Depth of Field Calculator
Calculate the depth of field for any camera, lens, and shooting distance. Enter your settings and get instant DOF results — near limit, far limit, and total depth of field.
✓ Free · ✓ No upload · ✓ Works offline in your browser
Results
Near Focus Limit
2.74 m
Far Focus Limit
3.32 m
Total Depth of Field
0.58 m
Hyperfocal Distance
30.84 m
Settings: 50mm · f/2.8 · 3m · Full Frame (35mm)
CoC: 0.029mm
Understanding Depth of Field
Depth of field is one of the most creative controls in photography. A shallow DOF isolates your subject from the background — perfect for portraits, product photography, and macro shots. A deep DOF keeps the entire scene in focus, ideal for landscapes and architecture.
This depth of field calculator uses the standard photographic DOF formula: Near Limit = (s × f²) / (f² + N × CoC × (s − f)) and Far Limit = (s × f²) / (f² − N × CoC × (s − f)), where s is subject distance, f is focal length, N is f-stop, and CoC is the circle of confusion for your sensor.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is depth of field in photography?
Depth of field (DOF) is the range of distance in a photo that appears acceptably sharp. A shallow depth of field blurs the background (popular in portraits), while a deep depth of field keeps everything sharp (common in landscape photography).
What affects depth of field?
Three factors control DOF: aperture (wider aperture = shallower DOF), focal length (longer lens = shallower DOF), and subject distance (closer subject = shallower DOF). Sensor size also matters — larger sensors produce shallower DOF at the same settings.
How do I get shallow depth of field?
Use a wide aperture (low f-stop number like f/1.8 or f/2.8), a longer focal length (85mm or above), get close to your subject, and use a camera with a larger sensor (full-frame).
What is the circle of confusion?
The circle of confusion (CoC) is the largest blur spot that still appears sharp to the human eye in a final print. It depends on sensor size and is used in all DOF calculations. Our calculator uses standard CoC values for each sensor size.
How accurate is this DOF calculator?
The calculator uses the standard photographic depth of field formula based on circle of confusion, focal length, aperture, and subject distance. Results match professional DOF calculators and are accurate for practical photography use.