Depth of field by subject distance#
16 mm at f/16 on Micro Four Thirds (17.3×13 mm), circle of confusion 15 µm. “Background blur” is the size of an out-of-focus light at infinity as a percentage of frame width.
| Focus distance | Near limit | Far limit | Total DoF | Front / behind | Background blur |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30.0 cm (0.98 ft) | 23.7 cm | 40.9 cm | 17.2 cm | 37% / 63% | 0.33% |
| 50.0 cm (1.64 ft) | 34.4 cm | 91.5 cm | 57.1 cm | 27% / 73% | 0.19% |
| 75.0 cm (2.46 ft) | 44.4 cm | 2.40 m | 1.96 m | 16% / 84% | 0.13% |
| 1.00 m (3.28 ft) | 52.0 cm | 12.9 m | 12.4 m | 4% / 96% | 0.09% |
| 1.50 m (4.92 ft) | 62.7 cm | ∞ | ∞ | — | 0.06% |
| 2.00 m (6.56 ft) | 69.9 cm | ∞ | ∞ | — | 0.05% |
| 3.00 m (9.84 ft) | 79.0 cm | ∞ | ∞ | — | 0.03% |
| 4.00 m (13.1 ft) | 84.5 cm | ∞ | ∞ | — | 0.02% |
| 5.00 m (16.4 ft) | 88.1 cm | ∞ | ∞ | — | 0.02% |
| 7.00 m (23.0 ft) | 92.7 cm | ∞ | ∞ | — | 0.01% |
| 10.0 m (32.8 ft) | 96.5 cm | ∞ | ∞ | — | 0.01% |
| 15.0 m (49.2 ft) | 99.7 cm | ∞ | ∞ | — | 0.01% |
| 20.0 m (65.6 ft) | 1.01 m | ∞ | ∞ | — | 0.00% |
| 30.0 m (98.4 ft) | 1.03 m | ∞ | ∞ | — | 0.00% |
| 50.0 m (164 ft) | 1.04 m | ∞ | ∞ | — | 0.00% |
| 100 m (328 ft) | 1.06 m | ∞ | ∞ | — | 0.00% |
Try other settings#
16 mm at other apertures (subject at 3 m)#
Other focal lengths at f/16#
Same lens settings on other formats#
When to use it#
At f/16, a 16 mm lens on Micro Four Thirds is a natural choice for landscapes and architecture where front-to-back sharpness matters. Focused at 3 m you get everything to infinity; for maximum front-to-back sharpness focus at 1.08 m and everything from 54.1 cm to infinity will be acceptably sharp.
See also the f/16 aperture guide.
Frequently asked questions#
What is the depth of field of a 16mm lens at f/16?
On Micro Four Thirds, focused at 3 m, it is infinite (beyond the hyperfocal distance); at 1 m it is 12.4 m.
What is the hyperfocal distance for 16mm f/16?
1.08 m (3.55 ft) on Micro Four Thirds. Everything from 54.1 cm to infinity is acceptably sharp.
Last updated October 03, 2026 · How we calculate · Sources