Use our Camera Depth of Field calculator which includes the Nyquist Frequency and Hyperfocal Distance.

Camera Depth of Field Calculator

A Camera Depth of Field Calculator for Surveillance Camera and M12 Lens. DoF and Hyperfocal Distance Calculator.
A Camera Depth of Field Calculator for Surveillance Camera and M12 Lens. DoF and Hyperfocal Distance Calculator.

The depth of field of a camera is the range of distances which objects are in focus. The depth of field is dependent upon the camera sensor pixel pitch, the lens effective focal length, and the lens aperture diameter. 

This depth of field calculator has five primary outputs:
1.) Depth of Field
2.) Hyperfocal Distance
3.) Geometric and Diffractive Depth of Focus
4.) Sensor Nyquist Frequency
5.) Relative Transmittance of 2 F#s and the required exposure length difference

A faster aperture (lower F/#) results in a shorter depth of field, whereas a slower aperture (higher F/#) results in a longer depth of field.

The depth of field is related to the "Hyperfocal Distance" which is the distance at which if you focus a camera, all objects beyond the distance will be in focus.

If you focus a camera closer than the hyperfocal distance,  the depth of field will get shallower. The depth of field is not symmetric around the selected focus distance; It extends further beyond the focus distance than in front of the focus distance.

The depth of field can be characterized by three metrics:

  • The Hyperfocal Distance is the distance at which a lens should be focused to achieve acceptable focus out to infinity.
  • The Near Focus Distance is the closest distance which will be in focus, given a specific focus distance. When a camera is focused at the Hyperfocal distance, the Near Focus Distance is equal to half of the Hyperfocal distance.
  • The Far Focus Distance is the further distance which will be in focus, given a specific focus distance. When a camera is focused at the Hyperfocal distance, the Far Focus Distance is  Infinity.

The amount of light incident on the image sensor is reduced using a higher F/#, requiring a longer exposure or more digital gain / ISO. We've added an f-stop calculator to provide relative illuminance (throughput) of a lens with different f-stops. This way you can adjust exposure and gain based upon the lens F/#.

Click below Use our Other Camera Calculators

Lens Focal Length Calculator. EFL Calculator.
Camera Angle of View Calculator. Camera AoV Calculator.
Camera Field of View Calculator. FoV Calculaot

What's Your Application? Our Lenses Cover the Spectrum.

200°@5.7mm IP67 Fisheye M12 Lens

CIL217-F2.7-M12A650

200°@5.7mm IP67 Fisheye M12 Lens

Fast 6mm M12 Lens

CIL061-F1.9-M12B650

Fast 6mm M12 Lens

Mobile Robotics?

Find a low F# or low distortion lens to optimize your computer vision.

Factory Machine Vision?

Our cost-effective compact C-Mount lenses are designed for up to 1.1"~1.2" format global shutter sensors.

25mm C-Mount Lens 1.1" 12MP

CIL514-F2.8-CMANIR

25mm C-Mount Lens 1.1" 12MP

No Distortion 4.4mm M12 Lens

CIL043-F3.2-M12B650

No Distortion 4.4mm M12 Lens

No Distortion 6mm M12 Lens

CIL062-F2.8-M12A650

No Distortion 6mm M12 Lens

Intelligent Everywhere?

Our low distortion lenses with multiple F# can be used to optimize your depth of field.

Surveillance?

Our fisheye and IR Corrected lenses are suitable for doorbell cameras and active IR illuminated scenes.

186°@5.2mm IR Corrected Fisheye M12 Lens

CIL239-F2.0-M12A650

186°@5.2mm IR Corrected Fisheye M12 Lens

Low Distortion 6mm M12 Lens

CIL059-F1.7-M12B650

Low Distortion 6mm M12 Lens

No Distortion 3.2mm Lens

CIL034-F2.3-M12A660

No Distortion 3.2mm Lens

Fast 6mm M12 Lens

CIL061-F1.9-M12B650

Fast 6mm M12 Lens

Does it Require Getting Dirty?

Our IP67 and IP69K lenses are suitable for applications exposed to the environment.

Aerial Robotics?

Our tiny lenses are ideal for collision avoidance and object recognition.

Wide-Angle 3.5mm M12 Lens

CIL335-F1.8-M12A660

Wide-Angle 3.5mm M12 Lens

Small 3.3mm M12 Lens CIL036

CIL036-F2.2-M12A650

Small 3.3mm M12 Lens CIL036
Raspberry Pi HQ Camera 8mm M12 Lens
Raspberry Pi HQ Camera 8mm M12 Lens
8mm M12 Lenses IMX464
8mm M12 Lens Raspberry Pi High Quality
CIL083-F2.8-M12A650
Low Distortion 8mm M12 Lens
$29.00
A 2.1mm M12 Lens for 1/3
A 2.1mm M12 Lens for 1/3
Tiny Pinhole Lens for S-Mount Cameras
15mm TTL Short M12 Lens for Surveillance
CIL821-F2.4-M12ANIR
Small 2.1mm M12 Lens
$39.00
A 4mm M12 Lens which is 14MP and F-theta | CIL340
A 4mm M12 Lens which is 14MP and F-theta | CIL340
A wide-angle 4mm S-Mount Lens
4mm Wide-Angle M12 Lens CIL340
CIL340-F2.0-M12A650
F-theta Wide-Angle 4mm M12 Lens
$79.00
190°@5.7mm Fisheye M12 Lens
190°@5.7mm Fisheye M12 Lens
190°@5.7mm Fisheye M12 Lens
190°@5.7mm Fisheye M12 Lens
CIL290-F2.2-M12A660
190°@5.7mm Fisheye M12 Lens
$29.00
Wide Angle Low Distortion 2mm S-Mount Lens CIL023
Wide Angle Low Distortion 2mm S-Mount Lens CIL023
Wide Angle Low Distortion 2mm S-Mount Lens CIL023
Wide Angle Low Distortion 2mm S-Mount Lens CIL023
CIL023-F2.2-M12A650
Low Distortion 2.2mm M12 Lens
$39.00
3.1mm Wide Angle M12 Lens
3.1mm Wide Angle M12 Lens
3mm S-Mount Lens
3mm M12 Lens
CIL331-F2.5-M12B650
GoPro 3.0mm M12 Lens
$39.00