Hyperfocal distance and shutter speed

[Apostata]

Hello all,

I've read up on setting hyperfocal distance, and I (think I) understand the concept. However, one niggling question: they make no reference to shutter speed. A lot of the literature uses f16 as an example aperature (to obviously have the DOF as sharp as possible), but logically (and practically) this doesn't really translate well to real situations; in less-than-bright light, f16 necessitates a radically different shutter speed than in sunshine (especially if you don't have a flash). So, I suppose my question is this: are they just being academic, or am I missing some magic way to keep my DOF really dense (without necessitating a shutter speed that is unreasonably slow)?

I hope this makes sense.

Matt

 

[tom_f77]

No - that's it; everything is a trade off - DOF/diffraction/camera-shake/film-speed/grain...

The closest thing to a magic solution, if you want maximum d.o.f for hyperfocal focussing, is probably diafine and tri-x; two stops better shutterspeed with no grain penalty.

The more I try, the more I find it's hardly ever easy. You really need to decide what you're going to do before you decide what you're going to do it with!

Tom

 

[mikule]

It depends what focal length you are using. A wide angle lens will have a greater depth of field at lower stops than a regular or tele lens. So you may get the same depth of field (using hyperfocal) from a wide angle lens at f8 as you would from a portrait lens at f16.

I hope that makes sence 🙂

 

[tom_f77]

It depends what focal length you are using.

Of course. OK - the magic solution is diafine, tri-x and a 25/5 Snapshot Skopar!

Tom

 

[Nikon Bob]

You can use any F stop and set hyperfocal for it if the lens in use has a DOF scale with that aperature on it. The DOF varies with focal length used and F stop. You chose what shutter speed you want which will give you the F stop to use for proper exposure and then using the DOF scale on the lens you can set the hyperfocal for that F stop. Hope that helps.

Bob