I shoot wide open with the Micro‑Nikkor Macro 60mm f/2.8 D lens. Since I am as close as the lens will let me focus, which gives me a 1:1 ratio, the ƒ-number gets more extensive due to the lens extending and getting further from the sensor.
This photo is as close as I can focus the Sigma 35mm ƒ/1.4 DG Art lens [11.81″] of the same Christmas ornament.
Here is another Christmas ornament for comparison.
Notice how much Charlie Brown’s sister Sally is out of focus at ƒ/4.8 vs. ƒ/1.4 in the two photos. The depth of the field is even shallower in the closer photo. How close you are to the subject has as much impact on depth-of-field as your aperture.
In this Citadel Christmas ornament, you can see how shallow the depth-of-field is at ƒ/4.8 compared to the photo with the Sigma 35mm ƒ/1.4 below.
Now, just to let you see how your distance impacts the depth of field here, I just backed up a hair in the lower photo of the ornament with the Micro‑Nikkor Macro 60mm f/2.8 D.
Since I backed up, the aperture opened up a little, so you would think the depth-of-field would shrink, but the opposite happened. Again this is due to the distance to the subject.
Do you want silky smooth BOKEH? GET CLOSER!!!








