Free Depth of Field & Hyperfocal Calculator
Calculate near and far focus limits, hyperfocal distance for infinity landscape sharpness, and total depth of field in meters and feet.
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🔍 Optical Depth of Field
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Mastering Depth of Field & Hyperfocal Distance
Depth of field (DoF) is the distance between the nearest and farthest objects in a scene that appear acceptably sharp in an image. It is governed by four variables: lens focal length ($f$), aperture f-number ($N$), subject distance ($s$), and the sensor's optical Circle of Confusion (CoC).
Hyperfocal Distance Explained
In landscape photography, setting focus to the hyperfocal distance ($H = f^2 / (N imes c)$) renders everything from half the hyperfocal distance ($H / 2$) all the way to infinity ($infty$) in acceptable focus. You never have to worry about blurry mountains or soft foreground rocks.
The 1/3 - 2/3 Rule Myth
Photography folklore claims that DoF is always 1/3 in front of the subject and 2/3 behind. In reality, this ratio only occurs at intermediate distances; for close-up portraits and macro, the distribution approaches 50% / 50%, whereas for landscape focus near hyperfocal, it extends infinitely behind.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Circle of Confusion (CoC)?
CoC is the maximum diameter of an out-of-focus light spot on the camera sensor that still appears as a single sharp pinpoint to the human eye when viewed on an 8×10 print. Standard CoC is 0.030mm for Full Frame, 0.020mm for APS-C, and 0.015mm for Micro Four Thirds.
Why do smartphone cameras have almost infinite depth of field?
Because smartphone sensors are physically tiny (~1/1.3" or smaller), their actual focal lengths are very short (e.g. 6.8mm to produce a 24mm equivalent field of view). Short physical focal lengths produce enormous depth of field, making creamy optical bokeh impossible without software computational portrait mode.
Does changing from an f/1.4 lens to an f/2.8 lens double the depth of field?
Yes, stopping down by two full stops (from f/1.4 to f/2.8) roughly doubles the depth of field, bringing more of your subject's face or product into sharp focus.