Camera Glossary

The closest distance at which a lens can be focused while keeping objects at infinity acceptably sharp.

Detailed Explanation

Hyperfocal distance is a crucial concept in landscape and architectural photography. When you focus at the hyperfocal distance, everything from half that distance to infinity will be acceptably sharp. This distance varies based on the focal length, aperture, and what is considered acceptable sharpness. Understanding hyperfocal distance helps photographers maximize depth of field in their images, ensuring both near and far elements are in focus. Many landscape photographers use this technique to ensure their entire scene, from foreground to background, appears sharp.