Depth of field calculator

Depth of field is the range of distance that looks sharp. It grows with smaller apertures, shorter lenses and greater distances.

Your answer

Depth of field4.2 ft
Hyperfocal distance49 ft
Near limit8.32 ft
Far limit12.52 ft
Circle of confusion0.03 mm

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How we worked it out

Updated as you change the numbers.

  1. Hyperfocal H = f² ÷ (N × c) + f. Near = s(H − f) ÷ (H + s − 2f). Far = s(H − f) ÷ (H − s), or infinity if s ≥ H.

Method and assumptions

The circle of confusion is the blur that still looks sharp in a print viewed normally: the sensor diagonal ÷ 1,442 (0.030 mm for full frame). Focusing at the hyperfocal distance makes everything from half that distance to infinity acceptably sharp.

Questions

What is the depth of field of a 50 mm lens at f/5.6 focused at 10 ft on full frame?

About 4.2 ft, from about 8.3 to 12.5 ft.

Sources

Method and figures checked on . Every worked answer on this page is covered by an automated test. Found a mistake? Tell us.

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