Depth of field by subject distance#
16 mm at f/5.6 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) | 27.4 cm | 33.1 cm | 5.6 cm | 45% / 55% | 0.93% |
| 50.0 cm (1.64 ft) | 43.1 cm | 59.4 cm | 16.3 cm | 42% / 58% | 0.55% |
| 75.0 cm (2.46 ft) | 60.4 cm | 98.8 cm | 38.4 cm | 38% / 62% | 0.36% |
| 1.00 m (3.28 ft) | 75.6 cm | 1.48 m | 72.1 cm | 34% / 66% | 0.27% |
| 1.50 m (4.92 ft) | 1.01 m | 2.92 m | 1.91 m | 26% / 74% | 0.18% |
| 2.00 m (6.56 ft) | 1.21 m | 5.73 m | 4.52 m | 17% / 83% | 0.13% |
| 3.00 m (9.84 ft) | 1.52 m | 144 m | 142 m | 1% / 99% | 0.09% |
| 4.00 m (13.1 ft) | 1.73 m | ∞ | ∞ | — | 0.07% |
| 5.00 m (16.4 ft) | 1.90 m | ∞ | ∞ | — | 0.05% |
| 7.00 m (23.0 ft) | 2.13 m | ∞ | ∞ | — | 0.04% |
| 10.0 m (32.8 ft) | 2.34 m | ∞ | ∞ | — | 0.03% |
| 15.0 m (49.2 ft) | 2.54 m | ∞ | ∞ | — | 0.02% |
| 20.0 m (65.6 ft) | 2.65 m | ∞ | ∞ | — | 0.01% |
| 30.0 m (98.4 ft) | 2.77 m | ∞ | ∞ | — | 0.01% |
| 50.0 m (164 ft) | 2.87 m | ∞ | ∞ | — | 0.01% |
| 100 m (328 ft) | 2.96 m | ∞ | ∞ | — | 0.00% |
Try other settings#
16 mm at other apertures (subject at 3 m)#
Other focal lengths at f/5.6#
| Focal length | Subject at | Total DoF |
|---|---|---|
| 14 mm | 3.00 m | ∞ |
| 16 mm | 3.00 m | 142 m |
| 20 mm | 3.00 m | 6.17 m |
| 24 mm | 3.00 m | 3.21 m |
| 28 mm | 3.00 m | 2.13 m |
| 35 mm | 3.00 m | 1.27 m |
| 40 mm | 3.00 m | 95.5 cm |
| 50 mm | 3.00 m | 60.1 cm |
| 85 mm | 3.00 m | 20.4 cm |
| 105 mm | 3.00 m | 13.2 cm |
| 135 mm | 3.00 m | 7.9 cm |
| 200 mm | 10.0 m | 41.2 cm |
| 300 mm | 10.0 m | 18.1 cm |
| 400 mm | 10.0 m | 10.1 cm |
| 600 mm | 10.0 m | 4.4 cm |
Same lens settings on other formats#
When to use it#
At f/5.6, a 16 mm lens on Micro Four Thirds is a natural choice for general photography. Focused at 3 m you get 142 m of sharp zone; for maximum front-to-back sharpness focus at 3.06 m and everything from 1.53 m to infinity will be acceptably sharp.
See also the f/5.6 aperture guide.
Frequently asked questions#
What is the depth of field of a 16mm lens at f/5.6?
On Micro Four Thirds, focused at 3 m, it is 142 m; at 1 m it is 72.1 cm.
What is the hyperfocal distance for 16mm f/5.6?
3.06 m (10.1 ft) on Micro Four Thirds. Everything from 1.53 m to infinity is acceptably sharp.
Last updated October 03, 2026 · How we calculate · Sources