Depth of field by subject distance#
16 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) | 25.4 cm | 36.7 cm | 11.4 cm | 41% / 59% | 0.47% |
| 50.0 cm (1.64 ft) | 38.1 cm | 72.7 cm | 34.6 cm | 34% / 66% | 0.28% |
| 75.0 cm (2.46 ft) | 50.9 cm | 1.42 m | 91.4 cm | 26% / 74% | 0.18% |
| 1.00 m (3.28 ft) | 61.2 cm | 2.73 m | 2.12 m | 18% / 82% | 0.14% |
| 1.50 m (4.92 ft) | 76.7 cm | 34.5 m | 33.7 m | 2% / 98% | 0.09% |
| 2.00 m (6.56 ft) | 87.8 cm | ∞ | ∞ | — | 0.07% |
| 3.00 m (9.84 ft) | 1.03 m | ∞ | ∞ | — | 0.05% |
| 4.00 m (13.1 ft) | 1.12 m | ∞ | ∞ | — | 0.03% |
| 5.00 m (16.4 ft) | 1.19 m | ∞ | ∞ | — | 0.03% |
| 7.00 m (23.0 ft) | 1.27 m | ∞ | ∞ | — | 0.02% |
| 10.0 m (32.8 ft) | 1.34 m | ∞ | ∞ | — | 0.01% |
| 15.0 m (49.2 ft) | 1.41 m | ∞ | ∞ | — | 0.01% |
| 20.0 m (65.6 ft) | 1.44 m | ∞ | ∞ | — | 0.01% |
| 30.0 m (98.4 ft) | 1.48 m | ∞ | ∞ | — | 0.00% |
| 50.0 m (164 ft) | 1.51 m | ∞ | ∞ | — | 0.00% |
| 100 m (328 ft) | 1.53 m | ∞ | ∞ | — | 0.00% |
Try other settings#
16 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 16 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 1.57 m and everything from 78.4 cm to infinity will be acceptably sharp.
See also the f/11 aperture guide.
Frequently asked questions#
What is the depth of field of a 16mm lens at f/11?
On Micro Four Thirds, focused at 3 m, it is infinite (beyond the hyperfocal distance); at 1 m it is 2.12 m.
What is the hyperfocal distance for 16mm f/11?
1.57 m (5.14 ft) on Micro Four Thirds. Everything from 78.4 cm to infinity is acceptably sharp.
Last updated October 03, 2026 · How we calculate · Sources