This paper presents a simplified hybrid calculation method, which enables calculation of a field very close to the surface of a perfect conducting object as well as the surface field itself. This method is based on the series electric dipole modeling (SEDM) technique, used to quickly and efficiently calculate near fields of wire antennas or objects, and the Kemptner method, used to find the surface fields of patches. The present method combines advantages of both the SEDM and Kemptner method techniques, without their weak points. Several examples in this paper show the validity of the SEDM and the simplified hybrid calculation method. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 36: 471–474, 2003; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.10793