🎞️ Depth of Field Calculator
Enter your sensor, focal length, aperture and subject distance to get the depth of field — the zone that will look sharp.
Near limit
2.74 m
Depth of field
58 cm
Far limit
3.32 m
26 cm in front · 32 cm behind · hyperfocal 31.00 m
Depth of field is the zone that looks acceptably sharp. It grows with a smaller aperture (higher f-number), a shorter lens, and a farther subject. Uses the circle of confusion = sensor diagonal ÷ 1500. At or beyond the hyperfocal distance, the far limit is infinity. 🔒 In your browser.
How the depth of field calculator works
Depth of field is the range of distances that appear acceptably sharp. The tool computes the hyperfocal distance from your focal length, aperture and the sensor's circle of confusion (its diagonal ÷ 1500), then the near and far limits around your subject. Smaller apertures (higher f-numbers), shorter lenses and farther subjects all increase the depth of field.
Depth of field extends about twice as far behind the subject as in front (roughly a 1:2 split) at normal distances. When the subject reaches the hyperfocal distance, the far limit becomes infinity — everything from half the hyperfocal distance to the horizon is sharp.
Frequently asked questions
What is depth of field?
The range of distances in a photo that look acceptably sharp. A shallow depth of field (blurry background) comes from wide apertures and long lenses; a deep one (everything sharp) from small apertures and wide lenses.
How do I calculate depth of field?
From the hyperfocal distance H = focal²⁄(f-number × circle of confusion) + focal, then the near limit s(H−f)⁄(H+s−2f) and far limit s(H−f)⁄(H−s) for a subject at distance s. The tool does it for your sensor and settings.
How do I get a blurry background?
Use a wide aperture (low f-number like f/1.8), a longer focal length, get closer to your subject, and put more distance between the subject and the background. All of these shrink the depth of field.
How do I keep everything in focus?
Use a small aperture (high f-number like f/11–f/16), a wider lens, and focus at or near the hyperfocal distance. That maximises the depth of field for landscapes.
Does sensor size affect depth of field?
Yes — for the same field of view and aperture, a larger sensor gives shallower depth of field. That's why full-frame cameras blur backgrounds more easily than phones. The tool accounts for this through the circle of confusion.
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