The definition of DoF is the distance range away from the camera that will be acceptably sharp (i.e., in focus). The charts/calculator are to figure out how much DoF you have and where it lies with precision. But you can also just take the shot and chimp, focus bracket (manually if your camera doesn't have a mode to do so), or (if you have one) use the DoF button to preview.
The main thing to understand is that when you're composing your lens is actually wide open at its maximum aperture, so what you're seeing through the viewfinder isn't an accurate representation of the DoF you'll get in the shot. It'll be accurate if you're shooting wide open, but if you're using any other aperture setting, you're getting a narrower DoF. Some cameras have a DoF preview button that lets you stop down the lens while you're composing. The viewfinder gets dimmer, but you will have accurate DoF feedback.
Nikon entry level bodies (below a D80/D90), however, do not have a DoF preview button, so you may just have to chimp and adjust.