Help! A540 SD600 or SD630???

Hi there, I have a Canon S1 IS, and I love it, but I am interested in a more compact camera for everyday use. I am torn between these 3 and am hoping someone can help me determine which camera is right for me. (or if you have a better suggestion I'm open to that as well).
From what I can tell all 3 are pretty comparable all are 6 MP so here is where I am having a hard time, I like that the A540 takes AA batteries (I use the rechargable), has a view finder, 4X optical zoom and is about $170.00, but it is bigger than the other 2. I love the 3" screen on the SD 630 and that it is smaller than the A540, but not that they did away with the viewfinder to make room for it. And I'm not sure of the rechargable battery (I like knowing that in the worst case senario, I can throw a couple of disposable batteries in and be ready to go). Is the extra .5 inch of screen and no view finder worth the extra $50 (About $279)?
So am I making more out of the battery issue than need be? Is there really that much of a size difference between the A540 and the SD600/SD630?
Thanks in advance for any input.

Well I for one do not see much difference between these. I know they are quite different in features, so thats what you have to decide on. You can see from my sig that I have a good deal of money in DSLR, but my daughters A540 does a fine job for snapshots.

I would recommend that following. Go to the store and try each of these. Use them in the same mode and pay most attention to shutter lag. If one is much faster then the other then there you go. But I don't think they will be different. The save time on the A540 is very slow, my daughters A610 saves much faster. So this is another consideration. Being these cameras are essentially the same thing.

Keep in mind I’m no expert and I’m just going on information found at Canon and CNET. Also I have the A540 and do not own a SD630.
If it’s just between the A540 and SD630 I would choose the A540. Since I don’t have the SD630 I went to CNET and Canon to compare the two. It’s a matter of personal preference but the A540 has 4x zoom, Automatic or Manual control, Lens aperture F/2.6-5.5 compared to the F/2.8-4.9 on the SD630, and the focal length of 5.8-23.2mm compared to 5.8-17.4mm. Both received an editor’s rating of 7.6 and have good image quality but I prefer the manual controls of the A540 which is not available on the SD630 and for me a view finder is a must. If for some reason the LCD goes out and the camera still operates well I can still take pictures with view finder until I can get it repaired or get another camera. All it will mean to me is that am back to film. In other words, I can’t see the image right after I take the picture and will have to wait until post-processing to see if the image turned out okay. Finally, I won’t have this option when I upgrade to a DSLR but I also use AA rechargeable batteries and I like the option of being able to just run into the convenience store for a pack of AA’s in an emergency.
Either way, as David said, they are both good cameras. Also I noticed, according to the number of posts and the date joined on your profile, that you are new to the POTN forum. Welcome to the forum Melanie.


CNet comparison
http://reviews.cnet.co​m …v&id=31740584&i​d=31740579
Canon comparison
http://www.usa.canon.c​om …tIndexAct&fcate​goryid=113

The A540 is a fine camera, the slow save times are only when using flash, your actually waiting for the flash to recharge not the camera to save the image. It is actually one of the fastest powershots at nearly 3 frames a second till the card is full when not using flash. If flash recycle times are important to you, consider a camera that takes 4 batteries or comes with an OEM lithium-Ion. What makes the A540 great is its small size, full control, able to use filters and adapter lenses with an optional 52mm lens adapter ($20), ISO up to 800 and has an underwater case available for $169.

I have been using an A540 for commercial work, mostly outdoors. I think a viewfinder is almost mandatory if you're taking pictures in daylight, as LCD displays get washed out by sunlight. The availability of adapter lenses is a bonus, but I haven't bought any of those lenses yet. The AA batteries can be (should be) NiMH rechargeables, but alkaline batteries can be used in a pinch. The size of the A540 is not a problem to me (though I have large hands), but you should go to a camera dealer and see for yourself.

what's your budget? Are you used to having the IS with your S1 already? For about $100-$120 more, you could consider the Canon P&S digicams w/ IS. IS is available for the A-Series (A710is) and the SD-Series (SD700is & SD800is). The A-Series will give you the creative (Av, Tv, P, M) controls via the mode dial, similar to your S1. I believe these creative controls are available on the SD series cameras, but are embedded in the menus. My A710is is very similar in size to the A540 (maybe just a tiny tad larger), but so far is working out great. IS makes a big difference, especially in indoor/low-light situations (as you probably know w/ your S1). I purchased the A710 for the exact reason you are considering the A540 . . . AA batteries. If my rechargeables run out, I can just walk into any convenient store and buy some duracells. One negative about the A540/A710is would be the flash recycle. They take a little longer because they only run on 2 AA batteries. The SD cameras running on Lithium batteries recycle much better. However, this short-coming on the A-series wasn't a big factor for me. If I were to choose from your list, I would probably go w/ the A-540 for versatility and little-to-no transition from your S1 IS, but if your budget can go up a little bit, I would recommend an IS version of these digicams.