Chapter 8: Depth of Field

The depth of field is the distance between the nearest and furthest in-focus objects in an image. A narrow depth of field will have a very narrow area in which objects will be in focus. A wide (or large) depth of field will put most elements of the image in focus.  

 

 Depth of field is influenced by several camera settings including aperture (f-stop) and the lens focal length . 

 Lower f-stop settings (f/1.2 - f/2.8) have shallow depths of field . 

 Higher f-stop settings (f/11 - f/32) have wider depths of field . 

 Longer focal lengths (like the 105mm setting on the Canon EF 24-105mm lens) will have a shallow depth of field . 

 Shorter focal lengths (like the 24mm setting on the Canon EF 24-105mm lens) will have a wider depth of field . 

 Turning the  focus ring on the lens will adjust the position of the in-focus area, or  focal point .   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Shallow Depth of Field Aperture = f/1.4. DOF = 0.8 cm 

 

 Medium Depth of Field 

 Aperture = f/4.0. DOF = 2.2 cm 

 

 Wide Depth of Field Aperture = f/22. DOF = 12.4 cm 

 

 

 

 

 The camera's  distance to the subject can also influence depth of field . 

 The depth of field will be wider when the camera is focused on more distant subjects . 

 The depth of field will be shallower when the camera is focused on closer subjects .