  A P&S with 7x zoom
I got this Nikon S630 today and tried it right away in my backyard where I always tested my new cameras. This is a first refurbished camera that I bought because of its good price and the 7x zoom. Basing on the reviews, I think I got a good refurbished camera, not defective or abused. The image quality of this 12MP Nikon is not as sharp as my SD1100 and F40fd that has only 8MP, but I do like its style and the 7x zoom. Its pictures are usable but it could be hard to get any photo that will surprise you. Some of the pictures from the two 8mp cameras were really amazing. I have not tried the low-light photo yet, but do not expect it to be any better.
Update:
After using it for two weeks, I decided to add one more star for its 7x zoom and PQ with manual settings. I found its PQ was improved, to my taste, by changing some of the default settings.
1. Limit the ISO to fixed range
2. Use manual 2-stage focus
3. Choose vivid color
The biggest problem of this camera is the speed. It's not a fast camera, so it's not easy to catch any moving target. The image stablizer is not as good as Canon's.
Frustrated by photo quality
Although in theory this camera comes with some great features, I am very disappointed. I had a Coolpix 4800 for several years, and despite the fact that it boasted only 4 MP, i feel that the photos were far superior to the ones i am getting out of the s630. I was excited to find another nikon with a lot of zoom, and expected the same quality as what i had previously. Unfortunatly, i was dissapointed.
Outdoors the colors are great and crisp, but i have yet to shoot an indoor shot that makes me really happy. as a mom taking pics of her kids all the time, this is frustrating beyond words. the colors take on an unnatural reddish orangey hue, and i constantly get blurring, even with image stabilization. I have tried Auto mode and scene selecter and every type of scene possible, but no matter what i do, the color quality is just off and fuzziness common. After several months i finally figured out that the best way to get my kids and not worry about them moving and therefore blurring or getting that ghostly motions quality, as they invariably do, is to use sports mode, but then the camera drops to 3MP. As a result the photos are not really crisp, which when buying a camera with as many MP as this one has regularly, it's once again, frustrating. On the plus side, I have the red one, which is really fun looking, and i love the size and the zoom is pretty close to my old 4800 (which drowned last summer :-( and is no longer working). Also, it's really comfortable in a hand of my size and has a nice thumbgrip intentation.
**Update: After writing this review i realized how truly annoyed i am about my photos, so i actually contacted Nikon through their website and attached two of my photos as examples of their poor quality. They actually told me what to change in my setting to hopefully fix the problem. I shot a few pictures which actually seem much better, but it's too soon to tell. I will be taking lots of pictures in the days to come and if i see a difference, i will come back, change the rating and let you know how to adjust the menu for better pics!**
awesome
On my way home from work a month ago, I pulled off the road and hiked for a few hours my second hour in to my hike. I came across two Red Fox pups. I took over 30 pictures and and video maybe an hour and a half worth. Unfortionatly I didnt have my tripod with me so most of the pictures I took are a little blury. On that hike I crossed at least to sreams on downed tree's. The camera being light and not bulky helps plus if I dropped it in either one of the streams I would only been out $300.00 instead of dropping the expensive nikon d5000.
Quick and easy
Great little camera, and affordable price. Easy to inadvertantly switch off flash. Pay attention so you can tell if it happens. Camera shoots in low light, without flash.
Great Buy
Good basic camera, bought it refurbished, so there was NO memory card or case which was very dissapointing.
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