Originally Posted by
Phil Colla
[snip] For each aperture, there is a focal distance that allows -- just barely -- objects at infinity to be sharp. That focal distance is the "hyperfocal point" or hyperfocal distance. Old-style lenses would have these indicated on the barrel so that you could set focus not through the viewfinder but lining up tick marks on the lens barrel. I use hyperfocal focus -- usually at f/8 but sometimes f/11 -- when I shoot surf in the water, since there is no way autofocus can keep up with the complexity and speed at which a wave is curling over the top of me. It gives the greatest DOF that still keeps distant objects sharp.