Depth of field · APS-C

50 mm f/1.2 depth of field on APS-C

Exactly how much is sharp with a 50 mm lens at f/1.2 on an APS-C camera, from 30.0 cm to 100 m.

104 m
Hyperfocal distance
52.1 m
Sharp from (focused at hyperfocal)
77 mm f/1.8
Full-frame equivalent
32°
Diagonal angle of view

Depth of field by subject distance#

50 mm at f/1.2 on APS-C (23.5×15.6 mm), circle of confusion 20 µm. “Background blur” is the size of an out-of-focus light at infinity as a percentage of frame width.

Focus distanceNear limitFar limitTotal DoFFront / behindBackground blur
30.0 cm (0.98 ft)29.9 cm30.1 cm0.1 cm50% / 50%35.46%
50.0 cm (1.64 ft)49.8 cm50.2 cm0.4 cm50% / 50%19.70%
75.0 cm (2.46 ft)74.5 cm75.5 cm1.0 cm50% / 50%12.66%
1.00 m (3.28 ft)99.1 cm1.01 m1.8 cm50% / 50%9.33%
1.50 m (4.92 ft)1.48 m1.52 m4.2 cm49% / 51%6.11%
2.00 m (6.56 ft)1.96 m2.04 m7.5 cm49% / 51%4.55%
3.00 m (9.84 ft)2.92 m3.09 m17.0 cm49% / 51%3.01%
4.00 m (13.1 ft)3.85 m4.16 m30.4 cm48% / 52%2.24%
5.00 m (16.4 ft)4.77 m5.25 m47.6 cm48% / 52%1.79%
7.00 m (23.0 ft)6.56 m7.50 m93.8 cm47% / 53%1.28%
10.0 m (32.8 ft)9.13 m11.1 m1.93 m45% / 55%0.89%
15.0 m (49.2 ft)13.1 m17.5 m4.40 m43% / 57%0.59%
20.0 m (65.6 ft)16.8 m24.7 m7.95 m40% / 60%0.44%
30.0 m (98.4 ft)23.3 m42.1 m18.8 m36% / 64%0.30%
50.0 m (164 ft)33.8 m96.1 m62.3 m26% / 74%0.18%
100 m (328 ft)51.0 m2.5 km2.4 km2% / 98%0.09%

Try other settings#

Near limit—
Far limit—
Depth of field—
Hyperfocal distance—
In front / behind—

50 mm at other apertures (subject at 3 m)#

ApertureTotal DoFHyperfocal
f/1.217.0 cm104 m
f/1.419.8 cm89.3 m
f/1.825.5 cm69.5 m
f/228.4 cm62.5 m
f/2.839.8 cm44.7 m
f/457.1 cm31.3 m
f/5.680.7 cm22.4 m
f/81.17 m15.7 m
f/111.67 m11.4 m
f/162.64 m7.86 m

Other focal lengths at f/1.2#

Focal lengthSubject atTotal DoF
24 mm3.00 m75.6 cm
35 mm3.00 m35.0 cm
40 mm3.00 m26.7 cm
50 mm3.00 m17.0 cm
85 mm3.00 m5.8 cm

Same lens settings on other formats#

When to use it#

At f/1.2, a 50 mm lens on APS-C is a natural choice for portraits and subject isolation. Focused at 3 m you get 17.0 cm of sharp zone; for maximum front-to-back sharpness focus at 104 m and everything from 52.1 m to infinity will be acceptably sharp.

See also the f/1.2 aperture guide.

Frequently asked questions#

What is the depth of field of a 50mm lens at f/1.2?

On APS-C, focused at 3 m, it is 17.0 cm; at 1 m it is 1.8 cm.

What is the hyperfocal distance for 50mm f/1.2?

104 m (342 ft) on APS-C. Everything from 52.1 m to infinity is acceptably sharp.

Last updated October 03, 2026 · How we calculate · Sources

Last posts

  1. Is an LTO Tape Drive Overkill for a Small Photography Studio
  2. Can Counterfeit Filters Damage Lens Coatings
  3. Gift Card or Camera Lens Which Choice Fits Better
  4. Camera Accessories Beginners Buy and Rarely Use
  5. Should You Buy Tripod Feet for Rough Terrain
  6. Best Photography Gifts Under Fifty Dollars for Every Skill Level
  7. Should You Carry Extra Lens Caps? Why Spares Save Shoots
  8. Best Gifts for School Photography Teachers by Budget
  9. Best Gifts for Photographers When You Don't Know Their Camera
  10. The Most Dependable Way to Back Up Family Photos