Tools you might need next
Calculate correct exposure with the exposure triangle. Set ISO, aperture, and shutter speed for balanced photos in any lighting situation.
Convert focal length between camera sensor sizes using crop factor. Find full-frame equivalent focal length for APS-C, MFT, and more.
Calculate maximum print size from image resolution and DPI. Find the largest sharp print dimensions for photo paper, canvas, and wall art.
DOF depends on the circle of confusion (CoC), the largest blur spot still perceived as sharp. CoC scales with sensor size — larger sensors use larger CoC values.
CoC ≈ sensor diagonal / 1500 (common approximation)Given focal length, aperture, subject distance, and CoC, near and far limits define where sharpness falls off. At the hyperfocal distance, depth extends from half that distance to infinity.
Far limit = (s × (H − f)) / (H + s − 2f) when s < HWider apertures (lower f-numbers) shrink DOF; longer focal lengths also reduce DOF at the same subject distance. Moving closer to the subject dramatically narrows the sharp zone.
DOF ∝ 1 / (N × f²) for fixed subject distance (approximate)Updated: July 2026
A 85mm lens at f/1.8 focused at 2 meters on a 35mm sensor yields a shallow DOF of roughly 5–8 cm — ideal for isolating a subject from background.
A 24mm lens at f/11 focused at the hyperfocal distance on APS-C keeps foreground rocks and distant mountains acceptably sharp in one shot.
At high magnification, even f/16 may give only millimeters of DOF. Use the calculator to decide whether focus stacking is needed.
Select the correct sensor format. APS-C and Micro Four Thirds have smaller CoC values; using full-frame assumptions overstates how much of the scene will look sharp.
DOF depends on focal length and distance, not f-number alone. A 200mm f/2.8 at 3 m has far less DOF than a 35mm f/2.8 at 3 m with the same framing.
Depth of field (DOF) is the zone in front of and behind your focus point that appears acceptably sharp. This calculator estimates near and far focus limits from your camera settings so you can control background blur or keep an entire scene in focus.