What is depth of field?

Depth of field is the range of distances in a scene that appear acceptably sharp in a photograph. Everything inside this zone is within the circle of confusion threshold for the chosen output size.

What is hyperfocal distance?

Hyperfocal distance is the closest focus distance at which objects from half that distance to infinity all fall within the depth of field. Focusing at hyperfocal distance maximizes the zone of sharpness.

What is circle of confusion (CoC)?

The circle of confusion is the maximum diameter of a blur spot that still looks like a point to the human eye at a standard viewing distance. It depends on sensor size: roughly sensor diagonal divided by 1500 is a common approximation.

Does sensor format affect depth of field?

Yes. Smaller sensors have a smaller CoC, which produces a smaller depth of field at the same equivalent field of view — or a larger DOF at the same physical focal length and aperture. Full-frame sensors have the shallowest DOF for a given scene composition.

Why does the far limit show "Infinity"?

When the subject distance exceeds hyperfocal distance, the far limit of the depth of field extends to infinity. Everything from the near limit onward is acceptably sharp.

How accurate are these results?

Results are calculated from the standard thin-lens DOF formula using diffraction-limited CoC values. Real lenses may show slight deviations due to aberrations, focus breathing, or exact CoC definitions that differ by camera body.

Depth of Field Calculator

Name: Depth of Field Calculator
Availability: InStock
Author: Nham Vu

Enter aperture, focal length, subject distance, and sensor format to get near/far focus limits, total depth of field, and hyperfocal distance.

Camera Settings

Sensor / Film Format

Focal Length (mm)

Aperture (f-number)

Enter as a number: 1.4, 2.8, 5.6, 8, 11…

Subject Distance

Fill in your camera settings and click Calculate DOF.

Summary

Enter aperture, focal length, subject distance, and sensor format to get near/far focus limits, total depth of field, and hyperfocal distance.

How it works

Select your sensor or film format from the preset list, or enter a custom circle of confusion.
Enter your lens focal length in millimeters.
Enter your aperture as an f-number (e.g. 2.8, 8, 16).
Enter the distance from the camera to your subject.
Choose distance units (meters or feet).
Read the near limit, far limit, total DOF, and hyperfocal distance in the results panel.

Use cases

Plan landscape shots at hyperfocal distance to maximize front-to-back sharpness.
Determine whether a subject at a given distance will be in focus with your chosen aperture.
Compare DOF across sensor formats — see how APS-C differs from full-frame at the same settings.
Set focus for street or event photography before the action starts.
Understand how stopping down expands depth of field for macro or product shots.
Teach students the relationship between aperture, focal length, and focus zone.

Frequently Asked Questions

Last updated: 2026-06-11 · Reviewed by Nham Vu