Why aperture priority on A720?

[briansocal]

Hi everyone.
I recently bought a A720is to carry when my 300D is too heavy or bulky. I'm used to using aperture priority on my DSLR, but I'm kind of wondering what benefits Av mode might have on the P&S. The DOF on my new point-n-shoot is so deep, even at maximum aperture, that there is no real need to use a smaller aperture at all, correct? Does a smaller aperture increase sharpness at all, like an SLR?

I would think with the huge DOF, that the only modes I would need to use are Manual, Tv, or Auto/P.

Is there anything I'm missing, or does that kind of sum up how a Point n Shoot works?

Thanks a lot, Brian.

[cdifoto]

I'm used to using aperture priority on my DSLR, but I'm kind of wondering what benefits Av mode might have on the P&S.

The same benefits as using it on the dSLR: Fixed aperture, dynamic shutter speed.

[briansocal]

Cool, thanks. Just not used to the huge DOF I guess. Funny having to get used to a Point-n-shoot from an SLR, instead of the other way around.
B.

[audiobomber]

The same benefits as using it on the dSLR: Fixed aperture, dynamic shutter speed.

I agree. If you let the camera decide, you may end up with slower shutter speed than you want.

You can also use aperture settings to avoid distortion at wide angle and full zoom. The 720 has minimum distortion at F4.

Aperture affects DOF significantly in macro mode.

[briansocal]

Oh! Thanks folks. That helps a lot.