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What is this?

Depth of field (DoF) is the range of distance in your photo that appears acceptably sharp. A shallow DoF blurs the background behind your subject, while a deep DoF keeps everything from foreground to horizon in focus. Controlling DoF is one of the most powerful creative tools in photography.

How it works

Depth of field is governed by the circle of confusion (CoC) — the largest blur spot on the sensor that still looks sharp to the human eye. Three physical factors determine DoF: focal length, aperture, and subject distance. A wider aperture (lower f-number) produces a shallower DoF because the lens converges light at steeper angles, causing out-of-focus points to spread into larger circles on the sensor. Longer focal lengths magnify the image, which also magnifies the blur circles, narrowing the DoF. Moving closer to your subject reduces DoF for the same reason — the relative difference in distance between the subject and background becomes greater. The hyperfocal distance is the focus distance at which DoF extends from half that distance to infinity, maximizing sharpness across the entire scene.

Key factors

Aperture — Wider apertures (f/1.4-f/2.8) create shallow DoF with creamy bokeh. Narrower apertures (f/8-f/16) increase sharpness throughout the scene.

Focal Length — Longer lenses compress perspective and narrow DoF at the same aperture and framing. A 200mm lens at f/4 has far less DoF than a 35mm lens at f/4.

Subject Distance — The closer you focus, the shallower the DoF. Macro photographers often work with DoF measured in millimeters.

Sensor Size — Larger sensors require longer focal lengths for the same framing, which indirectly narrows DoF. A full-frame camera produces shallower DoF than a Micro Four Thirds camera at equivalent framing.

Pro Tip

For group portraits, use f/5.6 or narrower and have everyone stand in the same focal plane. Even one person half a step forward can fall out of focus at wide apertures.

Pro Tip

When shooting landscapes, focus at the hyperfocal distance rather than at infinity. This maximizes the zone of sharpness from the near foreground to the far background.

Pro Tip

If you want maximum background blur for a portrait, increase your focal length and get as close to your subject as framing allows — both changes stack to reduce DoF dramatically.

⚡Challengebeginner

You are shooting a portrait and want a beautifully blurred background. Which aperture should you choose?

Hint: Lower f-numbers mean a wider lens opening and more background blur.

Settings

Focal Length

Aperture

Subject Distance: 3.00 m

Sensor

Results

Near Focus2.73 m

Far Focus3.33 m

Total DoF60 cm

Hyperfocal29.81 m

Depth of Field Calculator

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