Depth of field by subject distance#
300 mm at f/5.6 on full frame (36×24 mm), circle of confusion 30 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75.0 cm (2.46 ft) | 74.9 cm | 75.1 cm | 0.1 cm | 50% / 50% | 99.21% |
| 1.00 m (3.28 ft) | 99.9 cm | 1.00 m | 0.3 cm | 50% / 50% | 63.78% |
| 1.50 m (4.92 ft) | 1.50 m | 1.50 m | 0.7 cm | 50% / 50% | 37.20% |
| 2.00 m (6.56 ft) | 1.99 m | 2.01 m | 1.3 cm | 50% / 50% | 26.26% |
| 3.00 m (9.84 ft) | 2.98 m | 3.02 m | 3.0 cm | 50% / 50% | 16.53% |
| 4.00 m (13.1 ft) | 3.97 m | 4.03 m | 5.5 cm | 50% / 50% | 12.07% |
| 5.00 m (16.4 ft) | 4.96 m | 5.04 m | 8.8 cm | 50% / 50% | 9.50% |
| 7.00 m (23.0 ft) | 6.91 m | 7.09 m | 17.5 cm | 49% / 51% | 6.66% |
| 10.0 m (32.8 ft) | 9.82 m | 10.2 m | 36.2 cm | 49% / 51% | 4.60% |
| 15.0 m (49.2 ft) | 14.6 m | 15.4 m | 82.4 cm | 49% / 51% | 3.04% |
| 20.0 m (65.6 ft) | 19.3 m | 20.8 m | 1.47 m | 48% / 52% | 2.27% |
| 30.0 m (98.4 ft) | 28.4 m | 31.8 m | 3.34 m | 47% / 53% | 1.50% |
| 50.0 m (164 ft) | 45.8 m | 55.1 m | 9.36 m | 45% / 55% | 0.90% |
| 100 m (328 ft) | 84.3 m | 123 m | 38.6 m | 41% / 59% | 0.45% |
Try other settings#
300 mm at other apertures (subject at 3 m)#
Other focal lengths at f/5.6#
Same lens settings on other formats#
When to use it#
At f/5.6, a 300 mm lens on full frame is a natural choice for general photography. Focused at 3 m you get 3.0 cm of sharp zone; for maximum front-to-back sharpness focus at 536 m and everything from 268 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 300mm lens at f/5.6?
On full frame, focused at 3 m, it is 3.0 cm; at 1 m it is 0.3 cm.
What is the hyperfocal distance for 300mm f/5.6?
536 m (1759 ft) on full frame. Everything from 268 m to infinity is acceptably sharp.
Last updated October 03, 2026 · How we calculate · Sources