Camera
Depth of Field Calculator
Near, far, total depth of field and hyperfocal distance for any sensor, focal length and aperture.
Runs entirely in your browser. Nothing is uploaded.
How to use
- Pick your camera's sensor size from the dropdown.
- Enter the focal length of the lens you are using.
- Set the aperture (f-stop) you plan to shoot at.
- Enter the distance from the camera to your subject.
- Read the near limit, far limit, and total depth of field instantly.
Examples
- A 50mm at f/2.8 on Super 35 with a subject at 3m gives a shallow, cinematic depth of roughly 40cm front to back, ideal for a clean single.
- A 24mm at f/8 on Full Frame with a subject at 5m holds nearly everything sharp from a couple of metres to infinity, a documentary or landscape look.
- An 85mm at f/1.4 for a portrait at 2m leaves only a few centimetres in focus, so pull focus carefully or the eyes drift soft.
Frequently asked questions
Does sensor size change depth of field?
Yes. A smaller sensor needs a shorter focal length for the same field of view, which increases depth of field. That is why phone cameras keep almost everything sharp and large-format cinema cameras give such shallow focus at the same framing.
What is hyperfocal distance?
It is the closest focus distance at which everything from half that distance out to infinity is acceptably sharp. Focus there and you maximise depth without losing the horizon, a standard trick for wide landscape and establishing shots.
Is the acceptably sharp range exact?
Depth of field depends on a circle-of-confusion value, how much blur reads as sharp at normal viewing size. This tool uses a standard value per sensor format, so treat the numbers as a reliable guide and confirm critical focus on a monitor.
