Depth of field by subject distance#
16 mm at f/2.8 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) | 28.7 cm | 31.5 cm | 2.8 cm | 48% / 52% | 1.86% |
| 50.0 cm (1.64 ft) | 46.3 cm | 54.3 cm | 8.0 cm | 46% / 54% | 1.09% |
| 75.0 cm (2.46 ft) | 66.9 cm | 85.3 cm | 18.3 cm | 44% / 56% | 0.72% |
| 1.00 m (3.28 ft) | 86.1 cm | 1.19 m | 33.2 cm | 42% / 58% | 0.54% |
| 1.50 m (4.92 ft) | 1.21 m | 1.98 m | 77.6 cm | 38% / 62% | 0.36% |
| 2.00 m (6.56 ft) | 1.51 m | 2.97 m | 1.46 m | 34% / 66% | 0.27% |
| 3.00 m (9.84 ft) | 2.01 m | 5.88 m | 3.86 m | 26% / 74% | 0.18% |
| 4.00 m (13.1 ft) | 2.42 m | 11.5 m | 9.13 m | 17% / 83% | 0.13% |
| 5.00 m (16.4 ft) | 2.75 m | 27.4 m | 24.7 m | 9% / 91% | 0.11% |
| 7.00 m (23.0 ft) | 3.26 m | ∞ | ∞ | — | 0.08% |
| 10.0 m (32.8 ft) | 3.79 m | ∞ | ∞ | — | 0.05% |
| 15.0 m (49.2 ft) | 4.34 m | ∞ | ∞ | — | 0.04% |
| 20.0 m (65.6 ft) | 4.67 m | ∞ | ∞ | — | 0.03% |
| 30.0 m (98.4 ft) | 5.07 m | ∞ | ∞ | — | 0.02% |
| 50.0 m (164 ft) | 5.43 m | ∞ | ∞ | — | 0.01% |
| 100 m (328 ft) | 5.75 m | ∞ | ∞ | — | 0.01% |
Try other settings#
16 mm at other apertures (subject at 3 m)#
Other focal lengths at f/2.8#
Same lens settings on other formats#
When to use it#
At f/2.8, a 16 mm lens on Micro Four Thirds is a natural choice for environmental portraits, street and low light. Focused at 3 m you get 3.86 m of sharp zone; for maximum front-to-back sharpness focus at 6.11 m and everything from 3.06 m to infinity will be acceptably sharp.
See also the f/2.8 aperture guide.
Frequently asked questions#
What is the depth of field of a 16mm lens at f/2.8?
On Micro Four Thirds, focused at 3 m, it is 3.86 m; at 1 m it is 33.2 cm.
What is the hyperfocal distance for 16mm f/2.8?
6.11 m (20.0 ft) on Micro Four Thirds. Everything from 3.06 m to infinity is acceptably sharp.
Last updated October 03, 2026 · How we calculate · Sources