The depth of focus refers to the tolerance of placement of an image sensor in relation to the lens. The depth of focus is the conjugate of the depth of field. Since both the depth of field and the depth of focus are abbreviated as DoF, they are hereinafter referred to as DoFi and DoFo respectively for the sake of clarity.The depth of focus (DoFo) is the distance over which a sensor can be displaced along the optical axis while an object remains in acceptably sharp focus. DoFo can be calculated from the permissible circle of confusion (δ) and the effective f-number (Fe).

Being an AF-P lens, though, it’s not compatible with Nikon DSLRs that were released five years or more ago – if you use an older model, you’ll need to buy the Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR.

The lenses on this list aren’t just for DSLRs, however. The best Nikon mirrorless cameras in the Z system have taken centre-stage in recent years, but thanks to Nikon’s FTZ mount adapters, Nikon F lenses can be used on these cameras, too. In most cases, they’ll work with full functionality of autofocus and stabilisation, so owners of mirrorless cameras will also find bargains from our list. It includes a mix of new available lenses and some only available second-hand for bigger savings.

Large-aperture prime lenses allow you to shoot indoors without flash, or blur backgrounds for creative effect. Not only is this small 35mm prime one of the best Nikon lenses of its type for APS-C DSLR users, it’s also very sharp. With a view roughly equivalent to a 50mm prime on full-frame, it’s suitable for subjects from street photography to portraits.

This makes the AF-S DX Nikkor 16-80mm f/2.8-4E ED VR highly attractive, and as we noted in our review, it’s an excellent lens all-around. Vibration Reduction (optical image stabilisation), an electromagnetic diaphragm, a 5x zoom and the aforementioned generous maximum aperture, all wrapped up in a lightweight body make it impressive. Our AF-S DX Nikkor 16-80mm f/2.8-4E ED VR test results showed good centre sharpness, with some expected drop-off in the corners, especially at large apertures.

Gauss’ lens formula (1/(-a)+1/b=1/f) expresses the depth of field using the distance to a subject from the principal point.The subject distance used in Gauss’ lens formula is greater than the one used in Newton’s lens formula by the focal length of a lens (f). Therefore, the depth of field can be easily obtained simply by replacing x in Newton’s lens formula with a+f.The origin of the coordinate system for the subject distance (a) is the front principal point. For typical shooting, a point on the opposite side of an image takes a negative value.

On Nikon F-mount lenses this stands for Vibration Reduction; Nikon’s name for its optical image stabilisation system. Image stabilisation keeps a lens steady when it’s being hand-held, allowing for the use of slower shutter speeds without the need for a tripod.

An f/2.8 lens has a maximum aperture setting of f/2.8. The lower the number (eg f/1.4), the larger the aperture, and the more light a lens will let in. This also allows for shallow depth of field, which is handy for portraits. Some zoom lenses have a variable maximum aperture like f/3.5-5.6 – this means the maximum aperture changes depending on how far the lens is zoomed in.

F number depth of fieldphotography

This lens has been on the market for almost a decade now, meaning good prices can often be had if you’re prepared to shop around.

With an array of exotic glasses and coatings, it’s designed for use on the latest high-resolution DSLRs such as the 45.7MP Nikon D850. It can also be used with DX-format cameras, giving a 36-105mm equivalent range.

Wide-angle lenses (around 8-35mm) are good for capturing expansive scenes like landscapes, and conveying scale in architecture. Standard lenses (40-75mm) provide a natural perspective, useful for street photography and documentary photography. Telephoto lenses (80mm and higher) are good for bringing distant subjects like wildlife into sharp focus, or flattering facial features for portraits.

Shallowdepth of field

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When a lens is focused at a hyperfocal distance (H) of about 362.3 m, the depth of field extends from infinity to H/2. So, the farthest point is infinity, and the nearest point is roughly 181.2 m. When the lens is focused at H/3 (≈120.8 m), the depth of field extends from about 181.2 m to about 90.6 m.

To take portraits to a higher level, then a large-aperture, short-telephoto prime is the way to go. Nikon’s AF-S 85mm f/1.8 is a good quality yet reasonably affordable choice, with fast autofocus and sharp optics. With a nine-bladed circular aperture, it can also provide very attractively blurred backgrounds. The lens is also nice and light, weighing less than the previous version despite having a more complex optical interior with more glass elements. The front of the lens doesn’t rotate when focusing, meaning you can freely use circular filters.

Which is the best Nikon F lens for your DSLR setup? As different lenses suit different kinds of subject, the choice depends largely on what you plan to photograph. Here is a quick guide to the main considerations when picking a Nikon F lens.

For a detailed description of the depth of field, see Basics of camera lenses: Guidelines for lens selection and Consideration for depth of field in machine vision on our website. This section provides an overview of the depth of field and some added information about it.

The brighter f/1.8 aperture will be of benefit to those shooting in low-light conditions, and we expect those interested in astrophotography would be well served by this lens.

Often the first lens DSLR users buy after the 18-55mm that came with their camera is a telephoto zoom. But there’s a huge number to choose from, with Nikon alone offering six for its DX-format SLRs, distinguished only by opaque combinations of letters in their names.

Depth of fieldphotography examples

The lens has a 58mm filter thread and a construction of seven elements in six groups. Don’t confuse it with the cheaper AF 50mm f/1.8D, which won’t autofocus on Nikon’s entry-level D3000-series or D5000-series DSLRs.

If you want to get started with video, check out our top picks for budget-friendly used video cameras and accessories. Richard Sibley guides us through what you need

Depth offocus

One downside is the rather uninspiring maximum aperture of f/3.5-5.6. This is part and parcel of keeping the lens to a sensible weight and cost, but all the same, those who want to create striking shallow depth of field or beautiful bokeh will want to look elsewhere.

The most up-to-date is the AF-P 70- 300mm f/4.5-6.3 VR: a compact, image-stabilised optic with a usefully long zoom range and the latest fast, silent AF-P motor for autofocus that’s also suitable for video work.

It’s worth noting that, due to its 3.5kg weight, you might not want to carry it around for too long. A monopod can help out here, as we discovered when we took it for a review at a bird-in-flight workshop. Nikon has created an absolutely sensational lens, but the high price will have the final say over the number of photographers who get to use it.

The hyperfocal sequence is a sequence of successive H/n values, where n is an integer. The following table shows the values of H to H/5.(The unit of measure is mm. The negative sign that represents a direction is omitted.)

For more have a look at the latest news, lens reviews, and buying guides, or have a look at the best Nikon DSLRs, and the best Nikon mirrorless cameras.

These are all true, but this information does not help you determine which lens provides a greater depth of field because cameras with different sensor sizes require lenses with different focal lengths to obtain the same angle of view.Note that the depth of field is related to optical magnification. In the case of machine vision applications requiring close focusing at relatively high magnification, it would be safe to consider as follows:

Nowadays, surveillance cameras in distant-view shooting mode employ image shooting and processing techniques for machine vision cameras, for example, to synchronize trigger control with lighting.Suppose, for example, a wavelength of 550 nm, a camera with a pixel pitch of 3.45 μm, and an F2 lens with a focal length (f) of 50 mm. Let us calculate consecutive depths of field under these conditions.The specifications for the camera and the lens are:

For those blessed with the budget, Nikon’s AF-S Nikkor 180-400mm f/4E TC1.4 FL ED VR lens offers not only a 180-400mm telephoto zoom, but also features a built-in 1.4x teleconverter. With the new price of $12,396 / £10,999, it might be a lens to consider hiring for special shoots.

When a lens is focused at H/n, H/(n-1) and H/(n+1) are the rear and front depths of field respectively.For example, a lens focused at H holds a depth of field from H/2 to infinity.As shown in the previous subsection, when a lens is focused at infinity, the rear depth of field is infinite, going slightly “over infinity,” while the front depth of field is H.Dividing a hyperfocal distance (H) by an integer (n) means that the focal point shifts along the optical axis by half the depth of focus (δ*Fe) times n in relation to the lens extension (x’) at infinity.

While it can be hard to find new, especially in the UK, the Nikkor AF-S 14-24mm f/2.8G ED can be picked up used for less than $749 / £689, and is a steal at that price.

Amy is a highly experienced photography and technology journalist who has been working on AP since 2018, having been working in the industry since 2009. She is a graduate of the magazine journalism course at Cardiff University and has written for a wide range of publications and websites. As Features Editor, she is responsible for commissioning an eclectic mix of features connected to general photography, along with interviews. She is also a very experienced reviewer of cameras and associated technology, with her reviews featured on multiple sites including TechRadar, Digital Camera World, Trusted Reviews, ePhotozine, Stuff, Expert Reviews, T3, Photography Blog and more. She is also an expert on smartphone photography and smartphones generally.

When a lens is focused on an object at a distance of H, a depth of field extends from infinity to H/2. In this case, H is called a hyperfocal distance.

The following shows an equation for calculating the depth of field using the distance to a subject (x) from the focal point.Newton’s lens formula uses the front focal point as an origin to measure the distance to a subject (x). For typical shooting, a point on the opposite side of an image takes a negative value.The front depth of field (DoFN) is positive whereas the rear depth of field (DoFF) is negative. Since the total depth of field represents a distance, it is expressed as an absolute value.As effective f-numbers, the values calculated from the optical magnification at the front and rear depths of focus (FeN and FeF) are used. For general applications, FeN and FeF can be replaced with the Fe value that is calculated from optical magnification at a distance to the subject (x).

A discontinued lens that can still be acquired at a good price second-hand, the Nikon 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6G VR delivers unparalleled versatility for a Nikon DSLR user. It’s one of the few superzoom lenses that’s compatible with full-frame. Does it deliver the kind of optical quality you get from Nikon’s prime lenses? No, of course not – but it does pretty well across the entire zoom range, and you won’t have any problem shooting dynamic, striking images with it.

The lens is equally suitable for use on full-frame and DX format DSLRs, giving a 135mm view on the latter. To get even better results, you’d need to invest in an 85mm f/1.4, with Sigma’s 85mm f/1.4 Art DG HSM ($ 1,199 / £929) being a fine example. If you don’t have that kind of budget, this is a very tempting alternative.

An image of a point source that is not in perfect focus appears as a blur spot called a circle of confusion (CoC). The size of the smallest spot that an image sensor cannot recognize as a blur is called the permissible circle of confusion or simply a circle of confusion.Even today when digital cameras are the mainstream cameras, the CoC diameters (δ) commonly referenced on the Internet (e.g., 0.033 mm, or 1/1300th of the image diagonal) are for images on silver halide films. These values are specified for images that are printed on a photographic paper of a certain size and viewed at a certain distance. In machine vision, which processes each pixel of an image sensor at high brightness levels, the permissible circle of confusion (δ) is calculated based on the pixel pitch (Ppix) or the diameter of the Airy disk (DAiry) that represents a limit to the optical resolution of an image created by a lens. In the case of monochrome cameras, the larger of these values is used as δ. (For color cameras with an on-chip color Bayer array filter, a value equal to two to three times δ is generally used.)

In this case also, focusing at H/n causes the depth of field to extend from H/(n+1) to H/(n-1). As you see, close focusing causes the depths of field to become considerably shallower than infinity focusing.In the case of close focusing with large optical magnification, the depth-of-field values differ considerably from the results of the calculation shown in Section 2.4. It is therefore recommended to consider the above depth-of-field values as rough estimates at an early stage of system design.

F number depth of fieldcalculator

Whens a lens is focused at infinity (x=∞, x’=0), the hyperfocal distance is equal to the front depth of field as given by the following equation. (Here, we use Newton’s lens formula since our attention is on the lens extension, x’.)Optical magnification has not been determined yet when you calculate a hyperfocal distance. Therefore, we use the f-number (F) at infinity (that is not modified by optical magnification) instead of the effective f-number (Fe).

For many years, 50mm primes (or ‘nifty fifties’) were sold as general-purpose lenses with 35mm film cameras, but they fell out of favour for a few decades. Recently, however, there has been a resurgence in their popularity for use with APS-C format DSLRs. They tend to be small, light and relatively cheap, yet very sharp, and perfect for shooting portraits.

In order to determine the depth of focus (DoFo) accurately, it is necessary to consider the optical aberrations of a lens such as an image plane curvature. However, since such accuracy is generally unnecessary, the depth of focus is calculated based only on parameters along the optical axis.The DoFo value obtained by the above equation represents the most stringent case in terms of accuracy. For actual applications, a more relaxed value can be used as necessary. (For details, see the white paper Consideration for depth of field in machine vision from Toshiba Teli.)

Prime lenses have a fixed focal length, while zoom lenses have a focal range that let you get closer to or further from your subject. Prime lenses produce superior optical quality, so picking between the two types is generally a choice between sharpness vs versatility.

Yes. Nikon F-mount lenses can be used with Nikon mirrorless cameras, thanks to the FTZ or FTZ II mount adapters. In most cases, the adapter will give you full functionality of autofocus and stabilisation.

Remember that the previous subsection mentioned that the depth of focus is the conjugate of the depth of field. A change in the object-side depth of focus caused by a displacement of the image plane by half the depth of focus is equal to half the depth of field. A slight displacement of an image plane causes the object-side focal point to shift by as much as a change in the image-side depth of focus divided by the longitudinal magnification of the lens. Because the depth of focus is symmetrical around the image plane, the depth of field is also symmetrical around the image plane.

The permissible circle of confusion (δ) is the larger of the pixel pitch (Ppix) and the diameter of the Airy disk (DAiry). So, let us calculate DAiry to determine δ:

F number depth of fieldcanon

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The lens gives impressive image quality, as well as rapid focus performance, making it ideal for when a telephoto prime lens is required. When we took the lens to Lords Cricket Ground for a sporting field test, we discovered just how well it delivers the goods: ‘If I were a Nikon user planning to go on safari, I’d put my name down to hire this lens…’ noted our reviewer at the time.

The Nikkor AF-S 14-24mm f/2.8G ED was introduced in 2007, and is quite simply a beautiful feat of optical engineering. It delivers images of outstanding sharpness thanks to its extra-low dispersion elements and the Nano Crystal Coating and Super Integrated Coating that have been added. It’s also weather-sealed, and the constant aperture of f/2.8 enables real creative freedom.

For a lens that will also work on full-frame, you’ll need the similarly-named Nikon AF-S Nikkor 35mm f/1.8G, but this costs almost three times as much. Other important things to know about this lens are its 30cm minimum focus distance, it accepts filters and adapters via a 52mm thread and accepts Nikon’s HB-46 lens hood.

The Nikon AF-S Nikkor 20mm f/1.8G ED is a high-quality wide-angle prime lens, giving high-quality images, particularly at f/5.6-f/8 where we found it gave impressive resolution. It was only in the very corners of the image where we found slight blur. Distortion is also kept well controlled, with minimal vignetting and chromatic aberration. These are solved in-camera if you shoot JPEG images, or alternatively can be quickly fixed in photo editing software.

F number depth of fieldnikon

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Two optical systems provide the same depth of field when their lenses have the same optical magnification and f-number and their image sensors have the same pixel pitch.

Sometimes only the very best will do, and when it comes to standard zooms on a full-frame Nikon body, this is it. The latest version of Nikon’s pro workhorse lens adds optical image stabilisation and uses an electromagnetic diaphragm, which provides much-improved functionality when shooting in live view, and for video work.

Focusing at H/n (where n is an integer) causes the depth of field to extend from N/(n+1) to H/(n-1). A hyperfocal sequence is a sequence of N/n:

Many machine vision applications shoot subjects at close distances (for example, at a distance of 300 mm). For close-up shooting, the depth of field can be calculated using optical magnification. The previous subsection explained the depth of field in relation to longitudinal magnification (α). The following shows an equation for calculating the depth of field using linear magnification, β (also called lateral or transverse magnification) since optical magnification generally means linear magnification. α and β have the following relationship: α=β2.

Many of the readers of this white paper might have had questions before about the depth of field (DoF) not only when using machine vision systems but also when taking photographs with ordinary cameras.The depth of field is the distance between the nearest and the farthest objects in an image that appear acceptably sharp. You can find information about the depth of field on the Internet, in off-the-shelf books, and in trade journals. White papers about the depth of field are also available on our website under the headings Basics of camera lenses: Guidelines for lens selection and Consideration for depth of field in machine vision. These white papers discuss the depth of field from a different perspective than the commonly adopted one in the photography industry.This white paper describes, in an easy-to-understand way, the depth of field in relation to the hyperfocal distance and the hyperfocal sequence. Although these lens properties are closely related to each other, it is difficult to find such information on the Internet. Therefore, you will find this white paper useful.

However, if the optical magnification of a lens differs greatly at both ends of the depth of focus, the front and rear depths of field are not equal as described in 3 and 4 above. Equations for the depth of field are presented in the following subsections. In the case of machine vision and other applications requiring relatively close focusing, we recommend using an equation with an optical magnification term. Otherwise, we recommend using an equation with a subject distance term.

The Nikon AF-S 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR lens is the lightest 500mm full-frame telephoto prime lens; weighing just 1.46kg, it is lighter than most 150-600mm zoom lenses – light enough to shoot with handheld. The Vibration Reduction system gives 4-stops of stabilisation.

Sure, you don’t get more modern features like lightning-fast autofocus and optical stabilisation, but landscape photographers don’t really need them. The main thing that’s likely to annoy landscape shooters is the fact that you can’t attach filters to the bulbous front element. Workarounds exist, such as the Lee Filters SW150 system, but they will add to the cost of the lens, so bear that in mind.

Read on to find out which lenses we’ve picked. For newer options in Nikon’s mirrorless system, check out our guide to the best Nikon Z-mount lenses. If you’re new to buying lenses and need a primer, scroll to the bottom of the page where we’ve included an explainer section of key specs with answers to some frequently asked questions.

If you’ve outgrown the 18-55mm kit zoom that came when you bought your camera, this might just be the perfect upgrade. It offers a usefully extended zoom range, from 24mm equivalent wide-angle to 128mm telephoto, while providing a respectable optical performance that’s aided by a fast ultrasonic-type autofocus motor and built-in image stabilisation.

From Newton’s lens formula, the lens extension (x’) is expressed as follows using the camera-to-subject distance (x): The lens extensions (xN’ and xF’) at the nearest point of the front rear depth of field (DoFN) and the farthest point of the rear depth of field (DoFF) are calculated as follows using the effective f-number at x, Fex (denoted as Fe in the above paragraph): The linear magnification factors (βN and βF) and the effective f-numbers (FeN and FeF) at xN’ and xF’ are calculated as follows:

he depth of field is the distance between the nearest and the farthest objects in an image that appear acceptably sharp.When you shoot images, you focus a camera on objects at arbitrary distances. The distance to the nearest point in acceptably sharp focus in front of the best-focused point is called the front depth of field whereas the distance to the farthest point in acceptably sharp focus behind the best-focused point is called the rear depth of field. The distance between these points is the total depth of field.The depth of field can be calculated as described in the following subsection. However, objects appear differently, depending on their size and surface characteristics as well as the optical aberrations of the lens used. Therefore, cameras do not always come into sharp focus precisely at the calculated threshold; rather, they gradually come into and out of focus around a threshold.

This lens is legendary in landscape photography circles. If you’ve seen any competition shortlists for landscape photography in the past 10 years, then you’ve seen an image taken with it.

Depths of focus are arranged as a sequence to show the ranges over which an object remains in acceptably sharp focus. This sequence is called a hyperfocal sequence (HS) or consecutive depths of focus.

Nikon’s AF-S 50mm f/1.8G is a classic example of the type, and will also work on full-frame cameras. We found it performed well across the board. Overall, Nikon has succeeded in taking a classic design and making it even better.

The maximum aperture is relatively slow, running from f/3.5 to f/5.6 once you’ve zoomed in. This will be fine for most day-to-day shooting, but you may start to struggle once light levels start to get low – though the aforementioned stabilisation will help by letting you get away with slower shutter speeds to let in more light.

We should also mention the Vibration Reduction (VR) functionality, which really does work well in low light. Much slower shutter speeds than normal still produce sharp pictures, which makes this lens an ideal all-in-one, carry-everywhere choice.

An upmarket version of Nikon’s standard zoom, the AF-S DX Nikkor 16-80mm f/2.8-4E ED VR commands a premium in price. However, for the money, you do get a more generous maximum aperture of f/2.8-4. What’s more, the price gap between the 16-80mm f/2.8-4E and the 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6 has narrowed now that both are on the second-hand market. New, there would have been about $300/£300 between them; now it’s more like $100/£100.

It certainly delivers impressive image quality though, with Vibration Reduction helping to keep shots steady, for which it is to be commended.

Again, though, its AF-P designation means that it only works on relatively recent APS-C DSLRs, so check compatibility before you buy. Otherwise, this is a great complement to a standard zoom for subjects such as landscapes, interiors, real estate and architecture, where you’d like to squeeze as much as possible in the frame.

Depth of fieldcalculator

You’ll see these letters in the names of all Nikon F-mount lenses, and they refer to the sensor size of the camera they pair with. Nikon DSLRs come in two varieties – APS-C sensor (DX) and full-frame sensor (FX). A DX lens will create a smaller image circle, designed to fit a smaller APS-C sensor found on Nikon’s DX series DSLRs, such as the Nikon D5600.

Super-fast autofocus and top-notch build quality round off a truly excellent package. Overall, it’s a superb, fast standard zoom that is perfect for a range of shooting environments.

If you want to get started with video, check out our top picks for budget-friendly used video cameras and accessories. Richard Sibley guides us through what you need

Welcome to our guide to the best lenses for Nikon F-mount. Here we pick out the best of the best lenses for full-frame Nikon DSLRs based on the many that we’ve tested and reviewed over the years.

We’ve reported previously on 35 F-mount lenses being discontinued in recent years. Despite this, there are still a vast number of lenses available new, and in the used camera market. A discontinued lens may still be a very good, or indeed a great performing lens. The most recent Nikon DSLRs released were the Nikon D780 and Nikon D6 – both in 2020.

At the other end of the scale, cameras in the Nikon D3000 series like the Nikon D3500 were such popular beginners’ cameras (and to an extent still are) as to be used as standard on introductory photography college courses everywhere.

The F-mount underpins Nikon’s legendary system of DSLRs. A list of the best Nikon DSLRs includes some of the greatest cameras ever made: the fast-shooting Nikon D850, for example, was regarded for years as the best wildlife camera money could buy.

Nikon DSLR users had long been crying out for a lightweight, inexpensive wide-angle zoom, and finally it arrived in the shape of this 10-20mm lens for APS-C (its focal range works out to an equivalent of 15-30mm when mounted on DX cameras). Optically it’s OK, if not outstanding, but the short minimum focus distance provides plenty of versatility, making it a solid jack-of-many-trades for a reasonable price. The built-in optical stabilisation (VR) is excellent, providing compensation equivalent to 3.5 stops. Arguably, it’s less useful on a wide-angle like this than it would be on a telephoto, but there’s no harm in having it, particularly if you plan to do a lot of low-light shooting.

Most machine vision applications provide close focusing. The following table shows the consecutive depths of field for relatively close focusing under the same conditions as above.