Depth Of Field Calculator

Depth of Field is of great importance in all genres of photography so it’s well worth understanding how to make full use of Depth of Field whatever your genre of photography may be.

Powered by Photopills, this Depth Of Field calculator will allow you to work out your settings to achieve your desired depth of field

Instructions for use below the calculator.

How To Use

Select Your Camera: This will determine your sensor size. If you can’t find your camera within the list, select a model from the same range by the same manufacturer. A full frame camera from Nikon for example has the same size sensor as any from their full frame range.

Focal Length: Choose the focal length you are going to shoot at. (If using a teleconverter, don’t convert the focal length at this point, change it using the option for ‘Teleconverter’)

Select The Aperture: Choose the f/stop number you wish to shoot at.

Subject Distance: Choose the distance to the most important aspect of your scene, use the drop down menu to change the units of measurement.

Teleconverter: If you have a teleconverter attached use the drop down to select the magnification.

Understanding The Results

The first ‘Hyperfocal’ readings disregard the distance to subject you have inputted and instead give you a recommended distance at which to focus based on the camera sensor, focal length and aperture information you have given. By following this guidance you will be able to deliver acceptable sharpness from the Hyperfocal Near Limit through to infinity.

Hyperfocal Distance: This gives you a recommended distance to focus at in order to achieve acceptable sharpness from the hyperfocal near limit (below) through to infinity.

Hyperfocal Near Limit: If you were to focus at the distance recommended by hyperfocal distance (above), then this is the nearest point from which you would have acceptable sharpness.

The following readings are based on you continuing to focus at the subject distance you have inputted.

DoF Near Limit: This is the closest distance you would achieve acceptable sharpness.

DoF Far Limit: This is the furthest distance you would achieve acceptable sharpness.

Depth of Field: The total distance of the depth of field from near limit to far limit.

Depth of Field In Front: How far in front (towards the camera) of the subject you will achieve acceptable sharpness.

Depth of Field Behind: How far behind (away from camera) the subject you will achieve acceptable sharpness.

Need more depth of field? Try changing your aperture or focal length and see how the results change.