Depth of Field (DoF) Table

A depth of field (DoF) table lists near limit, far limit, hyperfocal distance, and total DoF across every selected aperture and focus distance for a chosen camera sensor and lens focal length. Generating the full grid at once replaces one-at-a-time calculations with a single lookup table suited to print or save for field reference.

• Sensor and film format presets set the circle of confusion used in every calculation; a custom circle of confusion in millimeters covers any unlisted sensor.
• Focal length is entered in millimeters, accepting fractions (3/4), mixed numbers (1 1/2), decimals, and scientific notation.
• A distance unit, feet, meters, inches, or centimeters, applies to both the inputs and the table's output.
• Each selected f-stop becomes a column in the table; standard full-stop values from f/1.4 through f/32 are available.
• Distances are entered as a comma-separated list, and each value becomes a row; any number of distances in any order is accepted.
• Settings toggle the hyperfocal row, switch the table between total DoF, near and far limits, or all three values, and adjust decimal precision.

Each cell uses H = f² / (N × c) + f for hyperfocal distance, with the near limit Dn = s × (H - f) / (H + s - 2f) and the far limit Df = s × (H - f) / (H - s). When the focus distance reaches or exceeds the hyperfocal point, the far limit becomes infinity and the near limit settles at H/2.

For a 50mm lens at f/8 with a typical full-frame circle of confusion of 0.03mm, one cell of the table computes H = 50² / (8 × 0.03) + 50 = 2500 / 0.24 + 50 = 10,467mm, about 10.5 meters. Focusing at that distance places the near limit at H/2, roughly 5.2 meters, with the far limit extending to infinity, the same row-and-column relationship the table lays out for every aperture and distance combination selected.

Depth of field tables serve photographers, cinematographers, educators, and optical engineers who need quick, reliable focus zone references. A complete table eliminates repetitive single calculations and supports faster on-set decisions.

• Landscape Photography: Determine which aperture keeps both foreground rocks at 5 feet and a distant mountain range acceptably sharp. The printed table works well taped to a lens hood for quick field reference.
• Portrait Photography: Compare how shallow the depth of field becomes at f/1.4 versus f/2.8 when shooting headshots at 6 feet, to decide which aperture isolates the subject while keeping both eyes in focus.
• Cinematography: Plan focus pulls by reviewing near and far limits at every marked focus distance on a lens barrel, confirming that actors moving within a scene stay within the acceptable focus zone.
• Education: Teach students how aperture, focal length, and subject distance interact to control depth of field. Tables generated across focal lengths illustrate the relationships visually.
• Product Photography: Calculate the exact aperture needed to keep an entire product sharp at close range, finding the minimum f-stop that covers the product's depth without diffraction softening.
• Astrophotography: Verify hyperfocal distances for wide-angle lenses used in night sky photography, confirming that stars at infinity and foreground elements remain within the depth of field at wide apertures.
• Lens Comparison: Generate tables for multiple focal lengths to compare depth of field characteristics when choosing between lenses for a specific assignment.