Hyperfocal Distance Charts

Updated October 2026

The focus distance that carries sharpness to infinity, for Super 35, full frame, large format, Super 16 and Micro Four Thirds, in meters and feet, with the formula and when it earns its place on set.

8 min readIntermediate

Hyperfocal Distance
Depth of Field
Charts

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What hyperfocal distance is

The hyperfocal distance is the closest focus setting at which the far limit of depth of field reaches infinity. Focus there and everything from half that distance to the horizon is acceptably sharp: the deepest focus a given lens and stop can deliver, with nobody touching the focus ring.

It depends on the focal length, the stop and the circle of confusion, and not on the subject at all. That makes it a number you can work out in prep, write on a lens card and set without a tape. For the general case, with the subject anywhere, see how to calculate depth of field.

The formula

Hyperfocal distance

H = f² ÷ (N × c) + f

Many printed tables leave off the + f, which makes a difference only with very short lenses. Focused at H, the near limit is exactly H ÷ 2.

Where

f: Focal length(mm)
N: Stop (f-number; most crews use the T-stop)
c: Circle of confusion for the format(mm)

Example: 25mm at T5.6 on Super 35 (c = 0.025mm)

Calculation:: 25² ÷ (5.6 × 0.025) + 25 = 625 ÷ 0.14 + 25 = 4,489mm
Result:: H ≈ 4.5m (14′9″); sharp from 2.24m (7′4″) to infinity

The free depth of field calculator works it out in your browser: choose Hyperfocal, then enter the lens, stop and format.

Infinity or hyperfocal?

Racking to the infinity mark wastes depth. Focused at infinity, the near limit is f² ÷ (N × c), the hyperfocal distance minus the focal length. Focused at the hyperfocal distance, it is half that, and the far limit is still infinity.

25mm at T5.6 on Super 35, focused at infinity: sharp from 4.46m.
Focused at the hyperfocal distance, 4.49m: sharp from 2.24m to infinity.
Focused at 1.5 × H, 6.73m: sharp from 2.69m, with more in hand at the far end.

The far end is the least sharp part of a hyperfocal setting, because infinity is only just inside the limit. When the distance matters more than the foreground, focus a little past H.

Hyperfocal charts by format

Each cell is the hyperfocal distance in meters, with feet beneath. Focused there, the near limit is half the figure. The circles of confusion are CineMath's presets for each format; if you plan with a tighter one, scale the figures up in proportion (half the circle of confusion, about twice the distance). The circle of confusion guide covers how to choose.

Super 35 (c = 0.025mm)

The value cine lens makers' 35mm depth of field tables use, and CineMath's Super 35 preset.

Hyperfocal distance, Super 35, circle of confusion 0.025mm
Lens	T2	T2.8	T4	T5.6	T8	T11
14mm	3.9m13 ft	2.8m9′3″	2.0m6′6″	1.4m4′8″	99cm3′3″	73cm2′5″
18mm	6.5m21 ft	4.6m15 ft	3.3m11 ft	2.3m7′8″	1.6m5′4″	1.2m3′11″
25mm	12.5m41 ft	9.0m29 ft	6.3m21 ft	4.5m15 ft	3.1m10 ft	2.3m7′6″
35mm	24.5m80 ft	17.5m58 ft	12.3m40 ft	8.8m29 ft	6.2m20 ft	4.5m15 ft
50mm	50.0m164 ft	35.8m117 ft	25.1m82 ft	17.9m59 ft	12.6m41 ft	9.1m30 ft

Full frame (c = 0.030mm)

The usual full-frame value (36 × 24mm diagonal ÷ 1,500 is 0.029mm) and CineMath's Full Frame preset.

Hyperfocal distance, Full frame, circle of confusion 0.030mm
Lens	T2	T2.8	T4	T5.6	T8	T11
14mm	3.3m11 ft	2.3m7′8″	1.6m5′5″	1.2m3′10″	83cm2′9″	61cm2′0″
18mm	5.4m18 ft	3.9m13 ft	2.7m8′11″	1.9m6′5″	1.4m4′6″	1.0m3′3″
25mm	10.4m34 ft	7.5m24 ft	5.2m17 ft	3.7m12 ft	2.6m8′8″	1.9m6′4″
35mm	20.5m67 ft	14.6m48 ft	10.2m34 ft	7.3m24 ft	5.1m17 ft	3.7m12 ft
50mm	41.7m137 ft	29.8m98 ft	20.9m69 ft	14.9m49 ft	10.5m34 ft	7.6m25 ft

Large format (c = 0.035mm)

CineMath's Large Format preset, for sensors a little larger than full frame and up.

Hyperfocal distance, Large format, circle of confusion 0.035mm
Lens	T2	T2.8	T4	T5.6	T8	T11
18mm	4.6m15 ft	3.3m11 ft	2.3m7′8″	1.7m5′6″	1.2m3′10″	86cm2′10″
25mm	9.0m29 ft	6.4m21 ft	4.5m15 ft	3.2m11 ft	2.3m7′5″	1.6m5′5″
35mm	17.5m58 ft	12.5m41 ft	8.8m29 ft	6.3m21 ft	4.4m14 ft	3.2m11 ft
50mm	35.8m117 ft	25.6m84 ft	17.9m59 ft	12.8m42 ft	9.0m29 ft	6.5m21 ft
75mm	80.4m264 ft	57.5m189 ft	40.3m132 ft	28.8m94 ft	20.2m66 ft	14.7m48 ft

Super 16 (c = 0.012mm)

CineMath's Super 16 preset. The Super 16 frame (12.35 × 7.42mm in SMPTE ST 201) gives 0.0096mm by the diagonal rule; plan with 0.010mm and every figure here grows by a fifth.

Hyperfocal distance, Super 16, circle of confusion 0.012mm
Lens	T2	T2.8	T4	T5.6	T8	T11
6mm	1.5m4′11″	1.1m3′6″	76cm2′6″	54cm1′9″	38cm1′3″	28cm11″
9.5mm	3.8m12 ft	2.7m8′10″	1.9m6′2″	1.4m4′5″	95cm3′1″	69cm2′3″
12mm	6.0m20 ft	4.3m14 ft	3.0m9′11″	2.2m7′1″	1.5m5′0″	1.1m3′7″
16mm	10.7m35 ft	7.6m25 ft	5.3m18 ft	3.8m13 ft	2.7m8′10″	2.0m6′5″
25mm	26.1m86 ft	18.6m61 ft	13.0m43 ft	9.3m31 ft	6.5m21 ft	4.8m16 ft

Micro Four Thirds (c = 0.015mm)

CineMath's Micro 4/3 preset (17.3 × 13mm diagonal ÷ 1,500 is 0.014mm).

Hyperfocal distance, Micro Four Thirds, circle of confusion 0.015mm
Lens	T2	T2.8	T4	T5.6	T8	T11
8mm	2.1m7′0″	1.5m5′0″	1.1m3′6″	77cm2′6″	54cm1′9″	40cm1′4″
12mm	4.8m16 ft	3.4m11 ft	2.4m7′11″	1.7m5′8″	1.2m4′0″	88cm2′11″
17mm	9.7m32 ft	6.9m23 ft	4.8m16 ft	3.5m11 ft	2.4m7′11″	1.8m5′10″
25mm	20.9m68 ft	14.9m49 ft	10.4m34 ft	7.5m24 ft	5.2m17 ft	3.8m13 ft

When to use it on set

Rigs nobody can reach. Car mounts, crash cams, drones and gimbals without a wireless focus unit: set the lens at H, lock it, and everything past H ÷ 2 holds.
Run-and-gun and documentary. An 18mm at T5.6 on Super 35 has a hyperfocal distance of 2.3m, so everything from about 1.2m (3′10″) out is covered while the subject moves.
Wide shots with foreground and horizon. Establishing shots and landscapes where both matter. Check the near limit against the nearest thing in frame before relying on it.
Not on long lenses or wide open. A 50mm at T2 on Super 35 has a hyperfocal distance of 50m; you are pulling focus, not setting H. CineMath flags any hyperfocal distance over 100m for the same reason.

Questions

What is hyperfocal distance?

The closest focus distance at which the far limit of depth of field reaches infinity. Focus there and everything from half that distance to infinity is acceptably sharp, the most depth a given lens and stop can give.

How do you calculate hyperfocal distance?

H = f² ÷ (N × c) + f, with focal length f and circle of confusion c in millimeters and N the stop. A 25mm at T5.6 on Super 35 (c = 0.025mm) gives 625 ÷ 0.14 + 25 = 4,489mm, about 4.5m or 14 ft 9 in. Focused there, the near limit is half of that, 2.24m.

Is it better to focus at infinity or at the hyperfocal distance?

At the hyperfocal distance, if you want the most depth. Focused at infinity, the near limit is the hyperfocal distance minus the focal length; focused at the hyperfocal distance it is half the hyperfocal distance. With a 25mm at T5.6 on Super 35 that brings the near limit from 4.46m in to 2.24m, while the far limit stays at infinity.

Does hyperfocal distance change with sensor size?

Only through the circle of confusion. The same lens at the same stop has a shorter hyperfocal distance on a larger format, because the larger format tolerates a larger blur circle. A 25mm at T4 is 6.3m on Super 35 (c = 0.025mm) and 5.2m on full frame (c = 0.030mm). But for the same framing you would fit a longer lens on the larger format, which pushes the hyperfocal distance out again.

Why is the background soft when I focus at the hyperfocal distance?

At the hyperfocal distance infinity is only just inside the limit, so the horizon is as soft as the format's circle of confusion allows. On a big screen or at high resolution that can be visible. Plan with a smaller circle of confusion, or focus a little beyond the hyperfocal distance, giving up some foreground for a crisper distance.

Next step: get the number for your own lens and stop. The Hyperfocal mode of CineMath's Depth of Field calculator gives the hyperfocal distance and the near limit in feet or meters for any focal length, stop and format, and so does the free web version.