Depth of field controls how much of a scene is sharp: wide apertures and long lenses give shallow focus for portraits.
How to use the Depth of Field Calculator
- Focal length
- Aperture
- Focus distance
- Sensor
Results update as you type, and every field accepts the units shown in its menu.
How it works
The circle of confusion depends on sensor size; the hyperfocal distance then gives the near and far limits.
Inputs explained
| Field | What to enter |
|---|---|
| Focal length | In mm |
| Aperture | Choose one: f/1.4, f/1.8, f/2.8, f/4 … |
| Focus distance | Units: m, ft |
| Sensor | Choose one: Full frame (CoC 0.030 mm), APS-C (0.020 mm), Micro Four Thirds (0.015 mm), 1-inch (0.011 mm) |
What each result means
- Hyperfocal distance = [Focal length]^2÷([Aperture]×[Sensor]) + [Focal length]
- Near limit = [Focus distance]×([Hyperfocal distance] – [Focal length])÷([Hyperfocal distance] + [Focus distance] – 2×[Focal length])
- Total depth of field = [Far limit] – [Near limit]
Example values
How the main result changes when Focal length changes and everything else stays at the example values above:
| Focal length (mm) | Total depth of field (m) |
|---|---|
| 25 | 2.856 |
| 37.5 | 1.096 |
| 50 | 0.601 |
| 62.5 | 0.381 |
| 75 | 0.263 |
| 100 | 0.146 |
Formula
H = f² ÷ (N c) + fNear = s(H − f) ÷ (H + s − 2f), Far = s(H − f) ÷ (H − s)Worked example
Inputs — Focal length: 50 mm; Aperture: f/2.8; Focus distance: 3 m; Sensor: Full frame (CoC 0.030 mm).
Results — Hyperfocal distance = 29.81 m; Near limit = 2.729 m; Far limit = 3.33 m; Total depth of field = 0.601 m.
Frequently asked questions
What does a dash for the far limit mean?
Focusing at or beyond the hyperfocal distance makes everything to infinity acceptably sharp.
Does sensor size change DOF?
At the same framing and aperture, smaller sensors give deeper depth of field.
What formula does the Depth of Field Calculator use?
H = f² ÷ (N c) + f.