Depth of field
Also known as DoF. Category: Lighting and optics
Depth of field (DoF) is the range of distances in a scene that appears acceptably sharp. It depends on aperture, focal length, subject distance and sensor size: smaller apertures and greater distances increase it, longer lenses and closer subjects decrease it.
In product photography the whole product usually needs to be sharp from front to back, which calls for small apertures and therefore powerful lighting.
How PhotoRobot uses it
PhotoRobot stresses that in 360 spins the entire product must stay in focus at every angle, ideally with the background out of focus. Its free Depth of Field Calculator and Depth of Field Chart estimate near and far focus limits for full-frame and Canon APS-C cameras.
See on photorobot.com
Related terms
- Aperture: The adjustable lens opening, given as an f-number; smaller openings give more depth of field.
- Hyperfocal distance: The focus distance that gives the maximum depth of field, extending sharpness to infinity.
- Focus stacking: Combining several photos focused at different distances into one image that is sharp throughout.
- Focal length: The lens property, in millimetres, that sets the angle of view and magnification.
- Full-frame sensor: A camera sensor the size of 35 mm film (36 x 24 mm), preferred for product photography.
Where this term appears on photorobot.com
Mentioned on 19 pages of photorobot.com:
- Depth of Field Chart for Studio Photography (Page)
The Depth of Field chart shows total depth of field for common subject distances and apertures, with the smaller numbers in each cell giving the precise near–far focus range. - Depth of Field Calculator for Studio Photography (Page)
Use the Depth of Field Calculator to estimate near and far focus limits, total depth of field, and the hyperfocal distance for any combination of focal length, aperture, sensor format, and subject… - Studio Lighting Overview for PhotoRobot Systems (Manual)
…photography, how PhotoRobot solves them, and technical notes on achieving the perfect depth of field. - Understanding Camera Resolution for PhotoRobot Customers (Manual)
Camera sensor size affects mostly the angle of view, the “crop factor”, performance in different lighting conditions, dynamic range, and depth of field. - Recommended Cameras for PhotoRobot Systems (Manual)
For reference, use the PhotoRobot Depth of Field Calculator to estimate near and far focus limits, total depth of field, and the hyperfocal distance for any combination of focal length, aperture,… - PhotoRobot CASE 850 Portable Studio User Guide (Manual)
…sequence; renders special techniques such as automated cut-out; chromakey masking and DoF stacking for enhanced depth of field; with workflow, database, automated upload, and much more. - Guide to Attaining the Perfect Lighting for 360 Product Photography (Blog)
Strobe lighting is extremely bright and its high output provides a deep depth of field that maintains a sharp focus on products and also appears to freeze them in motion. - Jewelry Photography - Behind the Scenes Production (Blog)
They help to maintain sharp focus on smaller products, eliminate motion blur, and provide a much larger depth of field. - Packshot Photography - What is it, and How to Produce It (Blog)
These provide a higher depth of field, allowing for greater sharpness of products within frame. - Effective Equipment for 360 Spin Photography (Blog)
Strobe lighting is extremely bright and with high output that creates a deep depth of field. - Professional Tips for Footwear Product Photography (Tutorial)
Also pay attention to how this affects depth of field. - 7 Components to Capture the Perfect Product Photo (Blog)
The perfect product photo makes your product stand out in vivid detail, with just the right lighting to convey shape and a deep depth of field. - Discover PI Profiles and the Capture PI Advisor (Blog)
This is in addition to monitoring depth of field, edge separation of the product from the background, and – the most critical aspect for 360 photography – absolute frame consistency across the entire… - Ghost Mannequin Effect for Apparel Photography (Blog)
Extremely bright and with high output, this setup provides not only a deep depth of field that maintains sharp focus on the apparel, it also appears to freeze apparel in motion so that you can capture… - Guide to 360 Product Photography for E-Commerce (Blog)
With spin photography, you need a depth of field to keep everything in focus, and this requires a lot of light and proper illumination. - Mastering Product Photography: Shoes and Footwear (Blog)
By producing a lot of light, these strobes can keep every shot in focus, even with the deep depth of field which is necessary when producing spin photography. - PhotoRobot Viewer - 2D / 3D / 360 Product Image Hosting (Blog)
Close-ups often convey intricate details, whereas a shallow depth of field can highlight different aspects of an object. - Product Photography of Sunglasses with PhotoRobot (Blog)
Experiment with close-ups to capture intricate details, or aim for a shallow depth of field to highlight different aspects of the product. - Tips for 360-Degree Motorized Turntable Photography (Blog)
The high intensity of the strobe lights allows the use of higher aperture and makes it possible to reach a deep depth of field, while also playing a crucial role in shooting larger products.