Short answer = no. Shutter speed has absolutely no effect on depth-of-field. Depth-of-field is entirely controlled by the aperture. Cameras that have a shutter-speed or an aperture control used to call them priority settings where you either gave PRIORITY to one of these or the other and let the camera's meter compensate for the other. There is a relationship between shutter-speed and aperture. Opening up one f-stop has EXACTLY the same effect on EXPOSURE as doubling the shutter's open time. EXPOSURE, depth-of-field, and focus are entirely separate and independent issues. You can gave a good exposure with maximum depth-of-field and focus on a point that produces a completely blurred image. The blurry image can be because the photo is filled with a subject that is too close or an object that moved while being exposed. 1. http://www.curtisneeley.com/SoUrces/WEB/WEBInterview/pages/IMG_8937.html 2. http://www.curtisneeley.com/SoUrces/WEB/WEBInterview/pages/IMG_8938.html 3. http://www.curtisneeley.com/SoUrces/WEB/WEBInterview/pages/P3200020.html 1. Person is blurred while boat in distance is sharp. 2. Person is sharp while boat in background is blurred. 3. Person and boat in distance are both reasonably sharp. The first two are from a Canon EOS and the third is from a Olympus SP350. The lens on the EOS cost more than the Olympus camera. Photography is NOT rocket science, but understanding rocket science is not required to enjoy the benefits of satellite TV.

Photographers want complete control. My favorite SLR has automatic settings AND a fully manual setting. Depth of field is just one consideration. If you want to do more than std portraits, travel , etc. you want options for sports, arty stuff, etc.