Depth of Field Calculator
Calculate depth of field, hyperfocal distance, and focus limits for photography
Calculate Depth of Field
Common values: 14mm (wide), 50mm (normal), 200mm (telephoto)
Smaller f-numbers = larger aperture = shallower DoF
Distance from camera to the subject you're focusing on
Depth of Field Results
Setup: 50mm lens at f/4, focused at 2.00 meters
Sensor: 36mm × 24mm (Full Frame (35mm))
Circle of Confusion: 0.029mm
Photography Analysis
Example Calculation
Portrait Photography Setup
Camera: Full Frame (36mm × 24mm)
Lens: 85mm f/1.8
Aperture: f/2.8
Focus Distance: 2 meters
Circle of Confusion: 0.029mm
Calculated Results
• Hyperfocal Distance: H = 85 + (85²)/(2.8 × 0.029) = 88.8m
• Near Limit: (88.8 × 2000)/(88.8 + (2000-85)) = 1.84m
• Far Limit: (88.8 × 2000)/(88.8 - (2000-85)) = 2.18m
• Depth of Field: 2.18m - 1.84m = 0.34m (34cm)
DoF Control Tips
Aperture Effect
Smaller f-numbers (f/1.4) = shallow DoF
Larger f-numbers (f/11) = deep DoF
Distance Effect
Closer subjects = shallower DoF
Farther subjects = deeper DoF
Focal Length Effect
Longer lenses = shallower DoF
Wider lenses = deeper DoF
Aperture Guide
Photography Applications
Shallow DoF (f/1.4-f/2.8)
- • Portrait photography
- • Subject isolation
- • Bokeh effects
- • Low light conditions
Moderate DoF (f/4-f/8)
- • Street photography
- • Environmental portraits
- • Product photography
- • General photography
Deep DoF (f/11-f/22)
- • Landscape photography
- • Architecture
- • Group photography
- • Macro photography
Understanding Depth of Field
What is Depth of Field?
Depth of field (DoF) is the distance between the nearest and farthest objects that appear acceptably sharp in an image. It's determined by the camera's aperture, focal length, focusing distance, and sensor size. Understanding DoF helps you control which parts of your image are in focus.
Circle of Confusion
The circle of confusion is the maximum diameter of a blur spot that the human eye perceives as a point. It determines the boundaries of acceptable sharpness and varies with sensor size, viewing distance, and print size.
DoF Calculation Formulas
H = f + (f² / (N × C))
Near = (H × u) / (H + (u - f))
Far = (H × u) / (H - (u - f))
- H: Hyperfocal distance
- f: Focal length
- N: Aperture f-number
- C: Circle of confusion
- u: Focusing distance
Factors Affecting Depth of Field
Aperture Size
- • Smaller aperture (f/16) = deeper DoF
- • Larger aperture (f/1.4) = shallower DoF
- • Most significant factor
Focusing Distance
- • Closer focus = shallower DoF
- • Farther focus = deeper DoF
- • Exponential relationship
Focal Length
- • Longer lens = shallower DoF
- • Wider lens = deeper DoF
- • Secondary to aperture effect