Deep Focus vs. Depth of Field

Filmmakers spend much of their careers working on mastering cinematography techniques that surround the concepts of depth of field. In fact, understanding deep focus vs depth of field can have a key impact on your ability to create shots that connect with the audience. And achieve the desired outcome. But what does deep focus and depth of field have to do with it all?

What is Depth of Field?

Depth of field (DOF) represents the range of areas that are in focus in your shot. It’s the distance, from the nearest object in focus to the furthest objection focus within your camera frame.

Basically, it’s the first element that you see that is acceptably sharp. Everything behind it. And all the way back until the last element that you see acceptably sharp. 

A single camera setup may have multiple depths of field. Based on the individual settings. As depth of field is dependent upon distance from the lens, aperture, and the focal length.

Thus, to achieve the largest depth of field rather easily, all you have to do is close down your camera aperture (f/stop). Move back from your subject. Grab a wide lens. And voila – you’ve got deep focus!

What is Deep Focus?

Deep focus is a cinematography technique that is achieved by using a large depth of field. Recall that depth of field was represented by the area in between the first object that is acceptably sharp. And the last object that is acceptably sharp within your frame.

Deep focus, then, is apparent when your entire area of your camera frame, foreground, middle ground, and background are all in focus. 

Think of it as a deep depth of field, because that’s exactly what the term deep focus means. So, deep focus vs depth of field can be explained as accompanying elements of one another.

Deep focus is thus a technique that utilizes a large depth of field whereby shallow focus would be the term used to describe a smaller depth of field.

Deep Focus vs. Depth of Field 

Depth of field can impact your filmmaking in a variety of ways, most importantly though – deep focus vs shallow focus play key roles in the storytelling abilities of your shots.

In every shot that you capture the depth of field is going to come into play as you consider it along with other compositional elements including shot size, camera angles, movements, and framing techniques. 

Inform the Audience

Deep focus, one of the potential outcomes for your depth of field, can be used to clue your audience in to what’s taking place in your setting. It’s also an excellent opportunity to keep everything in perspective without shedding light on any favoritism of a particular character or element within the scene. 

As you learn more about deep focus vs depth of field, you’ll come to understand that deep focus is an incredibly useful technique of staging depth of field to your advantage.