Depth of Field Calculator
Calculate depth of field from aperture, focal length, and subject distance
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About Depth of Field Calculator
Visualize Depth of Field Before You Take the Shot
Depth of field - the range of distance in a photograph that appears acceptably sharp - is one of the most powerful creative tools a photographer has. A shallow depth of field isolates a portrait subject against a dreamy blur. A deep depth of field keeps an entire landscape tack-sharp from foreground to horizon. The Depth of Field Calculator tells you exactly how much of your scene will be in focus at any given aperture, focal length, and subject distance.
Guessing depth of field in the field is unreliable. Your camera viewfinder shows the scene at maximum aperture, not the shooting aperture, so what looks blurry in the viewfinder might actually be sharp in the final image - and vice versa. This calculator removes that uncertainty by giving you precise near and far focus limits.
How the Depth of Field Calculator Works
Enter three values: your lens focal length, your aperture (f-stop), and the distance to your subject. The calculator computes the near focus limit (closest sharp point), the far focus limit (farthest sharp point), and the total depth of field between them. It also shows whether the far limit extends to infinity - meaning everything beyond a certain distance is sharp.
The results depend on your camera sensor size, which the calculator lets you select. A full-frame sensor, APS-C crop sensor, and Micro Four Thirds sensor all produce different depths of field at the same settings because of the crop factor and its relationship to circle of confusion. Choosing the right sensor size makes the calculation accurate for your specific camera.
Who Relies on This Calculator
Portrait photographers who want to nail subject isolation. Shooting a headshot at 85mm f/1.8 from 6 feet, the depth of field is about 3 inches - enough for the eyes to be sharp but the ears slightly soft. Knowing this helps you position the subject and choose your focus point precisely.
Landscape photographers who need everything sharp. At 24mm f/11 focused at 5 feet, is the foreground flower at 3 feet within the depth of field? The calculator tells you instantly, so you can decide whether to stop down further or adjust your focus distance.
Macro photographers where depth of field is measured in millimeters. At 100mm f/8 focused at 12 inches, the total sharp range might be less than half an inch. That kind of precision demands calculation, not guesswork.
Practical Depth of Field Scenarios
You are shooting a group photo with 15 people arranged in three rows. The front row is 10 feet away and the back row is 14 feet away. At 50mm f/5.6, the depth of field calculator shows a sharp range from about 8.5 feet to 17 feet - everyone is covered. But if you opened to f/2.8 for more background blur, the sharp range shrinks to 9-11.5 feet, and the back row goes soft. Now you know to stay at f/5.6 or smaller for this shot.
Photographing a product on a table at 60mm f/4 from 2 feet? The depth of field is only about 1.5 inches. If the product is 3 inches deep, you either need to stop down to f/8 or use focus stacking. The calculator makes this clear before you shoot rather than after you have packed everything up.
Depth of Field Tips
Focus one-third into the scene for maximum depth of field efficiency. The sharp zone extends roughly one-third in front of and two-thirds behind the focus point. This rule of thumb, combined with the calculator, helps you place your focus point optimally.
Smaller apertures (larger f-numbers) give more depth of field, but diffraction starts softening the image beyond f/11 on most cameras. The calculator shows the theoretical depth of field at f/22, but in practice, the overall sharpness suffers. Find the balance for your lens.
Distance to subject has a massive effect. Doubling the subject distance roughly quadruples the depth of field. If shallow depth of field is your goal, get as close as your composition allows.
Use the calculator when planning focus stacking for macro or product work. Each frame needs to overlap with the previous one in its sharp zone. The calculator tells you the depth of field per frame, so you know how much to shift focus between shots.
Everything is calculated in your browser - instant, private, and free. Check your depth of field before pressing the shutter and get the focus exactly where you want it.