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 3.5mm M12 Lens

CIL335-F1.8-M12A660

Wide-Angle 3.5mm M12 Lens

Low Distortion 7.8mm M12 Lens

CIL078-F2.0-M12A650

Low Distortion 7.8mm M12 Lens

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.

Low Distortion 6mm M12 Lens

CIL059-F1.7-M12B650

Low Distortion 6mm M12 Lens

GoPro 3.0mm M12 Lens

CIL331-F2.5-M12B650

GoPro 3.0mm 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.

195°@4.7mm Fisheye M12 Lens

CIL216-F2.2-M12A650

195°@4.7mm Fisheye M12 Lens

Fisheye 2.5mm CS Mount Lens

CIL725-F1.8-CSANIR

Fisheye 2.5mm CS Mount Lens

Wide-Angle 2.8mm M12 Lens CIL329

CIL329-F2.0-M12A650

Wide-Angle 2.8mm M12 Lens CIL329

Wide-Angle 3.6mm Lens

CIL336-F1.9-M12A650

Wide-Angle 3.6mm 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.

200°@6.3mm Fisheye M12 Lens

CIL219-F2.5-M12A650

200°@6.3mm Fisheye M12 Lens

Low Distortion 7.2mm M12 Lens

CIL872-F2.8-M12A650

Low Distortion 7.2mm M12 Lens
Short Compact 3.6mm M12 Lens CIL036
Short Compact 3.6mm M12 Lens CIL036
Compact 3.6mm M12 Lens CIL036
Compact 3.6mm S Mount Lens CIL036
CIL036-F2.2-M12A650
Small 3.3mm M12 Lens
$19.00
A 14MP 4mm M12 lens that is wide angle no distortion.
A 14MP 4mm M12 lens that is wide angle no distortion.
A 3.9mm M12 Lens pictured with the Raspberry Pi High Quality
A 4K M12 Lens for the Raspberry Pi High Quality Camera. CIL039.
CIL039-F2.8-M12A650
No Distortion 3.9mm M12 Lens
$39.00
A 12MP+ 4mm S-Mount Lens
A 12MP+ 4mm S-Mount Lens
A No Distortion 4.3mm S Mount Lens
A 14MP 4.3mm M12 Lens CIL043
CIL043-F3.2-M12B650
No Distortion 4.4mm M12 Lens
$39.00
6mm M12 Lens for Blackfly S-mount cameras
6mm M12 Lens for Blackfly S-mount cameras
6mm M12 Lens for FLIR Blackfly S and AR0234
6mm Lens for IMX290
CIL061-F1.9-M12B650
Fast 6mm M12 Lens
$39.00
3mm Wide Angle M12 Lens IMX415
3mm Wide Angle M12 Lens IMX415
Sony IMX415 Lens
M12 S Mount Lens for IMX415
CIL327-F1.5-M12A660
Wide-Angle 2.7mm M12 Lens
$39.00
Wide Angle M12 Lens
Wide Angle M12 Lens
Wide Angle S-Mount Lens
AR0820 M12 Lens
CIL344-F1.9-M12B660
Wide-Angle 4.5mm M12 Lens
$49.00