Shallow vs deep depth of field explained in easy text. Read our detailed article to learn how each affects focus, background blur, and storytelling in your photos with simple examples.
Introduction:
You may have heard the terms "shallow depth of field" and "deep depth of field," or simply "DoF," but what actually is it, and why does it matter for both photographers and videographers? Well, it matters a lot, as knowing these two concepts and, most importantly, using them in the real world holds the potential to set you free creatively so you can capture professional images and videos.
First, depth of field, or DoF, is a fundamental concept of optical photography, a term used to express a zone within a photo that appears acceptably sharp. Such a zone is a point of focus in every image or video shot you will take, in which the DoF can be both in front of and behind the point of focus that also appears sharp.
This zone of sharpness can be changed based on distance to the subject and the lens’s aperture settings. When these changes occur, the shallow vs deep depth of field comparison comes into play.
Deep Depth of Field Explained
When the zone of sharpness is in more than one frame, it is said to have a deep depth of field. In other words, it means that most or all elements in such a frame, starting from foreground to background, are in pure sharp focus of the camera. Deep DoF is desirable in photography niches like landscape photography and architecture. For filmmakers, such DoF is used in scenes where context and detail richness matter.
Shallow Depth of Field Explained
It is the opposite of deep DoF, as in such photos, the narrow plane of the image is in razor-sharp focus, making the subject in focus stand out against a blurry background around it. Such DoF is used to isolate subjects clearly in a frame. You will see the use of such DoF in creamy portraits of weddings, macro shots, or detail-oriented images.
Shallow Vs Deep Depth of Field
1. Focus Area Size: This is the most obvious difference between the two, as shallow depth of field results in a narrow area of the image in focus, while deep DoF requires most of or all of the image to be in focus.
2. Focal lengths: Another significant difference is in the focal lengths, as shallow DoF requires longer focal lengths (telephoto range) to isolate the subject. Deep DoF uses wider-angle lenses to achieve that all-frame sharpness. In short, a large aperture number equals a small f-number, which results in shallow (small) DoF. Similarly, a small aperture equals a large f-number, which results in deep (large) DoF.
3. Distance: For shallow DoF shots, the distance to capture the subject is much less than for deep DoF shots, which are usually much farther away.
4. Foreground differences: Shallow DoF creates a creamy, artistic background blur, a.k.a. bokeh, which adds more focus in images and removes distractions while isolating the subject.
5. Storytelling: Shallow DoF pulls in the viewer's attention. It creates a more connected vibe between the subject and the viewer due to the clear separation of the subject from its surroundings. Deep DoF takes away attention from one part of the image and creates a narrative depth, resulting in an immersive scene.
When to use Shallow and Deep DoF?
Keeping your images and video shots sharp is an essential skill you absolutely have to master if you intend to improve your results. You must be good at knowing how to make parts of your images and videos sharp and parts out of focus. When seeking the viewer's focus precisely where you want it, you will need Shallower DoF in your frame. Deep DoF is needed when you want to capture scenes that require detail across the entire frame.
Macro, portrait, and close-up shots need shallow DoF, while landscape, street photography, and architectural shots will demand deeper DoF. How much detail is preserved in such deep DoF depends on lens optics, and the same applies to the quality of bokeh in images created with shallowed depth of field.
Best Camera Lens for Shallow and Deep DoF
Any camera lens can create shallow and deep DoF in an image, but the quality is not equal. The SIRUI Saturn 35/50/75mm Full-frame Carbon Fiber Anamorphic Lens is designed with high-end optics that deliver top-tier professional clarity in different depths of field.
This is due to the anamorphic optics used in the lens system, which pack a T2.9 (equivalent to f/2.8) fast and can deliver gorgeous object illumination and that creamy, buttery, smooth blur everyone loves in their portraits, added with horizontal blue streaks that give more detail to the final images and videos.
Switch to T8 or T11 on this kit's 35mm variant lens and move further away from the subject to capture a super-wide shot with a 2.39:1 aspect ratio after de-squeezing, a feature native to anamorphic lenses. In short, this lens kit is a versatile professional tool kit for photographers and filmmakers. The best part is that it is priced reasonably and built with a shell quality comparable to a lens priced at thousands of dollars in 2025.
Wrapping Up:
From the above shallow vs. deep depth of field comparison, we can learn when to use them. It is also evident that DoF is a key artistic component of each photo, as it can make a massive difference to how the shot is perceived and can often make or break the composition. The SIRUI Saturn lens series is designed to give you full creative freedom of deep and shallow DoF with professional optical clarity.
