Near Limit, Far Limit, Total DOF

Defaults to full frame, 50mm, f/2.8 at 3m so the numbers are already on the page

Circle of Confusion: 0.030 mm
mm
f/
m
Total Depth of Field
60 cm

Acceptable sharpness zone

Near Limit

2.73 m

Closest sharp distance

Far Limit

3.33 m

Farthest sharp distance

Hyperfocal Distance

29.76 m

Focus here for max DOF

DOF in Front

27 cm

45% of total DOF

DOF Behind

33 cm

55% of total DOF

35mm Equivalent

50 mm

1.0× crop factor

Depth of Field Visualization

Camera
◐ Out of Focus
◉ Sharp Zone
◐ Out of Focus
Near Limit 2.73m
Focus Point 3.00m
Far Limit 3.33m
Blurred (out of focus)
Sharp (acceptably in focus)
Focus point (sharpest)
Definitions: Depth of field is the zone of acceptable sharpness around the focus point. Hyperfocal distance is the closest focus that keeps infinity acceptably sharp. Circle of confusion is the blur-spot size treated as still sharp for this sensor. At typical distances the zone is about ⅓ in front and ⅔ behind; at macro it is closer to 50/50.

Focus Stacking Planner

Calculate the number of shots needed for complete sharpness across your subject

When to Use Focus Stacking

Focus stacking combines multiple images focused at different distances to achieve greater depth of field than a single shot allows. Essential for:

  • Macro photography — Insects, flowers, and small objects where DOF is millimeters
  • Product photography — Sharp focus from front to back of products
  • Landscape photography — Sharp foreground flowers with distant mountains
  • Architecture — Interior shots with close and far elements
m
m
%
Shots Required 5
Focus Step 0.25m
Subject Depth 1.0m

Focus Stack Preview

In Focus (DOF per shot)
Overlap Zone
Stacking workflow: Use a sturdy tripod, manual focus, and consistent exposure. Move focus in small increments from front to back. Process in Photoshop (Auto-Blend Layers), Helicon Focus, or Zerene Stacker.

Hyperfocal Distance

Maximize depth of field for landscape photography

What is Hyperfocal Distance?

The hyperfocal distance is the closest focus distance at which everything from half that distance to infinity appears acceptably sharp. It's the key to sharp landscape photography.

Camera
14.9m ½ Hyperfocal
(Near Sharp Limit)
29.8m Hyperfocal
(Focus Here)
∞ Infinity

Formula

H = f² / (N × c)
H = Hyperfocal distance f = Focal length N = f-number (aperture) c = Circle of confusion

Hyperfocal Distance Quick Reference (Full Frame)

Focal Length f/4 f/5.6 f/8 f/11 f/16
16mm 2.1m 1.5m 1.1m 0.8m 0.5m
24mm 4.8m 3.4m 2.4m 1.7m 1.2m
35mm 10.2m 7.3m 5.1m 3.7m 2.6m
50mm 20.8m 14.9m 10.4m 7.6m 5.2m
85mm 60.2m 43.0m 30.1m 21.9m 15.1m
100mm 83.3m 59.5m 41.7m 30.3m 20.8m
Field tip: For landscapes with a strong foreground element, focus about ⅓ into the scene or use the hyperfocal distance. At f/8 to f/11, you'll get maximum sharpness without significant diffraction.

Sensor Sizes & Circle of Confusion

How sensor size affects depth of field calculations

Understanding Circle of Confusion (CoC)

The Circle of Confusion is the largest blur spot that still appears as a point to the human eye. Smaller sensors have smaller CoC values, which affects DOF calculations. However, the actual DOF difference comes from the equivalence principle:

  • Smaller sensors use shorter focal lengths for the same field of view
  • Shorter focal lengths have inherently greater DOF
  • To match the same framing and DOF, you'd need to adjust aperture by the crop factor
Sensor Format Dimensions Crop Factor CoC (mm) Common Cameras
Medium Format 44 × 33 mm 0.79× 0.043 Fuji GFX, Hasselblad X
Full Frame (35mm) 36 × 24 mm 1.0× 0.030 Canon R5, Sony A7, Nikon Z
APS-C (Canon) 22.3 × 14.9 mm 1.6× 0.019 Canon R7, 90D, M50
APS-C (Sony/Nikon) 23.5 × 15.6 mm 1.5× 0.020 Sony A6700, Nikon Z50
Micro Four Thirds 17.3 × 13 mm 2.0× 0.015 Olympus OM-5, Panasonic GH6
1" Sensor 13.2 × 8.8 mm 2.7× 0.011 Sony RX100, DJI drones
iPhone 15 Pro Main 9.8 × 7.3 mm 3.9× 0.008 iPhone 15 Pro/Max (48MP)

Equivalence Example

A 50mm f/2.8 on Full Frame gives the same field of view and DOF as:

APS-C 33mm f/1.8
MFT 25mm f/1.4
1" Sensor 18mm f/1.0

Camera Settings by Scenario

Recommended aperture and focus settings for common photography situations

Portrait (Shallow DOF)

Aperture f/1.4 – f/2.8
Focus Eye AF / Nearest eye
DOF Goal Blurred background
Tip Increase subject-bg distance

Group Portrait

Aperture f/5.6 – f/8
Focus Front row, center
DOF Goal All faces sharp
Tip Line up people in same plane

Landscape

Aperture f/8 – f/11
Focus Hyperfocal or ⅓ into scene
DOF Goal Front to infinity
Tip Use tripod, low ISO

Macro (Insects, Flowers)

Aperture f/8 – f/16
Focus Manual, focus stack
DOF Goal mm of sharpness
Tip Stack 10-30 shots

Product Photography

Aperture f/8 – f/11
Focus Manual, tethered
DOF Goal Full product sharp
Tip Focus stack if needed

Street Photography

Aperture f/5.6 – f/8
Focus Zone focus / Pre-focus
DOF Goal Safety margin
Tip Pre-focus to 3m at f/8

Architecture (Interior)

Aperture f/8 – f/11
Focus Manual, ⅓ into scene
DOF Goal Corner to corner sharp
Tip Tilt-shift or focus stack

Astrophotography

Aperture f/1.4 – f/2.8
Focus Manual infinity
DOF Goal Stars as points
Tip Use live view magnification

The Aperture Sweet Spot

f/1.4 – f/2.8 Shallow DOF Bokeh, subject isolation. Some softness wide open.
f/4 – f/8 Sweet Spot Peak sharpness. Best balance of DOF and clarity.
f/11 – f/16 Deep DOF More DOF but diffraction starts reducing sharpness.
f/22+ Diffraction Noticeable softening. Avoid unless necessary.
Diffraction limit: Every lens has a maximum useful aperture beyond which diffraction softens the image. For full-frame cameras, this is typically around f/11-f/16. Smaller sensors hit diffraction earlier (f/8 for MFT, f/5.6 for 1" sensors). For the how-to on blur, see Blur the Background and Aperture.

Depth of Field Tips

Practical advice for controlling depth of field in your photography

Increasing DOF (More Sharpness)

  • Use a smaller aperture (higher f-number: f/8, f/11)
  • Use a wider lens (shorter focal length)
  • Move farther from your subject
  • Use a camera with a smaller sensor
  • Focus stack multiple images

Decreasing DOF (More Blur)

  • Use a wider aperture (lower f-number: f/1.4, f/2)
  • Use a longer lens (telephoto)
  • Move closer to your subject
  • Increase subject-to-background distance
  • Use a camera with a larger sensor

Quick Reference

Bokeh not blurry enough? Use wider aperture or longer lens
Landscape not sharp throughout? Focus at hyperfocal distance
Group photo has soft faces? Use f/5.6-f/8, align people in same plane
Macro subject partially soft? Focus stack 10-30 images
Portrait eyes not sharp? Use Eye AF, focus on near eye
Image soft at f/22? Diffraction — use f/8-f/11 instead
Need infinity focus? Focus past hyperfocal distance
Zone focusing for street? Pre-focus to 3m at f/8 (35mm lens)

Depth of Field FAQ

How the calculator works, hyperfocal distance, and when to stack

How is depth of field calculated?

Depth of field is the zone of acceptable sharpness around the focus point. This calculator uses focal length, f-number, focus distance, and the sensor’s circle of confusion to return the near limit, far limit, and total DOF.

What is hyperfocal distance?

Hyperfocal distance is the closest focus that keeps infinity acceptably sharp. Focus there and everything from half that distance to infinity falls inside the depth of field. Use it for landscapes when you want foreground to horizon sharp in one frame.

Why is more depth of field behind the subject than in front?

At typical portrait and landscape distances, depth of field splits about one third in front of the focus point and two thirds behind it. At macro distances the split is closer to 50/50. The calculator reports the exact front and rear amounts for your settings.

What is circle of confusion?

Circle of confusion is the largest blur spot that still looks like a point in a print or on screen. Smaller sensors use a smaller CoC, which is why the same focal length and aperture produce different DOF numbers on full frame versus APS-C or Micro Four Thirds.

When should I focus stack instead of stopping down?

Stack when one frame cannot cover the subject without diffraction. Macro, product, and some landscapes hit that wall around f/11 to f/16 on full frame. Use the stacking planner for shot count, then keep the aperture in the lens’s sweet spot.

Does a crop sensor have more depth of field?

For the same field of view, yes, because the crop body uses a shorter focal length. Match framing and you need to open the aperture by the crop factor to get the same blur as full frame. The sensor table on this page shows the equivalent setups.