This article takes an in-depth look into the Canon PowerShot SD600 Digital ELPH. You can also get a comparison of some features of other Canon PowerShot SD models. Read this article for a list of the great features of the Canon PowerShot SD600 camera.

Canon consistently makes some of the most in demand cameras around, one big reason being that they don’t skimp on image quality. In particular, Canon’s PowerShot line has delivered a succession of point and shoot cameras that show great attention to detail and continuous improvement overall. Canon’s PowerShot line is extensive; to begin with, we’ll review one of their most popular models, the Canon PowerShot SD600 Digital ELPH.

At the time of it’s release, the SD600 Digital ELPH was one of the first cameras to address low-light shooting with a point and shoot digital camera. The SD600 ELPH was the first to allow flash-free photography in low light and to accommodate this the camera comes with a very high sensitivity rating with selectable ISO settings up to 800. Settings like this were previously available on only higher end professional cameras. There is a dedicated ISO button on the back of the camera that allows for quick and easy adjustments to ISO settings. The SD600 also comes with a setting that automatically sets the exposure to higher ISO levels for those who don’t want to mess with the settings manually.

While the above improvements to ISO setting adjustability are leaps ahead of most standard digital point and shoot cameras, in other areas the Canon SD600 Digital ELPH plays it safe. The body design in particular is very basic and not in the least bit flashy (no pun intended). However, underneath the very standard outside is very solid manufacturing and imaging capability. If you must have a fancier exterior, Canon does offer the SD700 IS or the SD630 which are similar in capability, but feature a bit more thoughtfully designed body. These other models also feature larger LCD displays, while the SD600’s is still rather small at 2.5 inches. In some cases, however, you may be giving up the optical viewfinder for the larger LCD screen. If you prefer a viewfinder, the Canon PowerShot SD600 Digital ELPH is a great choice. And in spite of its smaller screen it does have higher resolution than its predecessors which offers a sharp live preview and playback. Keep in mind that some cameras with a larger screen may have lower resolution and thus a less sharp picture, even if it is larger.

The SD600 is fairly lightweight for it’s size, however it has enough weight to feel stable in your hand. Because of its size, it can also fit easily in most pockets. And though it is small, it’s fast. With prefocus, shutter lag time is almost non-existent and the SD600 outperforms most cameras in its class when it comes to lag time. All of this is a credit to Canon’s DIGIC processors which have become known for their speed.

On top of all this, the Canon PowerShot SD600 performs well in low light. Most other cameras in this class perform poorly when it comes to flashless photography at high ISO settings. The shots in these situations usually come out grainy and with a lot of “noise”. The SD600 is actually able to shoot in these conditions with a low incidence of noise. Once again, the SD600 does offer an auto setting that will allow you to take great shots in low light without having to adjust the settings yourself if that isn’t something you are comfortable doing. The PowerShot SD600 also has the standard special modes such as Digital Macro, Portrait, Night Snapshot, Kids and Pets, Indoor, Foliage, Snow, Beach and Fireworks. One downside to these settings is that you have to scroll through a couple of menus to get to them. The SD600 Digital ELPH also comes with a few color adjustment and other special features (like shooting in black and white) that are fun to have, but perhaps not often used by the casual user.

Overall, the Canon PowerShot SD600 Digital ELPH is a standout in its class and is recommended.

Basic Features

•  6.0-megapixel CCD
•  Real-image optical viewfinder
•  2.5-inch color TFT LCD monitor, 173,000 pixels
•  3x, 5.8-17.4mm lens, equivalent to a 35-105mm lens on a 35mm camera
•  Maximum 4x digital zoom
•  Automatic exposure control, with Long Shutter mode for longer exposures
•  Shutter speeds from 1/1,500 to 15 seconds
•  Maximum aperture of f/2.8 to f/4.9, depending on lens zoom position
•  Built-in flash with six modes
•  SD memory card storage, 16MB card included
•  Power supplied by a rechargeable lithium-ion battery pack (charger included) or optional AC adapter kit
•  Canon Digital Camera Solution Software v28.0 with ArcSoft PhotoStudio 4.3, and USB drivers included - for both Windows and Mac platforms
•  Print/Share button

Special Features

•  Adjustable ISO settings of up to 800 and new ISO HI auto setting
•  16:9 Widescreen still image capture mode
•  Five Movie modes with sound (up to 640 x 480 pixels, at up to 30 frames per second with a 60-fps Fast - Frame Rate mode)
•  Continuous Shooting mode
•  Stitch-Assist panorama mode
•  Infinity and Macro focus modes plus "Digital Macro" mode
•  Customizable "My Camera" settings
•  Two- or 10-second Self-Timer for delayed shutter release, plus custom timer with multi-shot feature
•  Sound Memo option for recording captions
•  Spot, Center-Weighted, and Evaluative exposure metering
•  White balance (color) adjustment with seven modes, including a Custom setting
•  My Colors menus for color adjustment
•  Unusual Color Accent and Color Swap features for special effects in still images or movies
•  DPOF (Digital Print Order Format) and PictBridge compatibility
•  USB cable for connection to a computer (driver software included)
•  A/V cable for connection to a television set

Related Article: Canon PowerShot Review >>