What is hyperfocal distance?
Depth of field is the zone of acceptable focus in front of and behind the point of best focus. If a lens is focused at infinity, the depth of field beyond the focus point (beyond infinity) is wasted. For a particular lens, aperture and film format size, the depth of field can be maximized by focusing the lens at the hyperfocal distance. The hyperfocal distance is the point of focus chosen so that the depth of field extends from a near point to infinity. As you stop down the lens, the depth of field increases and therefore the hyperfocal distance is closer to the camera.
