Key numbers
- Mount / system: Nikon Z (Full Frame)
- Sensor: Full Frame, 36 × 24mm
- Focal length: 24–120mm
- Aperture: f/4 to f/22
- DoF at 3 m, 50mm, f/4: 2.64–3.47 m (≈ 83 cm deep)
- Hyperfocal distance (50mm, f/8): 10.9 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.
24 mm
| Aperture | Hyperfocal | 1 m | 2 m | 3 m | 5 m | 10 m |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| f/4 | 5.02 m | 0.84–1.24 | 1.43–3.30 | 1.88–7.38 | 2.51–622 | 3.35–∞ |
| f/5.6 | 3.59 m | 0.79–1.37 | 1.29–4.45 | 1.64–17.5 | 2.10–∞ | 2.65–∞ |
| f/8 | 2.52 m | 0.72–1.63 | 1.12–9.26 | 1.38–∞ | 1.68–∞ | 2.02–∞ |
| f/11 | 1.84 m | 0.65–2.13 | 0.96–∞ | 1.15–∞ | 1.35–∞ | 1.56–∞ |
| f/16 | 1.27 m | 0.57–4.30 | 0.78–∞ | 0.90–∞ | 1.02–∞ | 1.13–∞ |
| f/22 | 0.93 m | 0.49–∞ | 0.64–∞ | 0.72–∞ | 0.79–∞ | 0.85–∞ |
50 mm
| Aperture | Hyperfocal | 1 m | 2 m | 3 m | 5 m | 10 m |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| f/4 | 21.7 m | 0.96–1.05 | 1.84–2.20 | 2.64–3.47 | 4.07–6.48 | 6.86–18.5 |
| f/5.6 | 15.5 m | 0.94–1.07 | 1.78–2.29 | 2.52–3.70 | 3.79–7.34 | 6.09–27.8 |
| f/8 | 10.9 m | 0.92–1.10 | 1.70–2.44 | 2.36–4.12 | 3.44–9.17 | 5.22–117 |
| f/11 | 7.93 m | 0.89–1.14 | 1.61–2.65 | 2.19–4.78 | 3.08–13.3 | 4.43–∞ |
| f/16 | 5.47 m | 0.85–1.21 | 1.47–3.11 | 1.95–6.52 | 2.62–52.9 | 3.55–∞ |
| f/22 | 3.99 m | 0.81–1.31 | 1.34–3.91 | 1.72–11.5 | 2.23–∞ | 2.86–∞ |
120 mm
| Aperture | Hyperfocal | 1 m | 2 m | 3 m | 5 m | 10 m |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| f/4 | 125 m | 0.99–1.01 | 1.97–2.03 | 2.93–3.07 | 4.81–5.20 | 9.27–10.9 |
| f/5.6 | 89.3 m | 0.99–1.01 | 1.96–2.04 | 2.91–3.10 | 4.74–5.29 | 9.00–11.2 |
| f/8 | 62.5 m | 0.99–1.01 | 1.94–2.06 | 2.87–3.14 | 4.64–5.42 | 8.64–11.9 |
| f/11 | 45.5 m | 0.98–1.02 | 1.92–2.09 | 2.82–3.20 | 4.52–5.60 | 8.22–12.8 |
| f/16 | 31.3 m | 0.97–1.03 | 1.89–2.13 | 2.75–3.30 | 4.33–5.92 | 7.60–14.6 |
| f/22 | 22.8 m | 0.96–1.04 | 1.85–2.18 | 2.66–3.43 | 4.12–6.36 | 6.98–17.6 |
FAQ
What is the depth of field of the Nikon Z 24-120mm f/4 S at f/4 and 3 m?
At 50mm, f/4 and focus at 3 m, acceptable sharpness runs from 2.64 to 3.47 m — about 83 cm in total.
What is the hyperfocal distance of the Nikon Z 24-120mm f/4 S?
At 50mm and f/8 on a Full Frame sensor the hyperfocal distance is about 10.9 m. Focus there and everything from 5.44 m to infinity is sharp.
How do I get more background blur with the Nikon Z 24-120mm f/4 S?
Open the aperture to f/4, 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.