Tutorials Video

Depth of Field for Video

Intermediate · ~25 min

Overview

Depth of field (DOF) describes how much of your frame is in sharp focus. A shallow depth of field keeps only a narrow plane sharp, giving you the blurred background (bokeh) effect seen in cinematic interviews and portraits. A deep depth of field keeps everything from foreground to background sharp: used in documentary, landscape, and action sequences. Understanding what controls DOF lets you use it as a deliberate storytelling tool rather than a happy accident.

What You Need

A camera with manual aperture control
A lens with a wide maximum aperture (f/1.4, f/2.8 ideal for shallow DOF)
Our Depth of Field Calculator to preview values before shooting

Steps

What depth of field is

A lens can only focus precisely on one distance. The focal plane. Objects in front of and behind that plane gradually become less sharp. Depth of field is the range of distances that appear acceptably sharp to the viewer, not a single line, but a zone. Within that zone, objects look focused. Outside it, they blur into bokeh. The size of that zone is what you're controlling when you talk about deep vs shallow DOF. A razor-thin zone means only your subject is sharp. A wide zone means foreground and background detail are both resolved.

The three controls: aperture, focal length, distance

Aperture is the most direct control. A wide aperture (low f-number: f/1.4, f/1.8, f/2.8) gives shallow DOF and strong bokeh. A narrow aperture (high f-number: f/8, f/11, f/16) gives deep DOF with everything sharp. Focal length also affects DOF: a telephoto lens (85mm, 135mm) compresses the scene and produces shallower DOF than a wide lens (24mm, 35mm) at the same aperture. Subject distance is the third factor: the closer you are to your subject, the shallower the DOF, and the further the background sits from your subject, the more blurred it becomes. To maximise bokeh: telephoto lens, wide aperture, close to subject, far background.

Shallow DOF vs deep DOF

Shallow DOF (f/1.4, f/2.8): isolates a subject from the background, draws the viewer's eye, creates intimacy and cinematic weight. Used in interviews, narrative close-ups, product shots. The risk: critical focus becomes difficult. A subject moving a few centimetres can slip out of the focal plane. Deep DOF (f/5.6, f/16): keeps everything sharp, provides context, feels documentary or observational. Used in wide establishing shots, action sequences, instructional content where background detail matters. Neither is inherently better. The choice should match what you're trying to communicate.

Using DOF creatively

A rack focus (pulling focus from one subject to another during a shot) uses DOF to shift the viewer's attention without cutting. Common in documentary and narrative: the foreground object is sharp at the start of the shot, then focus shifts to a subject in the background. A follow focus tracks a moving subject to keep them sharp as they move toward or away from camera, requires a follow focus mechanism or reliable autofocus. Foreground elements placed partially in the frame in soft focus: a plant, a doorframe, a shoulder, can add depth and frame a subject more cinematically. Shallow DOF makes this technique very effective.

Focus pulling basics

Manual focus pulling is the skill of turning the focus ring on a lens to move the focal plane smoothly during a shot. Practise on static subjects first: focus on near object, then slowly roll focus to a far object. The speed of the pull should match the pacing of the scene. A quick pull for dramatic effect, a slow pull for a gentle reveal. Mark your focus distances with focus marks (tape on the lens barrel or a proper focus mark ring) if you're pulling to specific known distances. On a gimbal or handheld rig, touch focus or eye-detect AF can be more practical than manual pulls, but for narrative work, manual control gives you intention.

Pro Tips

Sensor size affects DOF: a full-frame sensor gives shallower DOF than an APS-C or Micro Four Thirds sensor at the same f-stop and field of view. This is why full-frame cameras are preferred for cinematic bokeh.
Use our DOF Calculator before a shoot to preview exactly how much depth of field you'll have at any aperture, focal length, and distance combination.
At very wide apertures (f/1.2, f/1.8), the DOF can be shallower than a person's nose-to-ear depth, making eye-level framing and locking off on a tripod critical for sharpness.
If you can't achieve shallow DOF with your lens, move your subject further from the background. Background distance has as much impact on perceived bokeh as aperture.

Knowledge Base

What You'll Learn

Control depth of field to isolate your subject. Learn how aperture, focal length, and distance affect focus. Master shallow DOF for cinematic interviews and documentary work.

Depth of Field Factors

Aperture (f-stop): Widest opening (f/1.4) = shallowest DOF. Narrowest (f/16) = deepest DOF.
Focal Length: 50mm = moderate DOF. 85mm = shallower DOF. 35mm = deeper DOF.
Distance: Close focus (3 feet) = shallow DOF. Far focus (30 feet) = deep DOF.
Sensor Size: Full-frame = shallower DOF. APS-C crop = deeper DOF at same aperture.

Achieving Shallow DOF

Use widest aperture available (f/1.4 if possible).
Use longest focal length practical (70-85mm for interviews).
Get closer to subject (3-6 feet).
Ensure background is far behind subject (at least 10 feet).

Common DOF Issues

Focus Hunting: Autofocus can't lock in shallow DOF. Use manual focus or pre-focus.
Focus Fall: Interviewer moves, goes out of focus. Pre-focus lock or constant manual focus adjustment.
Unintended Blur: Wide shots with narrow DOF look unnatural. Match DOF to shot type.

Where This Fits

This guide covers one specific part of cinematography. The wider picture, what focal length, exposure, lighting ratio, and camera movement actually communicate, rather than only what the controls do, is in Cinematography Fundamentals: Lens, Light, and Movement, which frames the discipline as a whole and links out to the detailed guides underneath it, including this one. If you are starting from scratch rather than solving a specific problem, read that first and come back here.

FAQ

Q: Can I achieve shallow DOF on a phone?
A: Phones have small sensors and wide lenses. Portrait mode simulates shallow DOF via computation, not optical physics.