Depth of field by subject distance#
400 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.00 m (3.28 ft) | 100.0 cm | 1.00 m | 0.0 cm | 50% / 50% | 405.27% |
| 1.50 m (4.92 ft) | 1.50 m | 1.50 m | 0.1 cm | 50% / 50% | 221.06% |
| 2.00 m (6.56 ft) | 2.00 m | 2.00 m | 0.2 cm | 50% / 50% | 151.98% |
| 3.00 m (9.84 ft) | 3.00 m | 3.00 m | 0.5 cm | 50% / 50% | 93.52% |
| 4.00 m (13.1 ft) | 3.99 m | 4.01 m | 1.0 cm | 50% / 50% | 67.54% |
| 5.00 m (16.4 ft) | 4.99 m | 5.01 m | 1.6 cm | 50% / 50% | 52.86% |
| 7.00 m (23.0 ft) | 6.98 m | 7.02 m | 3.2 cm | 50% / 50% | 36.84% |
| 10.0 m (32.8 ft) | 9.97 m | 10.0 m | 6.7 cm | 50% / 50% | 25.33% |
| 15.0 m (49.2 ft) | 14.9 m | 15.1 m | 15.3 cm | 50% / 50% | 16.65% |
| 20.0 m (65.6 ft) | 19.9 m | 20.1 m | 27.4 cm | 50% / 50% | 12.41% |
| 30.0 m (98.4 ft) | 29.7 m | 30.3 m | 62.2 cm | 49% / 51% | 8.21% |
| 50.0 m (164 ft) | 49.1 m | 50.9 m | 1.74 m | 49% / 51% | 4.90% |
| 100 m (328 ft) | 96.6 m | 104 m | 6.98 m | 48% / 52% | 2.44% |
Try other settings#
400 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 400 mm lens on APS-C is a natural choice for portraits and subject isolation. Focused at 3 m you get 0.5 cm of sharp zone; for maximum front-to-back sharpness focus at 2.9 km and everything from 1.4 km 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 400mm lens at f/2.8?
On APS-C, focused at 3 m, it is 0.5 cm; at 1 m it is 0.0 cm.
What is the hyperfocal distance for 400mm f/2.8?
2.9 km (9375 ft) on APS-C. Everything from 1.4 km to infinity is acceptably sharp.
Last updated October 03, 2026 · How we calculate · Sources