200mm f/2.8 depth of field
On a full-frame camera, a 200 mm lens at f/2.8 focused at 10 m (32.8 ft) is sharp from 9.80 m to 10.2 m (41 cm deep). Hyperfocal distance: 476 m (1,563 ft).
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With a 200 mm lens at f/2.8 on full frame focused at 10.0 m, everything from 9.80 m to 10.2 m is acceptably sharp: 41 cm of depth of field.
- In front of subject
- 20 cm (49%)
- Behind subject
- 21 cm (51%)
- Hyperfocal distance
- 476 m
- Circle of confusion
- 0.030 mm
Sports, events and wildlife
The long end of a 70–200 mm f/2.8 is the standard lens for indoor sports, weddings and stage events. At 10 m about 40 cm is in focus — enough for a player or a performer, with a clean, blurred background.
Fast-moving subjects need continuous autofocus: with only 40 cm of depth of field, a runner crosses it in a fraction of a second.
200mm f/2.8 depth of field table (full frame)
| Focus distance | Near limit | Far limit | Depth of field |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.00 m9.84 ft | 2.98 m9.78 ft | 3.02 m9.90 ft | 3.5 cm1.4 in |
| 5.00 m16.4 ft | 4.95 m16.2 ft | 5.05 m16.6 ft | 10 cm4.0 in |
| 10.0 m32.8 ft | 9.80 m32.1 ft | 10.2 m33.5 ft | 41 cm1.35 ft |
| 15.0 m49.2 ft | 14.5 m47.7 ft | 15.5 m50.8 ft | 93 cm3.06 ft |
| 20.0 m65.6 ft | 19.2 m63.0 ft | 20.9 m68.5 ft | 1.67 m5.47 ft |
| 30.0 m98.4 ft | 28.2 m92.6 ft | 32.0 m105 ft | 3.77 m12.4 ft |
The same lens on other sensors (focused at 10 m)
Same lens, same distance — smaller sensors frame tighter and use a smaller circle of confusion.
| Sensor | Frames like | Near limit | Far limit | Depth of field |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full frame | 200 mm | 9.80 m | 10.2 m | 41 cm |
| APS-C (1.5×) | 306 mm | 9.86 m | 10.1 m | 27 cm |
| Canon APS-C (1.6×) | 322 mm | 9.87 m | 10.1 m | 26 cm |
| Micro Four Thirds | 400 mm | 9.90 m | 10.1 m | 21 cm |
| 1-inch | 546 mm | 9.93 m | 10.1 m | 15 cm |
| Medium format (44×33) | 158 mm | 9.75 m | 10.3 m | 52 cm |
Hyperfocal distance at other apertures
| Aperture | Full frame | APS-C (1.5×) | Micro Four Thirds |
|---|---|---|---|
| f/2.8 | 476 m | 714 m | 953 m |
| f/4 | 334 m | 500 m | 667 m |
| f/5.6 | 238 m | 357 m | 476 m |
| f/8 | 167 m | 250 m | 334 m |
| f/11 | 121 m | 182 m | 243 m |
| f/16 | 83.5 m | 125 m | 167 m |
FAQ
How much depth of field does a 200mm f/2.8 lens have?
On full frame, focused at 10 m, the sharp zone runs from 9.80 m to 10.2 m (41 cm deep). At 5 m it is 10 cm. Depth of field grows roughly with the square of the distance.
What is the hyperfocal distance of a 200mm lens at f/2.8?
476 m (1,563 ft) on full frame (c = 0.030 mm) and 714 m (2,344 ft) on APS-C. Focus there and everything from half that distance to infinity is acceptably sharp.
Is depth of field different with 200mm f/2.8 on an APS-C camera?
With the same lens at the same distance, APS-C gives slightly less depth of field (27 cm at 10 m) because of its smaller circle of confusion — but it frames like a 306 mm lens. To match the full-frame framing you would step back, which increases depth of field.
Related lenses
Learn how aperture, distance and focal length interact in depth of field explained.