Depth of field by subject distance#
600 mm at f/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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.50 m (4.92 ft) | 1.50 m | 1.50 m | 0.1 cm | 50% / 50% | 212.77% |
| 2.00 m (6.56 ft) | 2.00 m | 2.00 m | 0.2 cm | 50% / 50% | 136.78% |
| 3.00 m (9.84 ft) | 3.00 m | 3.00 m | 0.6 cm | 50% / 50% | 79.79% |
| 4.00 m (13.1 ft) | 3.99 m | 4.01 m | 1.2 cm | 50% / 50% | 56.32% |
| 5.00 m (16.4 ft) | 4.99 m | 5.01 m | 2.0 cm | 50% / 50% | 43.52% |
| 7.00 m (23.0 ft) | 6.98 m | 7.02 m | 4.0 cm | 50% / 50% | 29.92% |
| 10.0 m (32.8 ft) | 9.96 m | 10.0 m | 8.4 cm | 50% / 50% | 20.37% |
| 15.0 m (49.2 ft) | 14.9 m | 15.1 m | 19.2 cm | 50% / 50% | 13.30% |
| 20.0 m (65.6 ft) | 19.8 m | 20.2 m | 34.5 cm | 50% / 50% | 9.87% |
| 30.0 m (98.4 ft) | 29.6 m | 30.4 m | 78.4 cm | 49% / 51% | 6.51% |
| 50.0 m (164 ft) | 48.9 m | 51.1 m | 2.20 m | 49% / 51% | 3.88% |
| 100 m (328 ft) | 95.8 m | 105 m | 8.85 m | 48% / 52% | 1.93% |
Try other settings#
600 mm at other apertures (subject at 3 m)#
Other focal lengths at f/8#
Same lens settings on other formats#
When to use it#
At f/8, a 600 mm lens on APS-C is a natural choice for landscapes and architecture where front-to-back sharpness matters. Focused at 3 m you get 0.6 cm of sharp zone; for maximum front-to-back sharpness focus at 2.3 km and everything from 1.1 km to infinity will be acceptably sharp.
See also the f/8 aperture guide.
Frequently asked questions#
What is the depth of field of a 600mm lens at f/8?
On APS-C, focused at 3 m, it is 0.6 cm; at 1 m it is not applicable (inside minimum focus).
What is the hyperfocal distance for 600mm f/8?
2.3 km (7384 ft) on APS-C. Everything from 1.1 km to infinity is acceptably sharp.
Last updated October 03, 2026 · How we calculate · Sources