85mm f/1.8 depth of field
On a full-frame camera, a 85 mm lens at f/1.8 focused at 2.5 m (8.20 ft) is sharp from 2.46 m to 2.55 m (9.0 cm deep). Hyperfocal distance: 134 m (439 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/1.8 on full frame focused at 2.50 m, everything from 2.46 m to 2.55 m is acceptably sharp: 9.0 cm of depth of field.
- In front of subject
- 4.4 cm (49%)
- Behind subject
- 4.6 cm (51%)
- Hyperfocal distance
- 134 m
- Circle of confusion
- 0.030 mm
Affordable portrait prime
An 85 mm f/1.8 gives most of the look of an f/1.4 at a fraction of the size and price. At 2.5 m the sharp zone is about 9 cm — a whole face sharp, the background smooth.
For full-length portraits at around 7 m the depth grows to about 70 cm, and the background still separates well.
85mm f/1.8 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 | 1.4 cm0.54 in |
| 1.50 m4.92 ft | 1.48 m4.87 ft | 1.52 m4.97 ft | 3.2 cm1.2 in |
| 2.00 m6.56 ft | 1.97 m6.47 ft | 2.03 m6.66 ft | 5.7 cm2.3 in |
| 2.50 m8.20 ft | 2.46 m8.06 ft | 2.55 m8.35 ft | 9.0 cm3.6 in |
| 3.00 m9.84 ft | 2.94 m9.63 ft | 3.07 m10.1 ft | 13 cm5.1 in |
| 5.00 m16.4 ft | 4.82 m15.8 ft | 5.19 m17.0 ft | 37 cm1.21 ft |
| 10.0 m32.8 ft | 9.31 m30.5 ft | 10.8 m35.4 ft | 1.49 m4.89 ft |
The same lens on other sensors (focused at 2.5 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 | 2.46 m | 2.55 m | 9.0 cm |
| APS-C (1.5×) | 130 mm | 2.47 m | 2.53 m | 6.0 cm |
| Canon APS-C (1.6×) | 137 mm | 2.47 m | 2.53 m | 5.7 cm |
| Micro Four Thirds | 170 mm | 2.48 m | 2.52 m | 4.5 cm |
| 1-inch | 232 mm | 2.48 m | 2.52 m | 3.3 cm |
| Medium format (44×33) | 67 mm | 2.44 m | 2.56 m | 11 cm |
Hyperfocal distance at other apertures
| Aperture | Full frame | APS-C (1.5×) | Micro Four Thirds |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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/1.8 lens have?
On full frame, focused at 2.5 m, the sharp zone runs from 2.46 m to 2.55 m (9.0 cm deep). At 1.5 m it is 3.2 cm. Depth of field grows roughly with the square of the distance.
What is the hyperfocal distance of a 85mm lens at f/1.8?
134 m (439 ft) on full frame (c = 0.030 mm) and 201 m (659 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/1.8 on an APS-C camera?
With the same lens at the same distance, APS-C gives slightly less depth of field (6.0 cm at 2.5 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/1.4Portraits with a melted background
- 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.