Which lens type typically provides the greatest depth of field?

A wide-angle lens typically provides the greatest depth of field due to its ability to capture a broader perspective in a scene. This characteristic is a result of the combination of the lens's shorter focal length and the physics of how light interacts with the lens elements. When using a wide-angle lens, the distance from the camera to the subject is often shorter, which enhances the depth of field effect. The wider aperture in wide-angle lenses compared to other types also helps achieve a large depth of field, allowing more of the scene, both in front and behind the subject, to remain in focus.

In contrast, telephoto lenses tend to isolate subjects by creating a shallower depth of field, making background elements blurrier, while standard and macro lenses have varying characteristics that do not match the effective depth of field produced by a wide-angle lens.