Depth of Field Calculator

Depth of field (DOF) is the zone in front of and behind your focus point that appears acceptably sharp. It depends on four things: focal length, aperture (f-number), focus distance, and sensor size — smaller apertures (higher f-numbers), wider lenses, smaller sensors, and farther focus distances all increase depth of field.

The math runs through the hyperfocal distance (H): H = f² / (N × c) + f, where f is focal length, N is the f-number, and c is the circle of confusion — a sensor-size-dependent value for the largest blur spot the eye perceives as a sharp point. Near and far limits are then derived from H, the focus distance, and f.

Example: a 50mm lens at f/8 on a full-frame sensor, focused at 5 meters, has a near limit around 3.4m and a far limit around 9.5m — about 6.1m of total depth of field. Stopping down to f/16 would roughly double that range.

Portrait photographers often shoot wide apertures (f/1.4–f/2.8) for shallow DOF — landscape shooters stop down for depth.

Focus distance must use the same unit system as output — toggle metric/imperial before comparing to field measurements.

Worked example: 50mm, f/8, 5 m focus, full frame → ~6.1 m total DOF (near ~3.4 m, far ~9.5 m).

Macro photography shrinks depth of field dramatically — extension tubes and close focus distances push near limits to millimeters even at f/16. The same 50mm lens at 0.3 m focus has far less DOF than at 5 m on full frame. Macro at 0.3 m focus shrinks DOF versus 5 m — extension tubes push near limits to millimeters even at f/16 on full frame.

Print viewing distance affects acceptable circle of confusion — billboard photos tolerate larger CoC than magazine reproduction, which is why this tool uses sensor-specific constants rather than one universal blur threshold. Billboard CoC tolerances exceed magazine reproduction — sensor constants here assume standard display sizes, not oversized print viewing distances. Shoot a ±1 EV bracket when print sharpness depends on the depth-of-field limits this page estimates.

Focus bracketing for landscapes stacks multiple shots when a single f/8 focus at 5 m leaves foreground rocks soft — shoot near hyperfocal, then verify near/far limits this calculator reports before merging in post. Bracket focus when f/8 at 5 m leaves foreground rocks soft — verify near and far limits before merging stacks in post for landscapes.