If you are new to photography and begun to use the Canon Ixus 850 but dont know all the featues yet a photographer tells me I am taking really good images, is it worth it at this stage to change to a more pro camera ie Digital SRL one because I now know this is what I want to do as a hobby/creative medium/pro maybe! Or should I continue learning with the Canon I have?
My second question is has anyone experience this Canon IXus particularly printing up to A4 or larger and how does it perform doing this. Does this depend more on the printer or the actual camera or photographer skill as the four images I took and got enlarged at a store, look great on an 17in MacPro but very, very disappointing in the large printed format in the "instant 24hr" printing outlet nearby.
Ps I have Parkinsons and this message will go through my twin's computer as she is a member and I am on hols from London and WILL join when I get home!
Posted by Ann for her sister Margaret.

The typical dilema of the new and enthusiastic photographer at what point do you bite the bullet and go for a better camera.

Most of the photographers I know that use an SLR also keep a pocket camera handy as well for those occasions when you dont want to or dont feel comfortable about getting the big guns out of the bag.

As for the perceived difference of the printed image from that on the screen the answers is not simple. On the screen you are looking at an image that is emiting light from it and the case of a print it will just be reflecting whatever the ambient light is where you are and will vary accordingly. Also unless you print images yourself you lose control of exactly how the final image looks, instead you rely upon some automated machine doing the job for you and that is not the best option.

As for printing up to A4 with the ixus, it is possible to print even larger, up to A3. I did that succesfully numerous times with my old Canon Powershot A40 camera which was only a 3 megapixel camera, even though the experts said it was not possible. I even won some prizes with it.

That then takes us into the area of image manipuation software, such as photoshop and paintshop, a whole black art all of its own and one which you never stop learning about.

The simlpest and best advice I can offer is do what you feel is right but enjoy doing it. You obviously are hankering after a DSLR so do your homework carefully and first choose a manufacturer whos system you wish to buy into as it can be an expensive business to swap over as good lenses do not come cheap. Then look carefully at the cameras they offer and what the specification is of each and wether they will do what you want them to do.

As parkinsons is an issue you may wish to look at vibration reduction systems that are built into the camera body such as the Sony system or opt for a system where its built into the lens such as Canons IS lenes. But even then a tripod can get around that anyway, but is not always convenient.

Whatever you decide to do I look forwrd to seeing the results.