Depth of Field
Understanding Depth of Field (DoF)
Depth of Field refers to the zone of acceptable sharpness within a photo that will appear in focus. In every picture, there is a point of optimum focus, and a zone in front of and behind that point that will also appear sharp.
Factors Affecting DoF
- Aperture (f-stop): Larger aperture (lower f-number like f/1.8) = Shallow Depth of Field (Background blur). Smaller aperture (f/16) = Deep Depth of Field.
- Focal Length: Longer lenses (Telephoto) compress the background and reduce DoF. Wide lenses increase doF.
- Distance: The closer you are to the subject, the shallower the DoF.
Hyperfocal Distance
This is the closest distance at which a lens can be focused while keeping objects at infinity acceptably sharp. Focusing at this distance gives you the maximum possible depth of field.
FAQ
What is Bokeh?
Bokeh is the aesthetic quality of the blur produced in the out-of-focus parts of an image. It is defined by the lens design.