Definition
What is depth of field in video?
Depth of field is the zone in front of and behind the point of focus that looks acceptably sharp. It is shaped by aperture, focus distance, focal length, sensor format, and the final viewing size.
A narrow zone isolates a subject from its surroundings; a broad zone keeps foreground and background readable. Cinematographers choose it before shooting, because an editor cannot recover detail that was recorded out of focus.
Aperture is a common control, but it is not the only one. Moving the camera closer to the focused subject narrows the sharp zone, while staging and lens choice also change how the image reads.
Example in the edit
In an interview, the presenter is sharp while the office behind them falls softly out of focus.
Why editors use it
Depth of field directs attention and determines how much visual information an editor has available in each shot.
Watch and learn
See the technique in context
Selected explanation by StudioBinder
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions about Depth of field
Is depth of field the same as focus?
Focus is the distance set to be sharp; depth of field is the surrounding range that also appears acceptably sharp.
What makes depth of field shallow?
A wider aperture, closer focus distance, longer focal length, and larger sensor can all reduce the range that appears sharp.
Can depth of field be changed in editing?
Blur can be simulated, but it cannot reliably restore missing focus detail or perfectly reproduce the natural separation captured in camera.