1. A method for adaptive ultrasound imaging, the method comprising: (a) obtaining data from a plurality of transducer elements; (b) determining a coherence factor as a function of the data; and (c) setting an image forming parameter as a function of the coherence factor, (d) processing beamsummed data with the image forming parameter, said parameter used to synthesize scan lines, compound data from multiple scan lines, set a number of sequential beams, set a number of sub-apertures, set a number of focal zones, or combinations thereof, and (e) forming an image as a function of the coherence factor and beamsummed data.