At first glance, the Canon PowerShot SD600 digital camera appears to be all about style, with a thin body and a large LCD. But once you see this model's list of features, you might do a "180" and think this digital camera actually emphasizes substance over style. Either way, the PowerShot SD600 offers a great mix of looks and high-end features.

The PowerShot SD600 includes 6.0 megapixels of resolution, which allows professional-quality prints up to 11x14 inches, and a 3X optical zoom lens, both of which are average, solid offerings for a consumer-level digital camera. Its other offerings are above average, though.

Image quality with the PowerShot SD600, both indoors and outdoors, is very good for a consumer-level digital camera that measures less than 1 inch in thickness. This model focuses sharply at extremely short distances, even an inch or two from the subject.

The 2.5-inch LCD is impressive, offering bright, sharp images in any type of lighting. You can print directly from the digital camera, making use of several image-enhancement features that are accessible without the need for a computer. The PowerShot SD600 also offers several interesting photo-effect features, including a color-swap mode, which creates a monochrome photo except for the particular color that you've selected. You can shoot in an effect mode, or you can apply the effect after shooting the photo.

Finally, the PowerShot SD600's image processing capabilities give it impressive speed. You can shoot your first photo about 1 second after pressing the power button. Shutter lag is only a fraction of a second, and it's not noticeable. Shot-to-shot delays range from 1 to 3 seconds, depending on the distance from the subject and whether the flash is in use. All of these measurements are outstanding for a consumer-level digital camera. The PowerShot SD600's continuous-shot mode can capture about 2.1 frames per second, which is impressive, too.

You can use the PowerShot SD600 as a point-and-shoot digital camera, or you can manually set several features, including white balance.

The Canon PowerShot SD600 does have one major drawback -- its optical viewfinder only shows about 80 percent of the actual image, which may cause you to improperly frame some photos. Fortunately, the LCD displays nearly 100 percent of the frame. The PowerShot SD600 also requires a proprietary rechargeable battery, meaning you may need to purchase a second battery.


Pros: Great response speeds, extremely versatile, great photo quality, good price
Cons: Uses only proprietary battery, viewfinder doesn't have 100% coverage

Warranty
1 year, limited