Zieltiefe

Zieltiefe is a German term literally meaning “aim depth.” It is used in a restricted set of technical contexts to describe aspects of aiming along the line of sight, particularly how far into the scene the aiming relation remains effective at a given distance. The exact meaning of the term varies by field, and it is not a universally standardized concept.

In firearms and archery, Zieltiefe commonly refers to the depth over which the sighting system provides an acceptable alignment with the target. It is influenced by factors such as sight height, ballistic trajectory, line-of-sight geometry, and the target range. Practically, Zieltiefe can relate to the holdover or the tolerance region within which the shooter’s sight picture is considered usable for a successful shot.

In optics and photography, some German-language sources use the term in a way that resembles depth of field or depth of focus, describing the range along the line of sight in which the target remains acceptably sharp through a sighting or viewing device. However, depth of field is the more common term in broader practice, and Zieltiefe remains a less standardized analogue.

Measurement of Zieltiefe is not standardized and is typically described qualitatively or through context-specific calculations, often expressed in terms of distance along the line of sight or in angular tolerances. It is related to, but distinct from, related concepts such as holdover, ballistic drop, and depth of focus.

See also: Schärfentiefe (depth of field), Ballistik, Zielbild.