PLAN THE SHARPNESS · COMPARE THE TRADEOFFS

Photo Depth of Field Planner

Estimate near and far focus limits, compare lens/aperture choices and test whether a subject range fits inside your chosen sharpness threshold.

1. Lens & scene

Actual focal length (mm)Aperture (f-number)Distance unitFocus distanceNear subject targetFar subject target

CoC starting pointCircle of confusion diameter (mm)

Sensor choices only set an editable CoC assumption. They do not multiply focal length. Acceptable sharpness depends on viewing distance, enlargement and your standards.

Scenario name

2. Sharpness range

Preparing calculation…

Compared distance ranges

Open project

The live result and up to 12 pinned scenarios can be exported. Infinity is explicit in CSV; charts clip long ranges to a labeled finite axis.

Pinned scenarios

Scenario	Lens / f-stop	Focus	Near	Far	Hyperfocal	Target	Actions

Plan a photo in four steps

Enter actual lens focal length, aperture and focus distance. Use the distance unit selector to convert all scene distances together.
Choose an approximate CoC starting point or enter your own criterion. Smaller CoC is a stricter sharpness threshold.
Set near and far subject distances to check coverage, then compare different apertures or saved scenarios.
Export CSV or save/reopen the project. Hyperfocal focus is a planning estimate, not a command sent to your camera.

Model and limits

Simple symmetric thin-lens, paraxial geometry. All calculations use millimeters internally: q = f²/(N × c), H = q + f, near = s × q/(q + s − f), far = s × q/(q − s + f). If the far denominator is zero or negative, the far limit is infinity. Distance s is measured from the lens principal plane in this model; camera focus scales are approximate.

It omits diffraction, motion blur, lens aberrations, focus breathing, pupil magnification, tilted focus planes and sensor sampling. Near macro distances, real lenses can differ substantially. A region inside this range is only acceptably sharp under the selected CoC, not perfectly sharp. This tool cannot guarantee image quality or choose the best aperture for your camera.

References: Nikon aperture guide. Related: Image Resizer & Converter · Batch Image Workbench. Processing stays in your browser; no photos are needed.

Using Photo Depth of Field Planner

Compare modeled depth-of-field ranges using actual focal length, aperture and your own circle-of-confusion criterion.

Set lens, focus distance, units and sharpness criterion.
Enter near/far targets and compare aperture scenarios.
Review limits and export CSV or a saved project.

Example

Start with a 50 mm lens at f/2.8 focused at 3 meters with 0.030 mm CoC.

Questions & answers

Does sensor choice change focal length?

No. The presets only set an editable circle-of-confusion assumption. Enter the actual focal length printed on your lens, not a 35 mm equivalent.

What does infinity mean?

The thin-lens far-limit denominator is zero or negative, so distant points fall inside the chosen blur threshold. It does not mean perfect sharpness.

Can I compare camera settings?

Pin up to 12 scenarios or add a six-aperture comparison. The chart uses a labeled finite distance axis and arrows where ranges extend beyond it.

Is it accurate for macro photography?

It is a simplified symmetric thin-lens estimate. Real macro lenses, pupil magnification and focus breathing can produce different results. Close-focus cases show a warning.

Can I save my work?

Export the comparison as CSV or save/reopen JSON settings and pinned scenarios. No photos are required and nothing is uploaded.