Source: Tom's Guide US | Keywords: canon, refreshes, powershot, a, series, cameras | Themes: Digital Cameras
- 1. Introduction
- 2. Controls And Display
- 3. Modes
1. Introduction
| At a Glance | |
|---|---|
| Product | Canon PowerShot A630 |
| Summary | 8.3 megapixel compact digital camera with manual focus and exposure features |
| Pros | o Articulated 2.5" screen
o Full manual control as well as a number of fully automatic modes o Good quality images. |
| Cons | o Lack of wide angle
o No in-camera stitching o ISO speeds not recorded in EXIF file info o Bulky |
With the approach of the holiday season, camera manufacturers typically refresh their product lines. That’s just what Canon has done with their popular "A" series of compact cameras. The Canon "A" series cameras offer photo enthusiasts an intermediate step between the convenient, shirt pocket point and shoot cameras, and a full-fledged DSLR.
New for this holiday season is the PowerShot A630 and the PowerShot A640. Both cameras are refreshes of last year’s A620, and each features both a larger screen and more megapixels. Both the A630 and the A640 now feature a 2.5" LCD screen - pretty much the standard for this year’s crop of cameras, as compared to the A620’s 2.0" screen. Whereas the A620 was a 7.4-MP camera, the A630 is 8.3MP (3264 X 2448) and the A640 has a 10.4-MP sensor (3648 X 2736).
Our test model was the Powershot A630, but the features and specifications are almost identical to the A640 with the exception of the A640’s larger sensor. Like the previous "A" series of cameras, the new additions definitely are not shirt pocket models. The A630 measures 4.31" W x 2.60" H x 1.93" D (lens closed) and weighs in at 8.64 oz (245g) without batteries. It is powered by four AA alkaline batteries, or rechargeable NiMH batteries, which are not included. Some photographers prefer an AA battery source, as replacement batteries are available almost anywhere.
The A630, like all "A" series cameras, has a built-in right hand grip. In our tests, it fit comfortably in our hand. As you pick up the camera, your index finger naturally rests on the shutter release. Surrounding the shutter release is a ring that controls the camera’s zoom. Other controls on the top of the camera include the power on/off switch and a round shooting mode dial. The top mounted shooting mode dial is very similar and has many of the shooting modes found on Canon’s DSLRs.
- Next page Controls And Display
