Depth of field by subject distance#
35 mm at f/2.8 on APS-C (23.5×15.6 mm), circle of confusion 20 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) | 29.6 cm | 30.4 cm | 0.7 cm | 49% / 51% | 7.03% |
| 50.0 cm (1.64 ft) | 49.0 cm | 51.1 cm | 2.1 cm | 49% / 51% | 4.00% |
| 75.0 cm (2.46 ft) | 72.6 cm | 77.5 cm | 4.9 cm | 48% / 52% | 2.60% |
| 1.00 m (3.28 ft) | 95.8 cm | 1.05 m | 8.8 cm | 48% / 52% | 1.93% |
| 1.50 m (4.92 ft) | 1.41 m | 1.61 m | 20.2 cm | 47% / 53% | 1.27% |
| 2.00 m (6.56 ft) | 1.84 m | 2.20 m | 36.2 cm | 46% / 54% | 0.95% |
| 3.00 m (9.84 ft) | 2.64 m | 3.47 m | 82.8 cm | 43% / 57% | 0.63% |
| 4.00 m (13.1 ft) | 3.39 m | 4.89 m | 1.50 m | 41% / 59% | 0.47% |
| 5.00 m (16.4 ft) | 4.08 m | 6.47 m | 2.39 m | 39% / 61% | 0.37% |
| 7.00 m (23.0 ft) | 5.31 m | 10.3 m | 4.96 m | 34% / 66% | 0.27% |
| 10.0 m (32.8 ft) | 6.87 m | 18.4 m | 11.5 m | 27% / 73% | 0.19% |
| 15.0 m (49.2 ft) | 8.91 m | 47.5 m | 38.6 m | 16% / 84% | 0.12% |
| 20.0 m (65.6 ft) | 10.5 m | 229 m | 219 m | 4% / 96% | 0.09% |
| 30.0 m (98.4 ft) | 12.7 m | ∞ | ∞ | — | 0.06% |
| 50.0 m (164 ft) | 15.2 m | ∞ | ∞ | — | 0.04% |
| 100 m (328 ft) | 18.0 m | ∞ | ∞ | — | 0.02% |
Try other settings#
35 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 35 mm lens on APS-C is a natural choice for environmental portraits, street and low light. Focused at 3 m you get 82.8 cm of sharp zone; for maximum front-to-back sharpness focus at 21.9 m and everything from 11.0 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 35mm lens at f/2.8?
On APS-C, focused at 3 m, it is 82.8 cm; at 1 m it is 8.8 cm.
What is the hyperfocal distance for 35mm f/2.8?
21.9 m (71.9 ft) on APS-C. Everything from 11.0 m to infinity is acceptably sharp.
Last updated October 03, 2026 · How we calculate · Sources