What is Hyper focal distance?
Hyper focal distance is the distance you must focus a lens to achieve acceptable focus from infinity (the horizon) to the forward most acceptable distance which is usually quoted along with the hyper focal distance. It is the practical application of depth of field associated with landscape photography. Wide angle lenses at small apertures have the greatest range of acceptable focus. If you know the hyper focal distance the range of the forward focal depth is one half that distance. The chart on the right shows that the Kit lens at 18 mm has a hyper focal distance of 4 feet, 9 inches at f11. When focused at that distance, everything from 2 feet, 4.5 inches to infinity will be in focus. That means if you kneel down and include flowers and grass within reaching distance your entire picture will be in focus. It is even more impressive to think of what you can do with a 12 mm lens. A 12 mm lens is capable of a sharp image from one foot to infinity at f11, the sweetest spot on the lens. On
