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depth of field

optics
Also known as: deep focus, depth of focus

Quick Summary

Depth of field refers to the range of distances in front of an imaging device, such as a camera lens, where objects appear acceptably sharp. This range is crucial in photography for controlling image sharpness.12

Several factors influence depth of field:
* Acceptable Sharpness Loss: The degree of sharpness loss considered acceptable, which depends on how much an image will be enlarged.2
* Lens Aperture: A smaller aperture (higher f-number) increases the depth of field, meaning more of the scene will be in focus.23
* Object Distance: Nearer objects result in a smaller depth of field compared to more distant ones.2
* Focal Length: Shorter focal length lenses generally provide a greater depth of field than longer ones.2

A depth of field indicator on a lens can help visualize this range at different aperture settings.2

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