Depth of field by subject distance#
20 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) | 25.7 cm | 36.1 cm | 10.4 cm | 42% / 58% | 0.52% |
| 50.0 cm (1.64 ft) | 38.8 cm | 70.2 cm | 31.4 cm | 36% / 64% | 0.30% |
| 75.0 cm (2.46 ft) | 52.2 cm | 1.33 m | 81.3 cm | 28% / 72% | 0.20% |
| 1.00 m (3.28 ft) | 63.0 cm | 2.43 m | 1.80 m | 21% / 79% | 0.15% |
| 1.50 m (4.92 ft) | 79.4 cm | 13.4 m | 12.6 m | 6% / 94% | 0.10% |
| 2.00 m (6.56 ft) | 91.4 cm | ∞ | ∞ | — | 0.07% |
| 3.00 m (9.84 ft) | 1.08 m | ∞ | ∞ | — | 0.05% |
| 4.00 m (13.1 ft) | 1.18 m | ∞ | ∞ | — | 0.04% |
| 5.00 m (16.4 ft) | 1.25 m | ∞ | ∞ | — | 0.03% |
| 7.00 m (23.0 ft) | 1.35 m | ∞ | ∞ | — | 0.02% |
| 10.0 m (32.8 ft) | 1.43 m | ∞ | ∞ | — | 0.01% |
| 15.0 m (49.2 ft) | 1.50 m | ∞ | ∞ | — | 0.01% |
| 20.0 m (65.6 ft) | 1.54 m | ∞ | ∞ | — | 0.01% |
| 30.0 m (98.4 ft) | 1.58 m | ∞ | ∞ | — | 0.00% |
| 50.0 m (164 ft) | 1.61 m | ∞ | ∞ | — | 0.00% |
| 100 m (328 ft) | 1.64 m | ∞ | ∞ | — | 0.00% |
Try other settings#
20 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 20 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 1.69 m and everything from 84.3 cm to infinity will be acceptably sharp.
See also the f/16 aperture guide.
Frequently asked questions#
What is the depth of field of a 20mm lens at f/16?
On Micro Four Thirds, focused at 3 m, it is infinite (beyond the hyperfocal distance); at 1 m it is 1.80 m.
What is the hyperfocal distance for 20mm f/16?
1.69 m (5.53 ft) on Micro Four Thirds. Everything from 84.3 cm to infinity is acceptably sharp.
Last updated October 03, 2026 · How we calculate · Sources