[cialowicz]

Barry Lyndon was shot with an f/0.7 lens because Kubrick wanted period-correct lighting: candlelight, which required a super fast lens with the film used. To my knowledge he wasn’t going for shallow DoF.

[gannonburgett]

You are correct. This wonderful article taken from American Cinematographer goes over this very topic in great detail:

http://www.visual-memory.co.uk/sk/ac/len/page1.htm

[kwhitefoot]

I just want to say thank you for that link; it was an inspiring read. I think it's time to watch Barry Lyndon again.

[staticautomatic]

Be that as it may, the DoF is unavoidable unless every shot is insanely tight.