Depth of Field and Hyperfocal Calculator
Estimate near and far acceptable-focus limits using focal length, aperture, focus distance and an explicit circle-of-confusion criterion.
YOUR CALCULATION
Result
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Calculation steps
Work through one step at a time or reveal the complete calculation. The steps use your current inputs.
How to calculate
Use an ideal thin-lens geometric blur model. Define H0=f²/(N c), find the hyperfocal focus setting H0+f, and solve the near and far object distances at which defocus blur reaches the entered circle criterion.
H0=f²/(N c); H=H0+f; near=sH0/(H0+s−f); far=sH0/(H0−s+f), or infinity at s≥H
Worked example
At 50 mm, f/8 and circle criterion 0.03 mm, the hyperfocal focus distance is 10.4667 m. Focus at that distance gives a near limit of 5.2333 m and a far limit at infinity.
Assumptions and input details
All distances use consistent internal units and focus distance is measured from the ideal lens principal plane, not the sensor mark on a real camera. Focus must exceed focal length. The circle of confusion is an entered acceptable-blur criterion; no sensor-specific or viewing-distance value is automatically assumed. This thin-lens model ignores pupil magnification, focus breathing, aberrations, diffraction, subject motion and actual lens calibration. Infinity indicates no finite far boundary under this geometric criterion; it is not perfect sharpness. The distance ruler is truncated when the far limit is infinite.
References: Nikon depth of field · MIT lens image formation
Unit definitions
Unit selection is independent of language. Each selector contains only units for its physical quantity. Calculations use defined base units internally.
Choose from 23 length definitions, including explicitly labelled regional measures. Area conversions square the length factor; geometric volumes cube it.
Regional measures are not interchangeable merely because their names look similar. This is a documented selection, not a claim to include every historical unit.
NIST measurement tables · Japanese traditional units · Mainland China and Hong Kong unit distinctions
Using this calculator
Can I enter my own problem?
Yes. Replace the example values with your own inputs. The result, calculation steps, tables and applicable diagrams update from those inputs. Blank or invalid values clear the result; example values are never silently substituted for missing inputs.
Are the results exact?
Results use floating-point arithmetic and displayed rounding. Read the formula, assumptions and any stated data precision before interpreting the result.
Is my input uploaded?
The calculation runs in your browser. No account, file upload or external AI service is required. Inputs are not saved between page reloads.
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