85mm f/1.4 depth of field
On a full-frame camera, a 85 mm lens at f/1.4 focused at 2 m (6.56 ft) is sharp from 1.98 m to 2.02 m (4.5 cm deep). Hyperfocal distance: 172 m (565 ft).
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Leave empty to use the standard value for the sensor. Halve it for pixel-level sharpness.
With a 85 mm lens at f/1.4 on full frame focused at 2.00 m, everything from 1.98 m to 2.02 m is acceptably sharp: 4.5 cm of depth of field.
- In front of subject
- 2.2 cm (49%)
- Behind subject
- 2.3 cm (51%)
- Hyperfocal distance
- 172 m
- Circle of confusion
- 0.030 mm
Portraits with a melted background
The 85 mm f/1.4 is the classic portrait lens. At a head-and-shoulders distance of 2 m only about 4.5 cm is sharp — enough for the eyes, while ears and hair start to soften.
Use eye-detection autofocus, and stop down to f/2–f/2.8 if your subject is turned at an angle to the camera.
85mm f/1.4 depth of field table (full frame)
| Focus distance | Near limit | Far limit | Depth of field |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.00 m3.28 ft | 99 cm3.26 ft | 1.01 m3.30 ft | 1.1 cm0.42 in |
| 1.50 m4.92 ft | 1.49 m4.88 ft | 1.51 m4.96 ft | 2.5 cm0.97 in |
| 2.00 m6.56 ft | 1.98 m6.49 ft | 2.02 m6.64 ft | 4.5 cm1.8 in |
| 3.00 m9.84 ft | 2.95 m9.68 ft | 3.05 m10.0 ft | 10 cm4.0 in |
| 5.00 m16.4 ft | 4.86 m15.9 ft | 5.15 m16.9 ft | 29 cm11.3 in |
| 10.0 m32.8 ft | 9.46 m31.0 ft | 10.6 m34.8 ft | 1.16 m3.79 ft |
The same lens on other sensors (focused at 2 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 | 85 mm | 1.98 m | 2.02 m | 4.5 cm |
| APS-C (1.5×) | 130 mm | 1.99 m | 2.01 m | 3.0 cm |
| Canon APS-C (1.6×) | 137 mm | 1.99 m | 2.01 m | 2.8 cm |
| Micro Four Thirds | 170 mm | 1.99 m | 2.01 m | 2.2 cm |
| 1-inch | 232 mm | 1.99 m | 2.01 m | 1.6 cm |
| Medium format (44×33) | 67 mm | 1.97 m | 2.03 m | 5.6 cm |
Hyperfocal distance at other apertures
| Aperture | Full frame | APS-C (1.5×) | Micro Four Thirds |
|---|---|---|---|
| f/1.4 | 172 m | 258 m | 344 m |
| f/2 | 121 m | 181 m | 241 m |
| f/2.8 | 86.1 m | 129 m | 172 m |
| f/4 | 60.3 m | 90.4 m | 121 m |
| f/5.6 | 43.1 m | 64.6 m | 86.1 m |
| f/8 | 30.2 m | 45.2 m | 60.3 m |
| f/11 | 22.0 m | 32.9 m | 43.9 m |
| f/16 | 15.1 m | 22.7 m | 30.2 m |
FAQ
How much depth of field does a 85mm f/1.4 lens have?
On full frame, focused at 2 m, the sharp zone runs from 1.98 m to 2.02 m (4.5 cm deep). At 1.5 m it is 2.5 cm. Depth of field grows roughly with the square of the distance.
What is the hyperfocal distance of a 85mm lens at f/1.4?
172 m (565 ft) on full frame (c = 0.030 mm) and 258 m (847 ft) on APS-C. Focus there and everything from half that distance to infinity is acceptably sharp.
Is depth of field different with 85mm f/1.4 on an APS-C camera?
With the same lens at the same distance, APS-C gives slightly less depth of field (3.0 cm at 2 m) because of its smaller circle of confusion — but it frames like a 130 mm lens. To match the full-frame framing you would step back, which increases depth of field.
Related lenses
- 85 mm f/1.8Affordable portrait prime
- 105 mm f/2.8Macro lens at portrait distance
- 135 mm f/2Compression and creamy backgrounds
Learn how aperture, distance and focal length interact in depth of field explained.