Depth of Field Calculators

Depth of field (DOF) is the zone of acceptable sharpness in front of and behind the point of focus. It is determined by four factors: aperture, focal length, subject distance, and the circle of confusion for your sensor. A wider aperture (smaller f-number) produces shallower depth of field, while a narrower aperture increases it.

The standard DOF formula calculates near and far focus limits using: DOF = 2 × u × N × c / f², where u is the subject distance, N is the f-number, c is the circle of confusion, and f is the focal length. This approximation works well for normal shooting distances but breaks down at macro ranges where magnification-based formulas are more accurate.

Hyperfocal distance is the focus distance that maximises depth of field for a given aperture and focal length. When focused at the hyperfocal distance, everything from half that distance to infinity falls within acceptable sharpness. Landscape photographers use this extensively to ensure both foreground and background are sharp.

For macro and product photography, depth of field becomes extremely shallow. Focus stacking combines multiple images focused at different distances to achieve sharpness throughout the subject. Our calculators help you plan the number of frames and focus increments needed for complete coverage.