hyperfocal distance????

[ecp1977]

I am not sure I quite understand hyperfocal distance using the depth of field calculator Hyperfocal Distance and Depth of Field Calculator - DOFMaster. If after entering my info (i.e f/4.5, 10mm and my subject at 10 feet) it tells me the hyperfocal distance is 3.69 feet. Does that mean i should manually focus my lens to the hyperfocal distance and everything from 1.8 feet to infinity will be in focus? Thanks.

[Hill Country Hack]

Sounds that way to me. There is only one way to find out. Do it and let's see the results.

[Doug Sundseth]

Yes.

The hyperfocal distance is the minimum distance at which you can focus and still get focus at infinity for a given aperture, focal length and acceptable circle of confusion. I believe that DOFMaster uses the physical dimension of the camera's photosites (individual light sensing points on the sensor) as the acceptable circle of confusion.

[ccting]

When should we bother about hyperfocus? It is sharpest at hyperfocus point, but i find it is almost useless for portrait when we try to fill the frame..unless we crop...

[IABoomer]

Hyperfocal shooting is commonly used in landscapes where the photographer wants everything from some distance in front of the camera back to infinity to be in acceptable focus.

I've also seen Erik Kim and other street shooters suggest pre-setting your camera for hyperfocal shooting because you won't have time to compose and focus when shooting on the street.

[ccting]

Originally Posted by IABoomer

Hyperfocal shooting is commonly used in landscapes where the photographer wants everything from some distance in front of the camera back to infinity to be in acceptable focus.

I've also seen Erik Kim and other street shooters suggest pre-setting your camera for hyperfocal shooting because you won't have time to compose and focus when shooting on the street.

yes, i did that using manual focus when handover the camera to my father, who knows nothing about photography, to shoot while i am driving. Usually i never bother about it as i seldom shoot landscape seriously.

[ravncat]

Originally Posted by IABoomer

Hyperfocal shooting is commonly used in landscapes where the photographer wants everything from some distance in front of the camera back to infinity to be in acceptable focus.

I've also seen Erik Kim and other street shooters suggest pre-setting your camera for hyperfocal shooting because you won't have time to compose and focus when shooting on the street.

Yeah - That's a very useful one - though alot of times you'll adapt hyperfocal and do zone focusing - which is almost the same for street - except something more like 5-30 feet instead of 8-infinity....

[navcom]

Everyone is correct...hyperfocal distance focusing is used mainly in landscape photography. It would not be very practical in portrait work. Landscapes usually require very sharp images. This means that you need a great depth of field as well as a tack-sharp focus within as much of the DOF as you can.

I would recommend using it whenever you can in landscapes versus using auto focus or manual/infinity focusing. Too many folks get wrapped up in the "technicals" of how to do it. Forget all the jargon and technical garbage. Just do this...

1) Select your lens and compose your image in the viewfinder
2) Select the aperture you want for the depth of field you require (usually something between f/8 and about f/13 or 16 for landscapes)
3) Plug in the focal length of the lens and the aperture into the hyperfocal distance chart
4) Set your lens to the feet/meters that the chart says using the scale on the focus ring.

Done!

[alphasco]

Originally Posted by IABoomer

Hyperfocal shooting is commonly used in landscapes where the photographer wants everything from some distance in front of the camera back to infinity to be in acceptable focus.

I've also seen Erik Kim and other street shooters suggest pre-setting your camera for hyperfocal shooting because you won't have time to compose and focus when shooting on the street.

That's exactly what the legendary New York news photographer, know as Weegee, did. He shot photos of crime scenes, fires, and other catastrophies in the 30s through the 40s with a big clunky SpeedGraphic 4x5 inch sheet film camera with a flash. He kept his camera set at f/16, 1/150th second, and pre-focused at 10 feet. He also had a black & white darkroom set up in the trunk of his car along with a typewriter and paper. After shooting a scene, he would develop the film. make a contact print, quickly type up the story to accompany the photo, then rush the photo and article to the news office.

[JohnnieBoy]

Ha! That's great story!
tfs