Depth of field in photography is controlled by which setting?

• A. f-stop
• B. Shutter speed
• C. ISO
• D. White balance

Answer: (A)

Depth of field is controlled by the aperture, which is set with the f-stop on the lens. The size of the aperture determines how much of the scene is in sharp focus. A wide aperture (low f-number) creates a shallow depth of field, making the subject stand out with a blurred background. A narrow aperture (high f-number) increases depth of field, keeping more of the scene from foreground to background in focus. This setting also affects exposure because a larger opening lets in more light, which may require changing shutter speed or ISO to maintain proper brightness. The other settings—shutter speed, ISO, and white balance—impact exposure, motion blur, noise, and color balance, but do not directly control how much of the scene is in focus.