Canon SD600?

Question

I have a Canon SD600 and I'm having a few problems with the quality of the photos. I'm not that camera savvy, so I don't quite know what I'm doing when I mess around with the manual settings.

The pictures taken are all quite grainy, even when set on the "super fine" setting. If any other SD600 owners out there know what settings I should put the camera on to take better quality photos and feel like sharing it with me, I would appreciate it.

Answer 1

Grainy pictures mean that you've cranked the ISO setting up pretty high. Set the ISO back to 100 and you'll be fine.

Answer 2

If it's grainy it sounds like you're not getting enough light for the photo, so you either need to slow down the shutter or open up the aperture by selecting a lower number.

You need to be careful with slowing down the shutter, because if you slow it down too much you can end up with blurry pictures when you don't want them to be blurry.

Answer 3

Canon PowerShot SD600 and SD630
Pre-PMA 2006: Canon has also announced a further two additions to its Digital ELPH / Digital IXUS range in the shape of the PowerShot SD600 and SD630 cameras. These 6-megapixel cameras feature a 3x optical zoom and High ISO Auto and ISO 800 settings. The only difference between them we can find is the LCD screens; 2.5-inch on the SD600 and 3.0-inch on the SD630 (which is also the first IXUS without an optical viewfinder).

US name: Canon PowerShot SD600 / SD630 Digital ELPH
European name: Canon Digital IXUS 60 / IXUS 65

Increased ISO speed

Stylish compact cameras are generally used indoors, at parties and in other low light situations where the use of the flash can spoil the ambience of the scene.
The Digital IXUS 60 and Digital IXUS 65 incorporate ISO 800 to facilitate flash-free shooting indoors and minimise the effects of camera shake. A new High ISO Auto setting automatically sets exposure using the higher range of ISO sensitivities, prioritising faster shutter speeds for reduced image blur. Dedicated ISO buttons on the cameras allow quick switching between ISO settings.


Creative shooting

Canon's My Colors photo effects can now be applied both before and after shooting to images, offering users more opportunities to customise their creations without having to connect to a PC. The Digital IXUS 60 and Digital IXUS 65 offer 16 shooting modes including a Manual mode, which enables selection of ISO, white balance and other exposure settings. Preset scene modes assist with tricky lighting conditions, including an Underwater mode for shooting underwater with the optional Waterproof Case. Color Accent and Color Swap modes enable dramatic colour effects to be applied to both images and movies without the need for a PC or image manipulation software.
A new Widescreen recording mode (2816 x 1584 recording pixels) allows for still image capturing in 16:9 format – perfect for viewing images on widescreen television or printing wide format (10 x 20cm) photos with a SELPHY CP series Compact Photo Printer.

Big screen appeal

The Digital IXUS 60's 2.5" LCD screen allows for sharp composition and reviewing with no squinting or eyestrain. The screen's wide angle of view makes it easier to share playback with a group. The speaker and mode switch have been repositioned on this model for a firmer grip, while the base of the mode switch acts as a thumb rest for added comfort.

A huge wide-angle 3.0" LCD screen – the largest to ever grace a Canon compact digital still camera – is just one of several landmark innovations on the Digital IXUS 65. A new Touch Control Dial replaces the mode dial - touching the dial displays a mode icon on the LCD for quick and easy function selection, particularly after dark. The dial can also be used to scroll through images during playback. A new Image Inspection Tool makes use of the large LCD screen by simultaneously displaying a newly shot image and a magnified section of the image – ideal for checking details before leaving the scene. The magnified spot can be moved between AF points or to any point on the image.