What is depth of field in photography?

It's the range of distance in a photo that appears acceptably sharp, determined by aperture, focal length, focus distance, and sensor size.

How does aperture affect depth of field?

A wider aperture (smaller f-number, like f/1.8) creates a shallower depth of field with more background blur; a narrower aperture (larger f-number, like f/11) keeps more of the scene in focus.

Does focal length affect depth of field too?

Yes — longer focal lengths (telephoto) produce a shallower depth of field than wide-angle lenses at the same aperture and distance.

Depth of Field Calculator - CalculatorLabs.net

Depth of Field Calculator

Depth of field is the zone in a photo that appears acceptably sharp, in front of and behind your exact focus point.

Focal Length (mm)

Aperture (f-number)

Subject Distance (m)

Circle of Confusion (mm)

Instant Result

Hyperfocal Distance -

Near Focus Limit -

Far Focus Limit -

Total Depth of Field -

What Is a Photography Depth of Field Calculator?

Depth of field is the zone in a photo that appears acceptably sharp, in front of and behind your exact focus point. It depends on the lens's focal length, the aperture (f-number), and how far away your subject is. This calculator finds the hyperfocal distance and the near and far limits of sharp focus.

How to Use This Photography Depth of Field Calculator

Enter your lens's focal length in millimeters.
Enter the aperture you're shooting at (f-number, e.g. 8 for f/8).
Enter the distance to your subject in meters.
Enter the circle of confusion for your camera's sensor (0.03mm is standard for full-frame; smaller sensors use a smaller value, like 0.02mm for APS-C).
Click Calculate to get the hyperfocal distance and the near and far limits of your depth of field.

Formula

Hyperfocal Distance H = f²/(N×c) + f
Near Limit = (H×D)/(H+(D−f))
Far Limit = (H×D)/(H−(D−f)), or infinity if D ≥ H

Worked Example

A 50mm lens at f/8, focused on a subject 5m away, full-frame sensor (c=0.03mm). Hyperfocal Distance ≈ 10.47 m. Since the subject distance (5m) is less than the hyperfocal distance, focus extends on both sides: Near Limit ≈ 3.39 m and Far Limit ≈ 9.49 m — a fairly generous zone of sharp focus, about 6.1 m deep.