Depth of field by subject distance#
40 mm at f/16 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30.0 cm (0.98 ft) | 27.8 cm | 32.5 cm | 4.7 cm | 46% / 54% | 1.07% |
| 50.0 cm (1.64 ft) | 43.9 cm | 58.0 cm | 14.1 cm | 43% / 57% | 0.60% |
| 75.0 cm (2.46 ft) | 61.8 cm | 95.3 cm | 33.5 cm | 39% / 61% | 0.39% |
| 1.00 m (3.28 ft) | 77.6 cm | 1.40 m | 62.8 cm | 36% / 64% | 0.29% |
| 1.50 m (4.92 ft) | 1.04 m | 2.67 m | 1.63 m | 28% / 72% | 0.19% |
| 2.00 m (6.56 ft) | 1.26 m | 4.85 m | 3.59 m | 21% / 79% | 0.14% |
| 3.00 m (9.84 ft) | 1.59 m | 26.8 m | 25.2 m | 6% / 94% | 0.09% |
| 4.00 m (13.1 ft) | 1.83 m | ∞ | ∞ | — | 0.07% |
| 5.00 m (16.4 ft) | 2.01 m | ∞ | ∞ | — | 0.06% |
| 7.00 m (23.0 ft) | 2.27 m | ∞ | ∞ | — | 0.04% |
| 10.0 m (32.8 ft) | 2.51 m | ∞ | ∞ | — | 0.03% |
| 15.0 m (49.2 ft) | 2.73 m | ∞ | ∞ | — | 0.02% |
| 20.0 m (65.6 ft) | 2.86 m | ∞ | ∞ | — | 0.01% |
| 30.0 m (98.4 ft) | 3.00 m | ∞ | ∞ | — | 0.01% |
| 50.0 m (164 ft) | 3.13 m | ∞ | ∞ | — | 0.01% |
| 100 m (328 ft) | 3.23 m | ∞ | ∞ | — | 0.00% |
Try other settings#
40 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 40 mm lens on full frame is a natural choice for landscapes and architecture where front-to-back sharpness matters. Focused at 3 m you get 25.2 m of sharp zone; for maximum front-to-back sharpness focus at 3.37 m and everything from 1.69 m to infinity will be acceptably sharp.
See also the f/16 aperture guide.
Frequently asked questions#
What is the depth of field of a 40mm lens at f/16?
On full frame, focused at 3 m, it is 25.2 m; at 1 m it is 62.8 cm.
What is the hyperfocal distance for 40mm f/16?
3.37 m (11.1 ft) on full frame. Everything from 1.69 m to infinity is acceptably sharp.
Last updated October 03, 2026 · How we calculate · Sources