Depth of field by subject distance#
35 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) | 28.5 cm | 31.6 cm | 3.1 cm | 47% / 53% | 1.67% |
| 50.0 cm (1.64 ft) | 45.8 cm | 55.0 cm | 9.2 cm | 45% / 55% | 0.95% |
| 75.0 cm (2.46 ft) | 65.8 cm | 87.2 cm | 21.4 cm | 43% / 57% | 0.62% |
| 1.00 m (3.28 ft) | 84.1 cm | 1.23 m | 39.2 cm | 41% / 59% | 0.46% |
| 1.50 m (4.92 ft) | 1.17 m | 2.10 m | 93.8 cm | 36% / 64% | 0.30% |
| 2.00 m (6.56 ft) | 1.44 m | 3.25 m | 1.81 m | 31% / 69% | 0.23% |
| 3.00 m (9.84 ft) | 1.90 m | 7.16 m | 5.26 m | 21% / 79% | 0.15% |
| 4.00 m (13.1 ft) | 2.25 m | 17.9 m | 15.7 m | 11% / 89% | 0.11% |
| 5.00 m (16.4 ft) | 2.53 m | 183 m | 181 m | 1% / 99% | 0.09% |
| 7.00 m (23.0 ft) | 2.96 m | ∞ | ∞ | — | 0.06% |
| 10.0 m (32.8 ft) | 3.39 m | ∞ | ∞ | — | 0.04% |
| 15.0 m (49.2 ft) | 3.81 m | ∞ | ∞ | — | 0.03% |
| 20.0 m (65.6 ft) | 4.07 m | ∞ | ∞ | — | 0.02% |
| 30.0 m (98.4 ft) | 4.37 m | ∞ | ∞ | — | 0.01% |
| 50.0 m (164 ft) | 4.63 m | ∞ | ∞ | — | 0.01% |
| 100 m (328 ft) | 4.86 m | ∞ | ∞ | — | 0.00% |
Try other settings#
35 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 35 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 5.26 m of sharp zone; for maximum front-to-back sharpness focus at 5.14 m and everything from 2.57 m to infinity will be acceptably sharp.
See also the f/16 aperture guide.
Frequently asked questions#
What is the depth of field of a 35mm lens at f/16?
On Micro Four Thirds, focused at 3 m, it is 5.26 m; at 1 m it is 39.2 cm.
What is the hyperfocal distance for 35mm f/16?
5.14 m (16.9 ft) on Micro Four Thirds. Everything from 2.57 m to infinity is acceptably sharp.
Last updated October 03, 2026 · How we calculate · Sources