Depth of field by subject distance#
50 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) | 29.3 cm | 30.7 cm | 1.4 cm | 49% / 51% | 3.61% |
| 50.0 cm (1.64 ft) | 47.9 cm | 52.3 cm | 4.3 cm | 48% / 52% | 2.01% |
| 75.0 cm (2.46 ft) | 70.3 cm | 80.4 cm | 10.1 cm | 47% / 53% | 1.29% |
| 1.00 m (3.28 ft) | 91.6 cm | 1.10 m | 18.4 cm | 45% / 55% | 0.95% |
| 1.50 m (4.92 ft) | 1.32 m | 1.74 m | 42.6 cm | 43% / 57% | 0.62% |
| 2.00 m (6.56 ft) | 1.68 m | 2.46 m | 77.6 cm | 41% / 59% | 0.46% |
| 3.00 m (9.84 ft) | 2.34 m | 4.19 m | 1.85 m | 36% / 64% | 0.31% |
| 4.00 m (13.1 ft) | 2.90 m | 6.44 m | 3.54 m | 31% / 69% | 0.23% |
| 5.00 m (16.4 ft) | 3.39 m | 9.53 m | 6.14 m | 26% / 74% | 0.18% |
| 7.00 m (23.0 ft) | 4.20 m | 21.0 m | 16.8 m | 17% / 83% | 0.13% |
| 10.0 m (32.8 ft) | 5.11 m | 223 m | 218 m | 2% / 98% | 0.09% |
| 15.0 m (49.2 ft) | 6.16 m | ∞ | ∞ | — | 0.06% |
| 20.0 m (65.6 ft) | 6.86 m | ∞ | ∞ | — | 0.05% |
| 30.0 m (98.4 ft) | 7.74 m | ∞ | ∞ | — | 0.03% |
| 50.0 m (164 ft) | 8.63 m | ∞ | ∞ | — | 0.02% |
| 100 m (328 ft) | 9.44 m | ∞ | ∞ | — | 0.01% |
Try other settings#
50 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 50 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 1.85 m of sharp zone; for maximum front-to-back sharpness focus at 10.5 m and everything from 5.23 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 50mm lens at f/16?
On Micro Four Thirds, focused at 3 m, it is 1.85 m; at 1 m it is 18.4 cm.
What is the hyperfocal distance for 50mm f/16?
10.5 m (34.3 ft) on Micro Four Thirds. Everything from 5.23 m to infinity is acceptably sharp.
Last updated October 03, 2026 · How we calculate · Sources