Depth of field by subject distance#
20 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) | 29.1 cm | 30.9 cm | 1.8 cm | 49% / 51% | 2.95% |
| 50.0 cm (1.64 ft) | 47.6 cm | 52.7 cm | 5.1 cm | 47% / 53% | 1.72% |
| 75.0 cm (2.46 ft) | 69.7 cm | 81.2 cm | 11.6 cm | 46% / 54% | 1.13% |
| 1.00 m (3.28 ft) | 90.7 cm | 1.11 m | 20.8 cm | 45% / 55% | 0.84% |
| 1.50 m (4.92 ft) | 1.30 m | 1.78 m | 47.8 cm | 42% / 58% | 0.56% |
| 2.00 m (6.56 ft) | 1.66 m | 2.52 m | 86.9 cm | 40% / 60% | 0.42% |
| 3.00 m (9.84 ft) | 2.29 m | 4.37 m | 2.08 m | 34% / 66% | 0.28% |
| 4.00 m (13.1 ft) | 2.82 m | 6.87 m | 4.05 m | 29% / 71% | 0.21% |
| 5.00 m (16.4 ft) | 3.28 m | 10.5 m | 7.20 m | 24% / 76% | 0.17% |
| 7.00 m (23.0 ft) | 4.04 m | 26.2 m | 22.2 m | 13% / 87% | 0.12% |
| 10.0 m (32.8 ft) | 4.88 m | ∞ | ∞ | — | 0.08% |
| 15.0 m (49.2 ft) | 5.83 m | ∞ | ∞ | — | 0.06% |
| 20.0 m (65.6 ft) | 6.46 m | ∞ | ∞ | — | 0.04% |
| 30.0 m (98.4 ft) | 7.23 m | ∞ | ∞ | — | 0.03% |
| 50.0 m (164 ft) | 8.00 m | ∞ | ∞ | — | 0.02% |
| 100 m (328 ft) | 8.70 m | ∞ | ∞ | — | 0.01% |
Try other settings#
20 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 20 mm lens on Micro Four Thirds is a natural choice for environmental portraits, street and low light. Focused at 3 m you get 2.08 m of sharp zone; for maximum front-to-back sharpness focus at 9.54 m and everything from 4.77 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 20mm lens at f/2.8?
On Micro Four Thirds, focused at 3 m, it is 2.08 m; at 1 m it is 20.8 cm.
What is the hyperfocal distance for 20mm f/2.8?
9.54 m (31.3 ft) on Micro Four Thirds. Everything from 4.77 m to infinity is acceptably sharp.
Last updated October 03, 2026 · How we calculate · Sources