A depth of field calculator determines the range of distance in a photograph that appears acceptably sharp. Enter your focal length, aperture, subject distance, and sensor size to instantly see the near focus limit, far focus limit, total depth of field, and hyperfocal distance. Essential for portrait, landscape, and macro photographers who want precise control over background blur and sharpness.
Camera Settings
Results
How to Use the Depth of Field Calculator
Understanding depth of field is one of the most important skills in photography. Whether you are shooting portraits with creamy background blur or landscapes where everything from foreground to horizon must be tack-sharp, knowing the exact range of acceptable focus helps you choose the right settings before pressing the shutter.
Step 1: Enter Your Focal Length
Type the focal length of your lens in millimeters. Common values include 35 for street photography, 50 for general-purpose shooting, 85 for portraits, and 200 for telephoto work. Longer focal lengths produce shallower depth of field at the same aperture and distance.
Step 2: Select Your Aperture
Choose your f-stop from the dropdown. Wider apertures like f/1.4 or f/2 give you a very thin plane of focus with maximum background blur, while narrower apertures like f/11 or f/16 keep much more of the scene sharp. This depth of field calculator shows the exact impact of each stop.
Step 3: Set Your Subject Distance
Enter how far your subject is from the camera. You can use feet or meters — toggle the unit selector to match your preference. Closer subjects always produce shallower DoF, which is why macro photography has an extremely thin focus plane even at narrow apertures.
Step 4: Choose Your Sensor Size
Select your camera's sensor format. Full frame (35mm) sensors use a circle of confusion of 0.03mm, APS-C crop sensors use 0.02mm, and Micro Four Thirds uses 0.015mm. Smaller sensors effectively produce a deeper DoF at equivalent focal lengths because of their smaller CoC value.
Step 5: Read the Results
The results panel shows the near focus limit, far focus limit, total depth of field, and hyperfocal distance. The visual focus zone bar illustrates where the sharp region falls relative to your subject, and the percentage split tells you how much DoF is in front of versus behind the focus point. Use these numbers to plan your shots confidently.
FAQ
Is this depth of field calculator free?
Yes, this DoF calculator is completely free with no account, login, or signup required. All calculations run instantly in your browser and no data is sent to any server.
Is my data private when using this tool?
Absolutely. Everything runs locally in your browser. No camera settings or calculations are transmitted, stored, or logged anywhere. You can use it offline once the page has loaded.
What is depth of field in photography?
Depth of field (DoF) is the range of distance in a scene that appears acceptably sharp in a photograph. A shallow DoF blurs the background (great for portraits), while a deep DoF keeps everything sharp (ideal for landscapes).
How does aperture affect depth of field?
A wider aperture (lower f-number like f/1.4 or f/2) produces a shallower depth of field with more background blur. A narrower aperture (higher f-number like f/11 or f/16) produces a deeper depth of field, keeping more of the scene in focus.
What is hyperfocal distance?
Hyperfocal distance is the closest focusing distance at which everything from half that distance to infinity is acceptably sharp. Landscape photographers use it to maximize sharpness throughout a scene by focusing at the hyperfocal point.
What is the circle of confusion?
The circle of confusion (CoC) is the maximum size a point of light can be blurred and still appear sharp to the human eye. It varies by sensor size: 0.03mm for full frame, 0.02mm for APS-C, and 0.015mm for Micro Four Thirds cameras.
Does focal length affect depth of field?
Yes, longer focal lengths produce a shallower depth of field at the same aperture and subject distance. A 200mm lens at f/4 has a much thinner sharp zone than a 35mm lens at f/4, which is why telephoto lenses create stronger background blur.
How do I get maximum background blur (bokeh)?
Use the widest aperture your lens allows (e.g., f/1.4 or f/1.8), choose a longer focal length, get closer to your subject, and increase the distance between your subject and the background. This calculator helps you preview the exact DoF for your setup.