Cameras
Camcorders
Cell Phones
Components
Desktops
HDTV
Home Theater
GPS
Laptops
Monitors
MP3 Players
Networking &
Printers
Storage
Print
Digg
Twitter
Facebook
More…
Photograph: Chris Manners
Canon Powershot SD630 Digital Camera (6.2MP, 2816x2112, 3X Opt, SD/MMC Slot)
- Spec Navigator
- Digital Format
- Display
- Exposure
- Image Processor
- Included Hardware
- Lens
- Shutter
- Storage
- LCD Screen
- Exposure Controls
- Dimensions
- Power
- Flash
- Lens Features
- Connectivity
- Other Features
Image Processor
| Number of image sensor pixels | 6.1 megapixels |
| Image sensor | CCD |
| Maximum horizontal image resolution | 2816 |
| Maximum vertical image resolution | 2112 |
| Image sensor quantity | 1 |
| Image format | JPEG |
| White balance | 0 |
Lens
| Accessory Lens | No |
| Lens Model | 3X Canon Zoom lens |
| Telephoto Aperture Maximum | 4.9 mm |
| Wide-Angle Aperture Maximum | 2.8 mm |
Exposure Controls
| Maximum shutter speed | 2000 |
| Minimum shutter speed | 15 |
| Bulb setting | 0 |
| ISO equivalencies |
|
| Exposure settings | 0 |
| Exposure compensation range | 0 |
| Number of scene modes | 13 |
- Lab Tested
- How We Test Cameras »
Pros
Compact body with 3-inch LCD
Wide-screen mode
Cons
High price
Lacks image stabilization
Bottom Line
Compact body sports a big (3-inch) LCD. Offers a widescreen mode and exposure compensation, but lacks image stabilization.
Canon PowerShot SD630 Digital Elph
Powershot SD630 Digital Camera (6.2MP, 2816x2112, 3X Opt, SD/MMC Slot) Review, by Paul Jasper July 26, 2006
The $400 (as of 6/15/06) PowerShot SD630 is the first camera in Canon's expanding Digital Elph line to offer a 3-inch LCD. Two other recent additions have the same 6-megapixel sensor and fast processor, but a smaller 2.5-inch LCD: The SD600 retains a similar 3X zoom and costs $50 less, while the SD700 IS has a longer 4X lens with built-in image stabilization for $100 more than the SD630.
The SD630's big LCD makes composing shots a breeze, and it's great for showing off snaps to friends. However, it has the same 173,000-pixel resolution as its siblings' smaller LCDs, so it's really no sharper. You have to forgo the luxury of an optical viewfinder on the SD630, but this model still has enough room to the right of the screen for most of the control buttons. The power button and a simplified mode selector have moved to the top of the camera, and you'll find ten scene modes buried within the function menu. The four-way selector control has also gained a touch-sensitive ring; as you run your thumb across it, the screen displays the available functions. To select the one you want, you push more firmly.
As you take each shot, an instant review displays on the screen. You get a chance to delete the image immediately if it doesn't come out right. To browse all your photos, you must flip the mode switch to "playback." Using an "intelligent orientation sensor," the camera automatically rotates the images, depending on how you're holding the camera, and orients them properly when you upload them to your PC.
The SD630's solid metal-and-plastic body feels heavier than you'd expect from such a small camera. It weighs nearly 6 ounces but fits comfortably into a shirt pocket or purse. It starts up quickly and takes pictures as fast as you can press the shutter release. Like other Digital Elph models, the manual mode doesn't let you adjust the aperture or shutter speed, but it does give you access to a variety of advanced settings, including white balance, metering mode, and exposure compensation.
Unlike the SD700 IS, the SD630 doesn't provide any form of optical stabilization for improving low-light shots. It does, however, offer ISO speeds up to 800. In automatic mode, you can choose between "ISO Auto" and "ISO Hi." Both set the optimal sensitivity according to the lighting conditions, but only the latter will set it as high as ISO 800; this setting is susceptible to increased noise in the image. In manual mode, you can also set the ISO speed to specific values in steps between 80 and 800.
The 6-megapixel sensor is modest compared to the sensors of many of the SD630's rivals, but it should be plenty powerful for most casual photographers. Image quality stood up remarkably well in the PC World Test Center sharpness and distortion tests when compared to cameras with more pixels. Its color fidelity also impressed us, but it scored below par in our exposure accuracy tests.
During battery testing, the SD630 took a respectable 245 shots on a single charge of its lithium ion cell. As with many Canon models, the battery gauge tells you only when you're about out of juice--that's of little help when you're far away from an electrical outlet. Thankfully, Canon still furnishes a great little travel charger that's the same size as the camera, with prongs that fold up for easily packing.
The SD630 includes a resolution setting that crops photos to a 4.4-megapixel image with a 16:9 aspect ratio suitable for displaying on a wide-screen HDTV or monitor. The camera's A/V output displays only at standard 4:3 TV resolution, so you'll need some other way to display your images in high-definition mode on an HDTV, such as a TV with an SD Card slot, a set-top media player, or a media center PC.
Paul Jasper
Show Less 
0 Comments | 0 Topics | Print Only This Review
PCWorld Lab Results
- Rating Breakdown
-
76
-
79
-
83
- See Complete Lab Results »
Performance Comparison with Similar Cameras
76
78
78
77
Performance
| Battery Life (minutes) | 133.75 |
| Battery Life Score | Good |
| Image Quality Score | Good |
| Image Quality, Color | 63 |
| Image Quality, Distortion | 60 |
| Image Quality, Exposure | 55.2 |
| Image Quality, Exposure--Flash | 51.9 |
| Image Quality, Exposure--Normal | 56.6 |
| Image Quality, Overall | 54.8 |
| Image Quality, Sharpness | 43.1 |
| Number of Batteries | 1 |
| Number of Shots | 245 |
User Reviews
Review Now! Already own it? Tell us What You Think
User Reviews From Around the Web
-
Reviewed by: s_stinson
Strengths: compact, stylish, solid feel, very fast on/off, great battery life, beautiful screen, fantastic photos, great video, easy to use
Weaknesses: I have a hard time taking a photo that doesn't need some touch-up in post, whether it's exposure, contrast, or straightening.
Overall: You will like this camera a lot, but it needs a case. I think I have some pressure damage to my LCD that I probably could have avoided had I bought and used a case. It's not bad, but it is a little heart breaking to see it everytime I look at the screen. The screen is very scratch resistant though. Mine is still scratch free and I still don't have a case for it (it lives in it's own fleece-lined pocket in my Timbuk2 messenger bag).Most images have distorted perspective -- I guess that's a lens problem. It's worse if you're looking up at something tall and taking a picture. I'm an architectural designer so skewed perspective kind of upsets me -- it makes tracing photos look like you traced a photo.Wished I had image stabilization whenever I found myself in a dimly lit space. The settings can be used to compensate and if you hold one edge of the camera against a solid surface that makes a pretty good shake-free image.All-in-all, great camera. I got mine for less than $200 with a 2 gig Kingston SD card and card-reader. Newegg.comBuona Giornata
-
Reviewed by: Paulysmac
Strengths: This camera is easy to use and takes great pictures. It has a large screen. It is easy to view previous pictures and operate.
Weaknesses: Comes with small memory card.
Overall: I bought this camera 2 days before leaving on a trip to the Holy Land. I am ususally technically challenged, but this camera had me taking great pictures. I bought the 2 gig card and took hundreds of pics. I was uncertain about buying it, but now I know I did the right thing.
-
Reviewed by: avarsou
Strengths: huge screen, easy to use, canon brand guarantee
Weaknesses: battery life, no viewfinder
Overall: I am happy with my recent purchase. I bought it to replace another canon powershot and am very satisfied with the ease of use, the great pictures it takes and how compact it is. Of course you will need to get a memory card with lots of capacity and it might be good to get an extra battery since the battery lifetime is not so good. But these are things most of us buy extra anyway. What I am concerned with is the fact that it has no viewfinder. One would say it is not needed since the screen is a huge 3", however a viewfinder is great for those VERY sunny days when you can't see anything in the screen. It is not the perfect camera, but I got used to liking it a lot.
-
Reviewed by: eliolegrand
Strengths: Nice pictures, good quality image on Macro feature
Weaknesses: No battery monitor
Overall: The pictures come out with good quality, but I can't believe there is no indication of the battery charge level, so you never know when the camera will die on you (you do get a couple of minute warning that it's time to charge the battery). I called Canon thinking I was just missing something in the myrid of options, but I was told no compact cameras have that feature. Maybe this is so for Canon, but I previously had a Sony that did.
-
Reviewed by: slee8504
Strengths: Large LCD, 6.2 MP, many options when takng pictures, beauiful design
Weaknesses: horrible pictures in lowlight setting
Overall: True this camera is a beauty to just look at. The large LCD makes it much easier to see your pictures. There is no viewfinder but this wasn't a problem for me because I take pictures using the LCD. The curves in the camera lets it rest comfortably in your hands. I was surprised when no one listed one large problem this camera has. This pictures are absolutely horrible in a lowlight setting. They come out blurry and indistinguishable. Although this camera is beautiful I was actually much happier with the picture quality of my old 3MP SD200 but I guess the LCD won me over. *PLEASE BUY A LCD PROTECTOR FOR ALL THE POWERSHOT MODELS. THEY BREAK EXTREMELY EASILY. INSURANCE WILL NOT COVER THE BREAKAGE. Da' products" have any LCD protectors that are affordable and easy to put on.
Shop for the Canon Powershot SD630 Digital Camera (6.2MP, 2816x2112, 3X Opt, SD/MMC Slot)
Sorry, the product you requested isn't currently available from any of our sellers.
Cameras similar to the Canon Powershot SD630 Digital Camera (6.2MP, 2816x2112, 3X Opt, SD/MMC Slot)
We recommend these Cameras for their similarities to the Canon Powershot SD630 Digital Camera (6.2MP, 2816x2112, 3X Opt, SD/MMC Slot) in features, specs, ratings, and user interest.
- Before you buy
- How to Buy a Digital Camera
People who looked at the Canon Powershot SD630 Digital Camera (6.2MP, 2816x2112, 3X Opt, SD/MMC Slot) also looked at:
Start New Topic Don't see the answer to your question? Ask it here!
Featured APC Accessories
-
APC Back-UPS ES Safeguards your equipment from damaging surges and spikes that travel along your utility & data lines.
-
APC Smart-UPS Loaded with cutting-edge features, unique battery life predictor, unbeatable on-line efficiencies and software agents allowing remote UPS monitoring. Get 10% off your entire kart purchase!
