Depth of Field Calculator: Free DoF Tool for Filmmakers & PhotographersDepth of Field

Depth of field is the distance range in front of and behind the focus point that appears acceptably sharp in an image. A shallow DoF isolates the subject with a blurred background (bokeh), while a deep DoF keeps more of the scene in focus. It is controlled by aperture, focal length, and the distance between the camera and subject.

The circle of confusion is the maximum diameter of a blur spot on the sensor that still appears acceptably sharp to the human eye. It varies by sensor size, and larger sensors have a larger acceptable CoC. For full-frame (35mm) sensors it is typically 0.030mm, while Super 35 cinema sensors use approximately 0.019mm.

The hyperfocal distance is the focus distance at which everything from half that distance to infinity appears acceptably sharp. Focusing at the hyperfocal distance maximizes overall depth of field, which is especially useful in landscape photography and wide-angle cinematography.

Larger sensors produce a shallower depth of field at the same field of view and aperture. This is because you need a longer focal length on a larger sensor to match the same framing, and longer focal lengths reduce DoF. A full-frame sensor gives noticeably shallower DoF than Micro Four Thirds or Super 16 at the same composition.

Crop factor describes how much smaller a sensor is compared to full-frame 35mm. A 1.5× crop sensor (APS-C) has a field of view equivalent to 1.5× the focal length on full frame. To match the same framing, you use a shorter lens, which increases depth of field. So smaller sensors (higher crop factor) tend to have deeper DoF at the same framing and aperture.

The three main factors are: (1) Aperture: wider apertures (lower f-numbers like f/1.4) produce shallower DoF; (2) Focal length: longer focal lengths compress perspective and reduce DoF; (3) Subject distance: the closer you focus, the shallower the depth of field. Sensor size also plays a role because it influences the focal length needed for a given field of view.

At a focus distance of 3 meters, a 50mm f/1.4 on a full-frame sensor produces approximately 24cm of depth of field (roughly 2.92m to 3.08m in focus). At 5 meters, DoF increases to about 66cm. At 1.5 meters (a typical headshot distance), DoF shrinks to just 6cm, so precise focus is critical for portraits at wide apertures.

For landscapes, f/8 to f/11 on full frame typically provides excellent sharpness across the frame. Focus at the hyperfocal distance (which you can calculate above) to maximize depth of field from foreground to infinity. For example, a 24mm lens at f/8 on full frame has a hyperfocal distance of about 2.4m, and focusing there keeps everything from 1.2m to infinity sharp.

At the same framing and aperture, a Super 35 sensor (~1.4× crop) produces approximately 1 stop more depth of field than full frame. To match the shallow DoF of a 50mm f/2 on full frame, you would need roughly a 35mm f/1.4 on Super 35. This is why full-frame cinema cameras like the Sony Venice are popular for shallow-focus work.

Bokeh refers to the aesthetic quality of the out-of-focus areas in an image. It is a direct result of shallow depth of field. Factors that enhance bokeh include wider apertures from f/1.2 to f/2, longer focal lengths, and closer focus distances. The shape and smoothness of bokeh are influenced by the lens design, particularly the number and shape of aperture blades.