3.0 km
Hyperfocal distance
1.5 km
Sharp from (focused at hyperfocal)
600 mm f/4.0
Full-frame equivalent
4°
Diagonal angle of view
Depth of field by subject distance#
600 mm at f/4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.50 m (4.92 ft) | 1.50 m | 1.50 m | 0.1 cm | 50% / 50% | 277.78% |
| 2.00 m (6.56 ft) | 2.00 m | 2.00 m | 0.2 cm | 50% / 50% | 178.57% |
| 3.00 m (9.84 ft) | 3.00 m | 3.00 m | 0.5 cm | 50% / 50% | 104.17% |
| 4.00 m (13.1 ft) | 4.00 m | 4.00 m | 0.9 cm | 50% / 50% | 73.53% |
| 5.00 m (16.4 ft) | 4.99 m | 5.01 m | 1.5 cm | 50% / 50% | 56.82% |
| 7.00 m (23.0 ft) | 6.99 m | 7.01 m | 3.0 cm | 50% / 50% | 39.06% |
| 10.0 m (32.8 ft) | 9.97 m | 10.0 m | 6.3 cm | 50% / 50% | 26.60% |
| 15.0 m (49.2 ft) | 14.9 m | 15.1 m | 14.4 cm | 50% / 50% | 17.36% |
| 20.0 m (65.6 ft) | 19.9 m | 20.1 m | 25.9 cm | 50% / 50% | 12.89% |
| 30.0 m (98.4 ft) | 29.7 m | 30.3 m | 58.8 cm | 50% / 50% | 8.50% |
| 50.0 m (164 ft) | 49.2 m | 50.8 m | 1.65 m | 49% / 51% | 5.06% |
| 100 m (328 ft) | 96.8 m | 103 m | 6.63 m | 48% / 52% | 2.52% |
Try other settings#
Near limit—
Far limit—
Depth of field—
Hyperfocal distance—
In front / behind—
600 mm at other apertures (subject at 3 m)#
Other focal lengths at f/4#
| Focal length | Subject at | Total DoF |
|---|---|---|
| 14 mm | 3.00 m | ∞ |
| 16 mm | 3.00 m | ∞ |
| 20 mm | 3.00 m | 26.7 m |
| 24 mm | 3.00 m | 6.04 m |
| 28 mm | 3.00 m | 3.44 m |
| 35 mm | 3.00 m | 1.90 m |
| 40 mm | 3.00 m | 1.40 m |
| 50 mm | 3.00 m | 86.7 cm |
| 85 mm | 3.00 m | 29.1 cm |
| 105 mm | 3.00 m | 18.9 cm |
| 135 mm | 3.00 m | 11.3 cm |
| 200 mm | 10.0 m | 58.9 cm |
| 300 mm | 10.0 m | 25.9 cm |
| 400 mm | 10.0 m | 14.4 cm |
| 600 mm | 10.0 m | 6.3 cm |
Same lens settings on other formats#
When to use it#
At f/4, a 600 mm lens on full frame is a natural choice for general photography. Focused at 3 m you get 0.5 cm of sharp zone; for maximum front-to-back sharpness focus at 3.0 km and everything from 1.5 km to infinity will be acceptably sharp.
See also the f/4 aperture guide.
Frequently asked questions#
What is the depth of field of a 600mm lens at f/4?
On full frame, focused at 3 m, it is 0.5 cm; at 1 m it is not applicable (inside minimum focus).
What is the hyperfocal distance for 600mm f/4?
3.0 km (9844 ft) on full frame. Everything from 1.5 km to infinity is acceptably sharp.
Last updated October 03, 2026 · How we calculate · Sources