What is a hyperfocal cheat sheet?

A hyperfocal cheat sheet is a quick-reference table showing the hyperfocal distance and near focus limit for each aperture at a given focal length and sensor size. Landscape photographers print these to carry in the field.

How do I use this in the field?

Choose your focal length and aperture, look up the hyperfocal distance on the chart, and manually focus your lens to that distance. Everything from the near limit to infinity will be acceptably sharp.

What is circle of confusion?

The circle of confusion (CoC) is the largest blur spot that still appears sharp to the human eye. It depends on sensor size and viewing conditions. Full frame standard is 0.029mm, APS-C is 0.019mm.

Why does sensor size matter?

Smaller sensors have stricter sharpness requirements because images are enlarged more to reach the same print size. This gives a smaller CoC and therefore shorter hyperfocal distances (shallower depth of field).

PhotoCalcs

Hyperfocal Cheat Sheet Generator — Quick Reference Table

Generate a hyperfocal distance reference table for your lens and sensor combination.

Sensor Size

Determines circle of confusion value

Focal Length

Focal length of the lens in millimetres

Aperture Range

Lens aperture (f-stop number)

How We Calculate This

Hyperfocal distance H = f² / (N × c) + f

Where f = focal length (mm), N = f-number, c = circle of confusion (mm).

The near sharp limit is H/2. Everything from H/2 to infinity is acceptably sharp when focused at H.

Frequently Asked Questions

Last updated: March 2026

All calculations are estimates based on standard optical and photographic formulas. Results may vary with specific equipment.