Hyperfocal focus mode?

This is more of a feature request, but I wonder if it would be possible for cameras to have a hyperfocal focus mode. It would be Av but would always focus the lens to the hyperfocal distance for maximum depth of field.

Does EF lens protocol include any distance info or is it simply instructions like "focus closer by 1mm" or some such so that it's all relative and the camera doesn't know where the focus is.

Just wondering.

-K

As far as I know:

Focus distance is not reported by all Canon lenses and from those that do, the accuracy varies quite a bit. Thus, eventhough the hyperfocal length is fairly easily calculated, having the camera engage the desired focus might not be very accurate or possible at all, depending on the lens.

The Magic Lantern firmware (explore at own risk!) available for some Canon cameras, can report hyperfocal distance - and focus distance for some lenses.

It would really only work for lenses 50mm and shorter on FF, and for smallish apertures.

Still, I'm surprised no manufacturer has offered it yet (another feature for the advertising, after all). I suppose A-Dep on some cameras is similar, but it uses multiple AF points to attempt to keep the "whole scene" in focus.