Key numbers
- Mount / system: Nikon Z (Full Frame)
- Sensor: Full Frame, 36 × 24mm
- Focal length: 85mm
- Aperture: f/1.8 to f/16
- DoF at 3 m, 85mm, f/1.8: 2.94–3.06 m (≈ 13 cm deep)
- Hyperfocal distance (85mm, f/8): 31.4 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.
| Aperture | Hyperfocal | 1 m | 2 m | 3 m | 5 m | 10 m |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| f/1.8 | 139 m | 0.99–1.01 | 1.97–2.03 | 2.94–3.06 | 4.83–5.18 | 9.34–10.8 |
| f/2 | 125 m | 0.99–1.01 | 1.97–2.03 | 2.93–3.07 | 4.81–5.20 | 9.27–10.9 |
| f/2.8 | 89.5 m | 0.99–1.01 | 1.96–2.04 | 2.91–3.10 | 4.74–5.29 | 9.00–11.2 |
| f/4 | 62.7 m | 0.99–1.01 | 1.94–2.06 | 2.87–3.15 | 4.64–5.43 | 8.63–11.9 |
| f/5.6 | 44.8 m | 0.98–1.02 | 1.92–2.09 | 2.82–3.21 | 4.51–5.62 | 8.19–12.8 |
| f/8 | 31.4 m | 0.97–1.03 | 1.89–2.13 | 2.75–3.31 | 4.32–5.93 | 7.60–14.6 |
| f/11 | 22.9 m | 0.96–1.04 | 1.85–2.18 | 2.66–3.44 | 4.12–6.37 | 6.97–17.7 |
| f/16 | 15.7 m | 0.95–1.06 | 1.78–2.28 | 2.53–3.68 | 3.81–7.27 | 6.14–27.0 |
FAQ
What is the depth of field of the Nikon Z 85mm f/1.8 S at f/1.8 and 3 m?
At 85mm, f/1.8 and focus at 3 m, acceptable sharpness runs from 2.94 to 3.06 m — about 13 cm in total.
What is the hyperfocal distance of the Nikon Z 85mm f/1.8 S?
At 85mm and f/8 on a Full Frame sensor the hyperfocal distance is about 31.4 m. Focus there and everything from 15.7 m to infinity is sharp.
How do I get more background blur with the Nikon Z 85mm f/1.8 S?
Open the aperture to f/1.8, move closer to your subject and increase the distance between subject and background. You can check the result in the calculator above.