Use our Camera Depth of Field calculator which includes the Nyquist Frequency and Hyperfocal Distance.

Camera Depth of Field Calculator

A Camera Depth of Field Calculator for Surveillance Camera and M12 Lens. DoF and Hyperfocal Distance Calculator.
A Camera Depth of Field Calculator for Surveillance Camera and M12 Lens. DoF and Hyperfocal Distance Calculator.

The depth of field of a camera is the range of distances which objects are in focus. The depth of field is dependent upon the camera sensor pixel pitch, the lens effective focal length, and the lens aperture diameter. 

This depth of field calculator has five primary outputs:
1.) Depth of Field
2.) Hyperfocal Distance
3.) Geometric and Diffractive Depth of Focus
4.) Sensor Nyquist Frequency
5.) Relative Transmittance of 2 F#s and the required exposure length difference

A faster aperture (lower F/#) results in a shorter depth of field, whereas a slower aperture (higher F/#) results in a longer depth of field.

The depth of field is related to the "Hyperfocal Distance" which is the distance at which if you focus a camera, all objects beyond the distance will be in focus.

If you focus a camera closer than the hyperfocal distance,  the depth of field will get shallower. The depth of field is not symmetric around the selected focus distance; It extends further beyond the focus distance than in front of the focus distance.

The depth of field can be characterized by three metrics:

  • The Hyperfocal Distance is the distance at which a lens should be focused to achieve acceptable focus out to infinity.
  • The Near Focus Distance is the closest distance which will be in focus, given a specific focus distance. When a camera is focused at the Hyperfocal distance, the Near Focus Distance is equal to half of the Hyperfocal distance.
  • The Far Focus Distance is the further distance which will be in focus, given a specific focus distance. When a camera is focused at the Hyperfocal distance, the Far Focus Distance is  Infinity.

The amount of light incident on the image sensor is reduced using a higher F/#, requiring a longer exposure or more digital gain / ISO. We've added an f-stop calculator to provide relative illuminance (throughput) of a lens with different f-stops. This way you can adjust exposure and gain based upon the lens F/#.

Click below Use our Other Camera Calculators

Lens Focal Length Calculator. EFL Calculator.
Camera Angle of View Calculator. Camera AoV Calculator.
Camera Field of View Calculator. FoV Calculaot

What's Your Application? Our Lenses Cover the Spectrum.

Mobile Robotics?

Find a low F# or low distortion lens to optimize your computer vision.

Factory Machine Vision?

Our cost-effective compact C-Mount lenses are designed for up to 1.1"~1.2" format global shutter sensors.

Intelligent Everywhere?

Our low distortion lenses with multiple F# can be used to optimize your depth of field.

Surveillance?

Our fisheye and IR Corrected lenses are suitable for doorbell cameras and active IR illuminated scenes.

Wide-Angle 3.6mm Lens

CIL336-F1.9-M12A650

Wide-Angle 3.6mm Lens

200°@5.5mm Fisheye M12 Lens

CIL237-F2.2-M12A660

200°@5.5mm Fisheye M12 Lens

Wide-Angle 4mm M12 Lens

CIL341-F2.0-M12A650

Wide-Angle 4mm M12 Lens

Does it Require Getting Dirty?

Our IP67 and IP69K lenses are suitable for applications exposed to the environment.

Aerial Robotics?

Our tiny lenses are ideal for collision avoidance and object recognition.

IR Corrected 12mm M12 Lens
IR Corrected 12mm M12 Lens
12mm S-Mount Lens
IR Corrected M12 Lens
CIL122-F2.0-M12A650
IR Corrected 12mm M12 Lens
$59.00
8mm Edmund Blue Series M12 Lens 58203 83-940
8mm Edmund Blue Series M12 Lens 58203 83-940
8mm S-Mount Lens
8mm M12 Lens allied Vision Basler
CIL382-F2.0-M12A650
Wide-Angle 7.8mm M12 Lens
$29.00
Molded Glass Aspheres M12 Lens Low Distortion
Molded Glass Aspheres M12 Lens Low Distortion
Molded Glass S-Mount
M12 Lenses Low Distoriton
CIL093-F2.4-M12A650
All Glass Low Distortion 2.8mm M12 Lens
$119.00