Depth of field by subject distance#
20 mm at f/11 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) | 26.9 cm | 33.9 cm | 7.0 cm | 44% / 56% | 0.75% |
| 50.0 cm (1.64 ft) | 41.7 cm | 62.3 cm | 20.6 cm | 40% / 60% | 0.44% |
| 75.0 cm (2.46 ft) | 57.6 cm | 1.07 m | 49.7 cm | 35% / 65% | 0.29% |
| 1.00 m (3.28 ft) | 71.2 cm | 1.68 m | 96.6 cm | 30% / 70% | 0.21% |
| 1.50 m (4.92 ft) | 93.1 cm | 3.85 m | 2.92 m | 19% / 81% | 0.14% |
| 2.00 m (6.56 ft) | 1.10 m | 10.9 m | 9.81 m | 9% / 91% | 0.11% |
| 3.00 m (9.84 ft) | 1.35 m | ∞ | ∞ | — | 0.07% |
| 4.00 m (13.1 ft) | 1.51 m | ∞ | ∞ | — | 0.05% |
| 5.00 m (16.4 ft) | 1.64 m | ∞ | ∞ | — | 0.04% |
| 7.00 m (23.0 ft) | 1.80 m | ∞ | ∞ | — | 0.03% |
| 10.0 m (32.8 ft) | 1.95 m | ∞ | ∞ | — | 0.02% |
| 15.0 m (49.2 ft) | 2.09 m | ∞ | ∞ | — | 0.01% |
| 20.0 m (65.6 ft) | 2.16 m | ∞ | ∞ | — | 0.01% |
| 30.0 m (98.4 ft) | 2.24 m | ∞ | ∞ | — | 0.01% |
| 50.0 m (164 ft) | 2.31 m | ∞ | ∞ | — | 0.00% |
| 100 m (328 ft) | 2.37 m | ∞ | ∞ | — | 0.00% |
Try other settings#
20 mm at other apertures (subject at 3 m)#
Other focal lengths at f/11#
Same lens settings on other formats#
When to use it#
At f/11, a 20 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 2.44 m and everything from 1.22 m to infinity will be acceptably sharp.
See also the f/11 aperture guide.
Frequently asked questions#
What is the depth of field of a 20mm lens at f/11?
On Micro Four Thirds, focused at 3 m, it is infinite (beyond the hyperfocal distance); at 1 m it is 96.6 cm.
What is the hyperfocal distance for 20mm f/11?
2.44 m (8.02 ft) on Micro Four Thirds. Everything from 1.22 m to infinity is acceptably sharp.
Last updated October 03, 2026 · How we calculate · Sources