depth of field

n. In photography and cinematography, the distance between the nearest and farthest elements of a shot that appear sufficiently sharp in the image. The elements that fall outside the depth of field for an image appear out of focus.

depth of field

n (Photography) the range of distance in front of and behind an object focused by an optical instrument, such as a camera or microscope, within which other objects will also appear clear and sharply defined in the resulting image. Compare depth of focus

depth′ of field′

n. the range of distances along the axis of an optical instrument, usu. a camera lens, through which an object produces a relatively distinct image. Also called depth′ of fo′cus. [1910–15]

Translations

profondità di campo

depth of field

[′depth əv ′fēld] (optics) The range of distances over which a camera gives satisfactory definition, when its lens is in the best focus for a certain specific distance.

depth of field

The area in an image from front to back that is in focus. The smaller the aperture (the larger the f-stop number), the more objects are in focus both near and distant. The wider the aperture (the smaller the f-stop number), elements in front of and behind the object in focus appear soft or blurry.

Set a Mood
In both moving and still pictures, depth of field (DOF) is widely used to call attention or create feelings. By focusing on one element in the image and leaving the rest blurry, the audience is drawn to that part of the frame. In addition, making surroundings softer or foggy can eliminate unwanted background objects that distract from the subject of the picture. See f-stop and focal length.

Quite a Difference

Changing the f-stop from f/29 (top) to f/4.5 (bottom) turns all the unwanted objects in the background into a blur.

Quite a Difference

Changing the f-stop from f/29 (top) to f/4.5 (bottom) turns all the unwanted objects in the background into a blur.

depth of field

For a given setting of an optical system (or a steady state of accommodation of the eye) it is the distance over which an object may be moved without causing a sharpness reduction beyond a certain tolerable amount. Depth of field increases when the diaphragm (or pupil) diameter diminishes as, for example, in old eyes (Fig. D1). Examples: viewing at infinity, the depth of field ranges between infinity and about 3.6 m for a pupil of 4 mm in diameter; and between infinity and about 2.3 m for a 2 mm pupil. At a viewing distance of 1 m, the depth of field ranges from about 1.4 m to 80 cm with a 4 mm pupil; and from about 1.8 m to 70 cm with a 2 mm pupil. See hyperfocal distance.

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Fig. D1 Schematic representation of the depth of field and the depth of focus of an eye fixating an object at O (I, retinal image size corresponding to the tolerable resolution)