Depth of Field Calculator
Calculate sharp focus range from focal length, aperture, and subject distance.
This tool is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional financial, medical, legal, or engineering advice. See Terms of Service.
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- Enter your focal length in millimeters. A 50mm lens on full frame gives a natural perspective. Wide angles (14-35mm) produce deep depth of field; telephoto lenses (85mm+) compress depth of field significantly.
- Set your aperture. Lower f-numbers (f/1.4, f/1.8) create shallow depth of field with strong background blur. Higher f-numbers (f/8, f/11) keep more of the scene in focus.
- Enter the subject distance in meters. Depth of field shrinks as you move closer to the subject, and expands at greater distances.
- Choose your sensor size. Smaller sensors have a larger circle of confusion threshold, which affects the calculated depth of field. Full frame uses 0.030mm; APS-C uses 0.020mm.
Results show the total depth of field, near and far focus limits, and hyperfocal distance. At the hyperfocal distance, everything from half that distance to infinity is acceptably sharp.
About Depth of Field
Depth of field (DoF) is the range of distances in a scene that appear acceptably sharp in a photograph. It is determined by three factors: focal length, aperture, and subject distance. A short focal length, small aperture (high f-number), and far subject all increase depth of field. A long focal length, wide aperture (low f-number), and close subject create a shallow depth of field with strong bokeh.
The hyperfocal distance is a special focus point. When your lens is focused at the hyperfocal distance, the depth of field extends from half the hyperfocal distance all the way to infinity. Landscape photographers use this technique to maximize sharpness across the entire scene.
The circle of confusion (CoC) is the acceptable blur diameter on the sensor. This calculator uses standard CoC values: 0.030mm for full frame, 0.020mm for APS-C, 0.015mm for Micro Four Thirds, and 0.050mm for medium format.
Frequently Asked Questions
What aperture gives the most background blur?
The widest aperture your lens supports gives the shallowest depth of field and the most background blur (bokeh). On a 50mm f/1.8 lens at 3 meters, depth of field is under 30cm. Using a longer focal length and moving closer to the subject also increases blur significantly.
What is hyperfocal distance and how do I use it?
Hyperfocal distance is the closest focus point where everything from half that distance to infinity is acceptably sharp. For landscape photography, focus your lens at the hyperfocal distance and your entire scene from mid-ground to the horizon will be sharp. Use a narrow aperture (f/8 to f/11) to bring the hyperfocal distance closer.
Does sensor size affect depth of field?
Yes. Smaller sensors use a smaller circle of confusion threshold, which changes the calculated depth of field boundaries. For equivalent framing (same field of view and same apparent depth of field), a Micro Four Thirds camera needs a lens with half the focal length and half the aperture compared to full frame. This is why smartphones, which use tiny sensors, rarely produce natural-looking bokeh at normal shooting distances.
What f-stop should I use for portraits?
For single-subject portraits, f/1.8 to f/2.8 on an 85mm or 50mm lens gives a pleasing background blur while keeping the subject's face sharp. At f/1.4 or f/1.8, depth of field can be just a few centimeters, so precise focusing is critical. For group portraits where you need multiple people sharp, use f/4 to f/8 depending on how many rows deep your group extends.