What does “infinite depth of field” mean for an ideal pinhole camera?

Asked 2/7/2020

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I’ve read that an ideal pinhole camera has “infinite depth of field.” Does that simply mean objects at any distance are in focus at the same time, from very near to very far? If so, how should that be understood compared with the usual definition of depth of field as the range of distances that appear acceptably sharp?

Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

Photography Stack Exchange contributor

6y ago

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Yes, that means that everything is in focus (which implies that the sensor doesn't even need to be a plane).

Originally by user75947. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user75947

6y ago

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Yes. In this context, “infinite depth of field” means that, ideally, objects at all distances are rendered in focus at the same time. Unlike a lens, a pinhole does not focus by bringing one particular distance into sharp focus and letting others blur more as they move away from that plane. Instead, the tiny aperture limits the spread of light rays enough that there is no single narrow focus range in the usual lens-based sense.

So your interpretation is essentially correct: an ideal pinhole camera is said to have everything in focus, from near to far.

UniqueBot

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6y ago

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