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.

Wide-Angle 4.5mm M12 Lens

CIL344-F1.9-M12B660

Wide-Angle 4.5mm M12 Lens

188°@6.6mm IP67 M12 Fisheye

CIL222-F2.0-M12A650

188°@6.6mm IP67 M12 Fisheye

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.

230°@4.5mm Fisheye M12 Lens

CIL213-F2.3-M12A660

230°@4.5mm Fisheye M12 Lens

Large Format 5.5mm M12 Lens

CIL056-F2.4-M12ANIR

Large Format 5.5mm M12 Lens

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.

200°@5.7mm IP67 Fisheye M12 Lens

CIL217-F2.7-M12A650

200°@5.7mm IP67 Fisheye M12 Lens

Telephoto 12mm M12 Lens

CIL125-F2.4-M12A650

Telephoto 12mm M12 Lens

Ingress Protected 7.8mm M12 Lens

CIL079-F2.0-M12A650

Ingress Protected 7.8mm M12 Lens

IP67 12mm M12 Lens

CIL120-F2.4-M12ANIR

IP67 12mm 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.

Telephoto 12mm M12 Lens

CIL125-F2.4-M12A650

Telephoto 12mm M12 Lens

Telephoto 35mm M12 Lens

CIL350-F2.4-M12A650

Telephoto 35mm M12 Lens
8mm M12 Lens CIL078 Nvidia Camera
8mm M12 Lens CIL078 Nvidia Camera
8mm M12 Lenses for Nvidia Camera
8mm S Mount Lens for Nvidia cameras
Low Distortion 7.8mm M12 Lens
CIL078-F2.0-M12A650
Low Distortion 7.8mm M12 Lens
$59.00
Telephoto 12mm M12 Lens
Telephoto 12mm M12 Lens
Telephoto M12 Lens 12mm
Arducam usb cameras Telephoto 12mm M12 Lens
Telephoto 12mm S-Mount Lens
CIL125-F2.4-M12A650
Telephoto 12mm M12 Lens
$39.00
35mm M12 Lens
35mm M12 Lens
35mm Board Mount Lens
35mm S Mount Lens
CIL350-F2.4-M12A650
Telephoto 35mm M12 Lens
$59.00
3mm M12 Lens Low Distortion USB Camera
3mm M12 Lens Low Distortion USB Camera
3mm M12 Lenses AR0821 AR0820 CIL030 USB3 Camera
AR0820 Low distortion S Mount M12 Lenses USB3 Camera
CIL030-F2.1-M12A650
Low Distortion 3.0mm M12 Lens
$49.00
IMX226 Dart Camera 3mm M12 Lens
IMX226 Dart Camera 3mm M12 Lens
Mipi camera M12 Lens for S-Mount FLIR
Arducam IMX477 2.7mm M12 Lens
CIL027-F2.8-M12A650
Low Distortion 2.7mm M12 Lens
$39.00
3.5mm M12 Lens for IMX226 AR0821 IMX537
3.5mm M12 Lens for IMX226 AR0821 IMX537
S-Mount Drone Lens for Wide Angle IMX226
Wide Angle Drone Lens for IMX226
CIL334-F2.2-M12C660
Large Format 3.5mm M12 Lens
$29.00