What are three ways to control depth of field?

• A. Shutter speed, ISO, and white balance
• B. Focal length of lens, aperture, and camera to subject distance
• C. Sensor size and megapixels
• D. Color temperature, contrast, saturation

Answer: (B)

Depth of field is the portion of the scene that appears sharp and in focus. The three direct ways to control it are the focal length of the lens, the aperture, and the distance from the camera to the subject. A longer focal length narrows the sharp zone, giving a shallower depth of field, while a shorter focal length broadens it. The size of the lens opening, the aperture, also changes depth of field: a wide opening (low f-number) produces a shallow depth of field, and a small opening (high f-number) increases the depth of field. The distance to the subject matters too: moving closer to the subject reduces depth of field, and stepping back increases it. These are the primary levers you adjust to shape which parts of the image stay in focus. Other factors like sensor size or exposure settings affect the image in other ways, but the three listed here are the main controls to actively manage depth of field.