Photography & Imaging
Intermediate

Lens Magnification

Image magnification from focal length and subject distance.

Formula

M=fs−fM = \frac{f}{s - f}

Live Calculator

Members

Variables

MMagnification
fFocal length (mm)
sSubject distance (mm)

Example

f=100 mm, s=300 mm: M = 100/200 = 0.5×

Did You Know?

True macro lenses reach 1:1 magnification — the subject is projected life-size onto the sensor.

photographymagnificationmacro

Share this formula

More in Photography & Imaging

View all

F-Number

Basic

Aperture f-number is focal length divided by aperture diameter.

Exposure Value (EV)

Intermediate

Combines aperture and shutter speed into one exposure figure.

Depth of Field (approx.)

Advanced

Range of distances that appear acceptably sharp.

Hyperfocal Distance

Advanced

Focus distance that keeps everything from H/2 to infinity sharp.

Angle of View

Intermediate

Field of view from sensor size and focal length.

Equivalent Focal Length

Basic

Focal length on a crop sensor expressed in full-frame terms.