I think that what you really need is some training in photography if you want good pictures – not a better camera. There are many sources online as well as in books. Try to start with.

‘Pro’ – Okay, now add a couple of 0’s to your budget.!?!?!

The Canon A 480 should work okay for you, don’t expect National Geographic type shots but it’ll do a fair days work for what it’s worth.

If it’s just a hobby I think it’s perfect for you. I’ve used the Powershot a480 for a long time now and I’ll tell you that it does take quality pictures if you turn the settings to the best quality. They are large, crisp and very vivid. When you show someone a photo taken with it, they’ll notice how nice the photo is. It’s not top of the line or the best around of course, but for the price it will do just what you need it to.

You can alter settings in it for just about anything you can imagine, so a lot depends on what kind of photo you personally want to take. I definitely recommend it to people who like taking pictures, but are also on a budget.