What's the point of adjusting aperture if...

[Baaaark]

What is the point of adjusting your aperture if your camera is a point-and-shoot? Seriously, even at f2.8 (2.8!), the depth-of-field is way too thick 9 times out of 10.

I leave mine on 2.8 almost constantly, unless doing a landscape. So what point, really, is there of adjusting aperture when its in a range that's practically unusable (really thick, to infinitely thick DOF)?

 

[Big]

I leave mine on 2.8 most of the time also (when shooting macro). Largest it will go though.

 

[AlexColeman]

Stopping down should sharpen the image, F2.8 should decrease exposure times.

 

[hopdaddy]

It makes a big difference with my p&s,maybe it has to do with the lens size?

 

[musicaleCA]

As Alex said, that's about the biggest benefit you'll get out of adjusting aperture. On a P&S the f-stops in between say, f/2.8 and f/8 don't even really matter that much; the difference in DoF is very sight. The smaller the sensor, the deeper the DoF, aperture remaining constant.

 

[CW Jones]

hmm well what point and shoot are you using? because I see lots of different DOF shots with my canon sx110is..... I always and changing that aperture to get the right DOF I want

 

[Baaaark]

My camera seems to not be very photosensitive...lol. Even in midday sun on f2.8 the highest it'll go is 1/1000. But that's at -2/3 or -1 EV (tries to overexpose also).

I have a Panasonic Lumix FZ20. And I know its a good camera (not great), but I have so many issues with it. The autofocus, the noise, the depth of field, the metering. Its kinda frustrating.

 

[manaheim]

Does a P&S have a real aperature like a DSLR does? I honestly don't even know.

If it does, you would likely have a sweet spot in the lens that you might want to stay within... or if you were taking night shots you might want to get the "star" effect around light sources (usually around F8+).