SLAPSHOT

I have a Canon 60D with 18-200 I.S. zoom. Unfortunately, this lens does not have distance scale markings. Is the setting of hyperfocal distance possible with this set-up? If so, how?
Thanks.

jimmya Loc: Phoenix

I understand hyperfocal distance as defined at Wikipedia but that's difficult to say. I suppose the best way to find out is shoot it in a situation such as infinity and find out how sharp your distant subjects really are.

I have a similar Canon lens, the 28-200, and I've not tried this on purpose.
However one thing is clear. If you stop down the lens to say f/10 or above, and shoot in bright light to infinity, the image will be sharper than at lower f/stops but I'm sure that's true with any lens.

birdpix Loc: South East Pennsylvania

There are a few ways to do it. If you have already calculated your HFD (www.dofmaster.com) then you could measure out that far from the film plane and put a target there to focus on. If that is not possible then the rule of thumb is that DOF extends from 1/3 in front of your focus point and 2/3 behind it. If you use a DOF chart that would give you an isea of how far in front and back, and are reasonably good at estimating distances, that should get you close enough.

Even if you had a distance scale on the lens, at the longer focal lengths and greater distances the scales become useless as you can't really tell whether you are focused at 35 or 40 feet, for example. It is only with shorter focal lengths and clsoer subjects that the scale can be a help.

Jay91604 Loc: Los Angeles

Do you own an iPAD? If so, there are several apps that provide depth of field calculations specifically for your camera.