5-Depth of Field

What is 'depth of field'?
A camera can only focus its lens at a single point, but there will be an area that stretches in
front of and behind this focus point that still appears sharp. This zone is known as the depth
of field. It's not a fixed distance, it changes in size and can be described as either 'shallow'
(where only a narrow zone appears sharp) or deep (where more of the picture appears
sharp).
How does aperture control depth of field?

Aperture refers to the access given to light from the lens to the camera sensors. The size of
your aperture (the diameter of the hole through which light enters the camera) controls the
amount of light entering your lens. Using the aperture (f-stop) of your lens is the simplest
way to control your depth of field as you set up your shot.
Large aperture = Small f-number = Shallow (small) depth of field

Small aperture = Larger f-number = Deeper (larger) depth of field
It may be easier to remember this simple concept: The lower your f-number, the smaller
your depth of field. Likewise, the higher your f-number, the larger your depth of field. For
example, using a setting of f/2.8 will produce a very shallow depth of field while f/11 will
produce a deeper DoF.
How does distance control depth of field?

The closer your subject is to the camera, the shallower your depth of field becomes.
Therefore, moving further away from your subject will deepen your depth of field.
How does the focal length of a lens control depth of field?

Focal Length refers to the capability of a lens to magnify the image of a distant subject. This
can get complicated, but the simple answer is that the longer you set your focal length the
shallower the depth of field. Example: Your subject is 10 meters (33 feet) away, using a focal
length of 50mm at f/4; your depth of field range would be from 7.5 -14.7 meters (24.6-48
feet) for a total DOF of 7.2 meters (23.6 feet). If you zoom into 100mm from the same spot,
the depth of field changes to 9.2-10.9m (30.1-35.8′) for a total of 1.7m (5.7′) of depth of
field. But if you move to 20m (66′) away from your subject using the 100mm lens, your
depth of field is almost the same as it would be at 10 meters using a 50mm lens.
When should I use a shallow depth of field?

Using a shallow depth of field is a good way to make your subject stand out from its
background and is great for portrait photography. Shallow DoF can also be useful in wildlife
photography, where you want the subject to stand out from its surroundings. This is also
useful because many wildlife photo opportunities are low light situations, and increasing
your aperture size will give you more light. Shallow depth of field is also effective for sports
photography where many times you want to separate the athlete from the background to
bring attention to them. The result of this should also help give you a fast enough shutter
speed to freeze the action.
When should I use deeper depth of field?

In landscape photography it is important to get as much of your scene in focus as possible.
By using a wide angle lens and a small aperture you will be able maximize your depth of
field to get your scene in focus.
https://digital-photography-school.com/understanding-depth-field-beginners/
Increase depth of field
• Narrow your aperture (larger f-number)

• Move farther from the subject
• Shorten focal length
Decrease depth of field
• Widen your aperture (smaller f-number)

• Move closer to the subject
• Lengthen your focal length
Take control of your depth of field. Understanding how these adjustments control your it
will greatly improve your photography. What questions do you have about depth of field?
Please share your photos and comments.
How does the type of camera affect depth of field?

It's the size of the imaging sensor inside the camera that makes the difference. The larger
the sensor, the shallower the depth of field will be at a given aperture. This is because you'll
need to use a longer focal length or be physically closer to a subject in order to achieve the
same image size as you get using a camera with a smaller sensor - and remember the effect
that focusing closer has on depth of field. This is why a full-frame camera produces a much
shallower depth of field than an APS-C DSLR or compact system camera (CSC) at equivalent
focal lengths and apertures. Is it true that longer lenses produce a shallower depth of field?
https://digital-photography-school.com/understanding-depth-field-beginners/

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What is 'depth of field'?

How does aperture control depth of field?

Large aperture = Small f-number = Shallow (small) depth of field

How does distance control depth of field?

How does the focal length of a lens control depth of field?

When should I use a shallow depth of field?

When should I use deeper depth of field?

• Narrow your aperture (larger f-number)

Decrease depth of field

• Widen your aperture (smaller f-number)

How does the type of camera affect depth of field?

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