Depth of Field and Hyperfocal

 

Summary

• Foreword
• Classical method
• Method for some digital cameras
• Some examples
• Tamron SP 150-600 G2
• Nikkor AF-S 18-70 f3.5-4.5
• Nikkor AF-S 18-105 f3.5-6.5
• Sigma 70-300 mm APO DG MACRO
• French references

 

Foreword

The circle of confusion (CoC) defines how far out of focus a point must be to be perceived by a person of normal visual ability.

The hyperfocal length is the minimum distance at which it is possible to focus while keeping objects at infinity in acceptable sharpness.
Focusing at this distance provides the widest acceptable range of sharpness, from half this distance to ∞.
The hyperfocal distance is the distance beyond which all objects have an acceptable sharpness. (source : Wikipedia)

hyperfocal = f² / (aperture * CoC)

Classical method

According to some tests, the practical results are wrong.
CoCs went from the days of film and no longer fit to the different formats and definitions of digital sensors.
A CoC correction factor (determined experimentally) was introduced.
It is such that the CoC is multiplied by 1.5.
Perform real tests after using the calculation results (without and with correction).

Format (CoC in mm)	APS (0,025) 24x36 mm (0,03) 6x4,5 cm (0,05) 6x6 cm (0,06) 6x7 cm (0,065) 5x4 inch (0,15) 10x8 inch (0,3) CdC = 0.020 mm CdC = 0.030 mm CdC = 0.035 mm CdC = 0.040 mm CdC = 0.045 mm CdC = 0.050 mm CdC = 0.055 mm CdC = 0.060 mm CdC = 0.065 mm CdC = 0.070 mm CdC = 0.075 mm CdC = 0.080 mm CdC = 0.085 mm CdC = 0.090 mm CdC = 0.095 mm CdC = 0.100 mm CdC = 0.105 mm CdC = 0.110 mm CdC = 0.115 mm CdC = 0.120 mm CdC = 0.125 mm CdC = 0.130 mm CdC = 0.135 mm CdC = 0.140 mm CdC = 0.145 mm CdC = 0.150 mm CdC = 0.175 mm CdC = 0.200 mm CdC = 0.225 mm CdC = 0.250 mm CdC = 0.275 mm CdC = 0.300 mm      with adjustment
Lens	7,5 mm 15 mm 18 mm 20 mm 24 mm 28 mm 35 mm 38 mm 40 mm 42 mm 45 mm 50 mm 55 mm 70 mm 75 mm 80 mm 85 mm 90 mm 105 mm 135 mm 150 mm 200 mm 250 mm 300 mm 350 mm 400 mm 450 mm 500 mm 600 mm 800 mm 1000 mm 1200 mm
Aperture	f/1,4 f/1,8 f/2 f/2,8 f/3,5 f/4 f/5 f/5,6 f/6,3 f/6,7 f/8 f/11 f/16 f/22 f/32 f/45 f/64 f/90 f/128
Distance (in meters)
Figure out

 

Method for some digital cameras

This method incorporates the notion of photosite (size of the light sensitive point) of the digital sensor.
CoCs given for different cameras are the result of experiments and give results that are in line with reality.

How to figure out the CoC of a digital camera ?

with surface in mm² and definition in Mpixels, size 'll be in µm.

Multiply by 1.5 to get the CoC.
Example : sensor 24x36 , definition 22,3 MPixels ⇒ size = 6,22µm ⇒ CoC = 9,33

Digital cameras	Canon 5DCanon 5D IICanon 5D IIICanon 5D IVCanon 7DCanon 7D II - 70DCanon 750DNikon D4SNikon D5Nikon D5100-D7000Nikon D5200-D5300-D5500-D7100-D7200Nikon D700Nikon D750-D610-D600Nikon D800-D810Nikon D850Sony alpha77
Lens	7,5 mm 15 mm 18 mm 20 mm 24 mm 28 mm 35 mm 38 mm 40 mm 42 mm 45 mm 50 mm 55 mm 70 mm 75 mm 80 mm 85 mm 90 mm 105 mm 135 mm 150 mm 200 mm 250 mm 300 mm 350 mm 400 mm 450 mm 500 mm 600 mm 800 mm 1000 mm 1200 mm
Aperture	f/1,4 f/1,8 f/2 f/2,8 f/3,5 f/4 f/5 f/5,6 f/6,3 f/6,7 f/8 f/11 f/16 f/22 f/32 f/45 f/64 f/90 f/128
Distance (in m)
Figure out

 

Some examples

Tamron SP 150-600 G2

Some results for camera Nikon D7200 fitted with a telephoto lens Tamron 150-600 G2

The range of aperture goes from 5 to 6.3

d = 10 m

	Sharpness (in m)	DoF (in m)	Hyperfocal (in m)
150mm f/5	from 9.874 m to 10.13	0.256	769.231
150mm f/6.3	from 9.841 to 10.164	0.323	610.501
600mm f/5	from 9.992 to 10.008	0.015	12307.692
600mm f/6.3	from 9.99 to 10.01	0.019	9768.01

d = 100 m

	Sharpness (in m)	DoF (in m)	Hyperfocal (in m)
150mm f/5	from 88.511 to 114.917	26.406	769.231
150mm f/6.3	from 85.944 to 119.553	33.61	610.501
600mm f/5	from 99.199 to 100.814	1.615	12307.692
600mm f/6.3	from 98.993 to 101.028	2.035	9768.01

d = 1000 m

	Sharpness (in m)	DoF (in m)	Hyperfocal (in m)
150mm f/5	from 434.819 to ∞	∞	769.231
150mm f/6.3	from 379.11 to ∞	∞	610.501
600mm f/5	924.897 to 1088.378	163.48	12307.692
600mm f/6.3	from 907.183 to 1113.975	206.792	9768.01

d = 10 000 m

	Sharpness (in m)	DoF (in m)	Hyperfocal (in m)
150mm f/5	from 714.296 to ∞	∞	769.231
150mm f/6.3	from 575.382 to ∞	∞	610.501
600mm f/5	from 5517.39 to 53319.47	47802.08	12307.692
600mm f/6.3	from 4941.472 to ∞	∞	9768.01

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Nikkor AF-S 18-70

Some results for camera Nikon D7200 fitted with a lens Nikkor AF-S 18-70

The range of aperture goes from 3.5 to 4.5

d = 1 m

	Sharpness (in m)	DoF (in m)	Hyperfocal (in m)
18mm f/3.5	from 0.942 to 1.066	0.125	15.824
18mm f/4.5	from 0.926 to 1.087	0.161	12.308
70mm f/3.5	from 0.996 to 1.004	0.008	239.16
70mm f/4.5	from 0.995 to 1.005	0.010	186.135

d = 10 m

	Sharpness (in m)	DoF (in m)	Hyperfocal (in m)
18mm f/3.5	from 6.132 to 27.086	20.954	15.824
18mm f/4.5	from 5.522 to 52.921	47.399	12.308
70mm f/3.5	from 9.602 to 10.433	0.831	239.16
70mm f/4.5	from 9.494 to 10.564	0.010	186.135

d = 100 m

	Sharpness (in m)	DoF (in m)	Hyperfocal (in m)
18mm f/3.5	from 13.664 to ∞	∞	15.824
18mm f/4.5	from 10.961 to ∞	47.399	12.308
70mm f/3.5	from 70.544 to 171.693	101.149	239.16
70mm f/4.5	from 65.067 to 215.922	150.854	186.135

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Nikkor AF-S 18-105

Some results for camera Nikon D7200 fitted with a lens Nikkor AF-S 18-105

The range of aperture goes from 3.5 to 5.6

d = 1 m

	Sharpness (in m)	DoF (in m)	Hyperfocal (in m)
28mm f/3.5	from 0.975 to 1.026	0.051	38.291
28mm f/5.6	from 0.961 to 1.042	0.081	23.932
105mm f/3.5	from 0.998 to 1.002	0.003	538.462
105mm f/5.6	from 0.997 to 1.003	0.005	336.538

d = 10 m

	Sharpness (in m)	DoF (in m)	Hyperfocal (in m)
28mm f/3.5	from 7.934 to 13.521	5.558	38.291
28mm f/5.6	from 7.059 to 17.143	10.085	23.932
105mm f/3.5	from 9.82 to 10.187	0.368	538.462
105mm f/5.6	from 9.714 to 10.303	0.589	336.538

d = 100 m

	Sharpness (in m)	DoF (in m)	Hyperfocal (in m)
28mm f/3.5	from 27.694 to ∞	∞	38.291
28mm f/5.6	from 19.315 to ∞	∞	23.932
105mm f/3.5	from 84.351 to 122.778	38.426	538.462
105mm f/5.6	from 77.111 to 142.213	65.102	336.538

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Sigma 70-300 mm APO DG MACRO

Some results for camera Nikon D7200 fitted with a lens Sigma 70-300 mm APO DG MACRO

The range of aperture goes from 4 to 5.6

d = 10 m

	Sharpness (in m)	DoF (in m)	Hyperfocal (in m)
70mm f/4	from 9.547 to 10.498	0.951	209.402
70mm f/5.6	from 9.377 to 10.711	1.334	149.573
300mm f/4	from 9.975 to 10.025	0.050	3846.154
300mm f/5.6	from 9.965 to 10.035	0.071	2747.253

d = 100 m

	Sharpness (in m)	DoF (in m)	Hyperfocal (in m)
70mm f/4	from 67.695 to 191.284	123.589	209.402
70mm f/5.6	from 59.948 to 301.299/td>	241.35	149.573
300mm f/4	from 97.473 to 102.661	5.188	3846.154
300mm f/5.6	from 96.498 to 103.766	7.268	2747.253

d = 1000 m

	Sharpness (in m)	DoF (in m)	Hyperfocal (in m)
70mm f/4	from 173.155 to ∞	∞	209.402
70mm f/5.6	from 130.119 to ∞	∞	149.573
300mm f/4	from 793.7 to 1351.209	557.509	3846.154
300mm f/5.6	from 733.197 to 1572.057	838.861	2747.253

 

French references

• Lesnumeriques
• Photo24
• Mon cours photo
• cmp-color
• Photophiles
• Wikipedia

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