On paper it is hard to set these two cameras apart. They both share the same 6MP CCD sensor, DIGIC II image processor and 16 shooting modes. Regarding the optics, the two Canon cameras are identical. Their optical zoom is 3X and the digital zoom is 4X. Some other common traits of the two devices include the TTL Auto-focus and the 9-point AiAF/1-point AF focusing method at the centre. Essentially, the two cameras are the same with two very important differences.

The first main difference between the two cameras is the screen. The screen of the Canon IXUS 65 is a 3 inch LCD. The IXUS 60 is fitted with a 2.5 inch screen (and so is the rest of the current Ixus range). That extra half inch can make a big difference especially if you wish to share your images with friends or you eyesight is not perfect and find it difficult to view images on smaller screens.

The second less obvious but very important difference is the body construction. The Ixus 60 has a metal body, while the Ixus 65 is made out of hard plastic. If you are able to treat your camera with care this should not make much difference. If on the other hand you tend to drop your camera often, or don't like using a protective case, the plastic body of the Ixus 65 may deteriorate quickly, so the Ixus 60 may provide a more rugged alternative.

The screen size and body material construction lead to the subtle difference in the dimensions of the two cameras. The Ixus 65's dimensions, namely 90.3 x 20.2 x 56.8 mm (W x D x H), slightly differ from the dimensions of the Ixus 60 (86.0 x 21.7 x 53.5 mm). As you can notice, the Ixus 65 is slightly wider and higher to accommodate the 3 inch LCD screen. As for their weight, the Ixus 65 weighs 140g, and the Ixus 60 weighs 145g. This small weight difference is due to the metal construction and is virtually unnoticeable.

The larger screen of the Ixus 65 comes at a financial cost. Its Australian recommended retail price is AU$529.00, which is $80 more than the Ixus 60 (priced at AU$449). In our opinion, unless you specifically need a larger screen, you would be best off buying the Ixus 60 and put the savings towards the purchase of a large memory card.