Depth of field

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Definition

The zone in acceptable focus in front of and behind the focus point.

Advanced

Depth of field is affected by aperture, focal length, subject distance, and sensor size. Wider apertures and longer focal lengths reduce it; stopping down and stepping back increase it.

Why it matters

Directs viewer attention and determines how much of a scene is sharp.

Use cases

  • Isolating a subject in portraits
  • Ensuring full product sharpness for e-commerce
  • Group photos where all faces must be in focus

Metrics

  • Shallow: f/1.4 to f/2.8 at close distance
  • Deep: f/8 to f/16 for products or landscapes

Issues

  • Out-of-focus eyes in portraits
  • Background distractions when the depth of field is too deep

Example

Shooting a three-person team portrait at f/4 and increasing distance to keep all faces sharp.