ProductCritic: Canon PowerShot SD630/IXUS 65 Reviews

Imaging Resource (88)

Along with providing solid image quality in regular lighting conditions with good color and accurate skin tones, the SD630 incorporates many of Canon’s technological advances for shooting with high ISOs.

Steve's Digicams (88)

Bottom line – The PowerShot SD630 is a outstanding camera that offers great image quality, robust performance, and various user-friendly exposure modes, all packed in an ultra-compact, durable and stylish shell.

Digital Trends (85)

Although a solid camera I did find myself wishing for optical image stabilization since the camera is so small, it’s hard to hold rock steady. For less than $400, that’s too much to ask for. If you want it, Canon has the new $499 6MP SD700. That said anyone who picks this baby will be happy with the decision.

Digital Camera Resource Page (80)

I’m not quite as excited about the SD630, though, mainly because there are more compelling options available. Don’t get me wrong: the SD630 is a nice camera, and one that I’d recommend. The SD630 is definitely worth your consideration, but take a close look at the competition too.

PC World (79)

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.

Digital Photography Interface (77)

So the SD630 is essentially an SD600 with a larger 3 inch LCD and touch control dial. It lacks battery life, manual controls and produces movies with large file sizes. With a price difference of around $60, it’s up to you whether the larger LCD and rather gimmicky touch button feature is worth it. Or, you could pay an additional $50 for the Sony T30…

CNET (76)

The Canon PowerShot SD630 is an extremely solid ultracompact, with performance and photo quality that more than make up for its few design flaws. It’s a surprisingly good shooter, and its feature set makes it quite flexible for a camera of its size. That said, it’s basically a more expensive version of the PowerShot SD600 with a larger screen and no optical viewfinder.

Digital Camera Tracker (75)

Taking pictures with the Canon SD630 was enjoyable and easy. In the picture quality area there is nothing to complain about because the SDF630 delivers snappy photos with vivid color that seem to jump right off the monitor. It’s fast to turn on, power up and recycle time between shots seemed almost instantaneous.

The Globe & Mail (70)

Ultimately, the SD630 is a good camera, but it sometimes comes across as a prototype for something else. The 3-inch screen is very eye-catching and great for sharing photos, but it also acts as a hindrance to the unit’s functions and lifespan. But it does take excellent photos and features some neat features. If you can handle the sometimes uneasy balance, then you’ll have a good ultra-compact digicam in your hands.

Think Camera (70)

While I had it on test I couldn’t help thinking there was something missing. We’ve seen low light specialist, wide angle cameras and ultra ultra compacts. The Ixus 65 isn’t any of these – it’s a solid all rounder that will deliver great pictures. The styling still looks good 10 years on but without an all metal body this camera isn’t going to turn heads.

Macworld (70)

The six-megapixel Canon PowerShot SD630 is a fine camera for most casual shooters. It has a luxurious LCD display, a fair number of scene modes, advanced settings, and automatic image rotation. However, it is expensive for a camera whose battery life is moderate, has no optical image stabilization, and lacks a viewfinder.