What specific camera setting primarily controls the depth of field?

The specific camera setting that primarily controls the depth of field is the aperture. Aperture refers to the opening in the lens through which light passes to reach the camera's sensor. It is measured in f-stops (e.g., f/2.8, f/8, f/16). A wider aperture (smaller f-stop number, like f/2.8) results in a shallow depth of field, meaning only a narrow range of distances will be in focus, blurring the background and foreground. This is often used to isolate a subject. A narrower aperture (larger f-stop number, like f/16) results in a large or deep depth of field, meaning a wider range of distances will be in focus, keeping both the foreground and background sharp. This is useful for landscape shots where you want everything in focus. While other factors like focal length (the zoom level of the lens) and distance to the subject also influence depth of field, the aperture is the most direct and powerful control.