Depth of field calculator
Find how much of the scene is in acceptable focus for your camera, lens, stop and focus distance. The result shows the near and far limits, the total depth of field, how much of it falls in front of and behind the focus point, and the hyperfocal distance.
Because the calculator uses the recording area of the camera you select, a 35 mm lens on an ALEXA 35 and on a full frame camera give different, correct results.
How to use it
- Camera: choose the camera and mode. Its recording area sets the default circle of confusion.
- Focal length and stop: enter any value, including stops between full stops such as T2.2 or T3.2.
- Focus distance: measured from the sensor plane mark on the camera body, in meters or feet.
- Circle of confusion: defaults to the sensor diagonal ÷ 1500. Lower it for critical focus or very large screens.
Example
A 35 mm lens at T2.8 focused at 3 m on a full frame camera (circle of confusion 0.029 mm) holds focus from about 2.51 m to 3.73 m, a total depth of field of about 1.22 m. The hyperfocal distance is about 15.2 m.
Good to know
Depth of field is calculated with the f-number. T-stops include lens transmission loss, so the true depth of field is very slightly greater than shown; the difference is small for most cinema lenses.