The Secret to Nailing Focus
—with hyperfocial distance
I remember the first time I cracked open Ansel Adams’ book The Camera and stumbled upon the section about hyperfocal distance. At the time, I had no idea what it meant. I was just trying my best to get my rangefinder in focus with my trusty Canon A1, and while I loved the vintage feel and manual control, I often struggled to get both my foreground and background sharp in landscape shots. That chapter changed everything for me.
Armed with my curiosity and my Canon A1, I started experimenting. I read that hyperfocal distance is the magic spot where, if you focus just right, everything from half that distance to infinity will be acceptably sharp. That sounded like a superpower.
Using Depth of field (dof) Scales on Manual Lenses
My Canon A1, like many older film cameras, has a depth-of-field (DOF) scale right on the lens. Here’s how I used it:
Find the Aperture: I’d set my lens to a small aperture, like f/8 or f/11, to maximize depth of field.
Look at the DOF Scale: On the lens barrel, there are markings for the aperture. I’d line up the distance scale so that the infinity symbol (∞) sat just above the chosen aperture mark.
Check the Near Limit: The other side of the aperture marking on the DOF scale shows the closest point that’ll be sharp. If I wanted my foreground sharp, I’d make sure the distance I cared about was included in this range.
With this, I didn’t have to guess or rely on autofocus. I just set my focus according to the scale, and bam—everything from the middle ground to infinity was sharp.
Applying Hyperfocal Distance to Digital Cameras
When I picked up my Canon R6ii, I wasn’t sure how I’d use this trick. But turns out, hyperfocal distance is just as useful—maybe even easier!
Use a Hyperfocal Distance App: There are tons of apps and online calculators. Just plug in your camera model, focal length, and aperture, and it tells you exactly where to focus.
Manual Focus: I switch to manual focus mode, set the distance on my lens (if it has a distance scale), or use Live View to zoom in and focus precisely on a point at the calculated hyperfocal distance.
Double the Distance Rule: If you’re without an app, just double the distance to the closest object you want sharp, focus there, and use a small aperture. It’s not perfect, but it works great in a pinch.
Why Hyperfocal Distance is a Game-Changer
Before I learned this, I’d often miss focus, especially in landscapes. And with film, that’s an expensive mistake. Now, I nail it every time—foreground to background, tack sharp. Whether you’re using an old film camera with a DOF scale or a modern mirrorless, hyperfocal distance is your secret weapon for perfect focus.
So, grab your camera, try this out, and watch your focus worries melt away. It’s amazing what a little bit of focus know-how can do for your photos!
