Key numbers
- Mount / system: Sony E (APS-C)
- Sensor: APS-C, 23.5 × 15.6mm
- Focal length: 16–55mm (about 43mm full-frame equivalent, 1.53× crop)
- Aperture: f/2.8 to f/22
- DoF at 3 m, 28mm, f/2.8: 2.50–3.75 m (≈ 124 cm deep)
- Hyperfocal distance (28mm, f/8): 5.24 m
Depth of field table
Distances are measured from the sensor plane. Each cell shows the near and far limit of acceptable sharpness in metres (∞ = to infinity). Circle of confusion = sensor diagonal / 1500.
16 mm
| Aperture | Hyperfocal | 1 m | 2 m | 3 m | 5 m | 10 m |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| f/2.8 | 4.88 m | 0.83–1.25 | 1.42–3.37 | 1.86–7.73 | 2.47–∞ | 3.28–∞ |
| f/4 | 3.42 m | 0.78–1.40 | 1.27–4.76 | 1.60–23.6 | 2.03–∞ | 2.55–∞ |
| f/5.6 | 2.45 m | 0.71–1.67 | 1.10–10.6 | 1.35–∞ | 1.65–∞ | 1.97–∞ |
| f/8 | 1.72 m | 0.64–2.34 | 0.93–∞ | 1.10–∞ | 1.28–∞ | 1.47–∞ |
| f/11 | 1.25 m | 0.56–4.65 | 0.77–∞ | 0.89–∞ | 1.00–∞ | 1.12–∞ |
| f/16 | 0.87 m | 0.47–∞ | 0.61–∞ | 0.68–∞ | 0.74–∞ | 0.80–∞ |
| f/22 | 0.63 m | 0.39–∞ | 0.48–∞ | 0.53–∞ | 0.56–∞ | 0.60–∞ |
28 mm
| Aperture | Hyperfocal | 1 m | 2 m | 3 m | 5 m | 10 m |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| f/2.8 | 14.9 m | 0.94–1.07 | 1.77–2.30 | 2.50–3.75 | 3.75–7.50 | 5.99–30.2 |
| f/4 | 10.5 m | 0.91–1.10 | 1.68–2.47 | 2.34–4.19 | 3.39–9.54 | 5.12–218 |
| f/5.6 | 7.47 m | 0.88–1.15 | 1.58–2.72 | 2.15–4.98 | 3.00–14.9 | 4.28–∞ |
| f/8 | 5.24 m | 0.84–1.23 | 1.45–3.21 | 1.91–6.93 | 2.57–97.9 | 3.44–∞ |
| f/11 | 3.82 m | 0.80–1.34 | 1.32–4.14 | 1.69–13.5 | 2.17–∞ | 2.77–∞ |
| f/16 | 2.63 m | 0.73–1.58 | 1.14–7.96 | 1.41–∞ | 1.73–∞ | 2.09–∞ |
| f/22 | 1.92 m | 0.66–2.02 | 0.99–∞ | 1.18–∞ | 1.39–∞ | 1.62–∞ |
55 mm
| Aperture | Hyperfocal | 1 m | 2 m | 3 m | 5 m | 10 m |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| f/2.8 | 57.5 m | 0.98–1.02 | 1.93–2.07 | 2.85–3.16 | 4.60–5.47 | 8.53–12.1 |
| f/4 | 40.3 m | 0.98–1.02 | 1.91–2.10 | 2.80–3.24 | 4.45–5.70 | 8.02–13.3 |
| f/5.6 | 28.8 m | 0.97–1.03 | 1.87–2.14 | 2.72–3.34 | 4.27–6.04 | 7.43–15.3 |
| f/8 | 20.2 m | 0.96–1.05 | 1.82–2.21 | 2.62–3.51 | 4.02–6.62 | 6.70–19.7 |
| f/11 | 14.7 m | 0.94–1.07 | 1.77–2.31 | 2.50–3.75 | 3.74–7.54 | 5.96–31.0 |
| f/16 | 10.1 m | 0.91–1.10 | 1.68–2.48 | 2.32–4.23 | 3.36–9.79 | 5.04–616 |
| f/22 | 7.37 m | 0.89–1.15 | 1.58–2.72 | 2.14–5.00 | 2.99–15.2 | 4.26–∞ |
FAQ
What is the depth of field of the Sony E 16-55mm F2.8 G at f/2.8 and 3 m?
At 28mm, f/2.8 and focus at 3 m, acceptable sharpness runs from 2.50 to 3.75 m — about 124 cm in total.
What is the hyperfocal distance of the Sony E 16-55mm F2.8 G?
At 28mm and f/8 on a APS-C sensor the hyperfocal distance is about 5.24 m. Focus there and everything from 2.62 m to infinity is sharp.
How do I get more background blur with the Sony E 16-55mm F2.8 G?
Open the aperture to f/2.8, move closer to your subject and increase the distance between subject and background, and zoom in to the long end. You can check the result in the calculator above.