Depth of field: ARRI Alexa Mini LF
The ARRI Alexa Mini LF uses a Large Format 4.5K sensor at 36.7 × 25.54 mm — which fixes the circle of confusion at 0.037 mm, and from that every depth-of-field number on this page. Example: 50 mm at T2.8 focused at 2 m gives 0.33 m of usable depth (1.85 m to 2.18 m). The calculator above is preset to the ARRI Alexa Mini LF.
Depth of Field Calculator
- Near limit
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- Far limit
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- Total depth
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- Hyperfocal
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- FoV / frame width
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Circle of confusion per camera derives from sensor width (d/1000 convention). Camera list: nominal manufacturer specs.
Hyperfocal distance on the ARRI Alexa Mini LF
Focused at the hyperfocal distance, sharpness runs from half that distance to infinity — the one number that matters for landscapes, establishers and any shot without a focus puller.
| Focal length | T1.4 | T2 | T2.8 | T4 | T5.6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 mm | 6.3 | 4.4 | 3.1 | 2.2 | 1.6 |
| 25 mm | 12.1 | 8.5 | 6.1 | 4.2 | 3.0 |
| 35 mm | 23.7 | 16.6 | 11.9 | 8.3 | 5.9 |
| 50 mm | 48.3 | 33.8 | 24.2 | 16.9 | 12.1 |
| 85 mm | 139.6 | 97.7 | 69.8 | 48.9 | 35.0 |
Depth of field at interview distance (2 m)
The interview question in numbers: how much room does the subject have in front of the ARRI Alexa Mini LF before drifting out of focus?
| Focal length | T1.4 | T2 | T2.8 | T4 | T5.6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35 mm | 0.33 m | 0.48 m | 0.68 m | 1.01 m | 1.49 m |
| 50 mm | 0.16 m | 0.23 m | 0.33 m | 0.47 m | 0.66 m |
| 85 mm | 0.05 m | 0.08 m | 0.11 m | 0.16 m | 0.22 m |
Working with it on set
Recording at 4448 × 3096, large-screen 4K delivery judges focus more harshly than the table: for critical work, halve the circle of confusion mentally — the 0.33 m at 50 mm/T2.8/2 m becomes half that. The table follows the classical cinema convention.
In pre-production the number belongs in the shot list: a shot planned at T1.4 on 85 mm needs a focus puller and time — both of which belong in the schedule before they are missing on set.
Frequently asked
What circle of confusion does the ARRI Alexa Mini LF use?
0.037 mm — following the usual sensor-width ÷ 1000 convention (36.7 mm ÷ 1000, rounded). Every table on this page uses it.
Do the numbers hold for any lens?
Yes — depth of field depends on focal length, stop, distance and sensor, not the lens model. What differs between lenses is bokeh (how the blur looks), not where it starts.