h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I've decided that I need a reasonable SLR camera before I go on holiday to China, as the world has enough out-of-focus Pagodas to be going along with thank you very much...so any recomendations in the £500 bracket? or do I have to spend lots more than that?

Although it's probably not much use as an answer (given that you probably know this anyway), go for either Canon or Nikon. IMHO, they both make excellent cameras, and of the few that I have had in my time, I have never had problems with either. Given that a good camera will last pretty much for ever, it's one of those expenses that you have to grin and bear and go for the absolute best you can.

Might be worth looking in a reputable shop for something second-hand. If you trust them, you can get very good stuff S/H. I know of good shops in Southampton (UK) and San Francisco(US). Probably no use to you eh?

Another alternative might be to go digital. Unfortunately, if you do, you should really go for somethign with about 3 - 3.5 MP (megapixels) resolution, which will send the price sky-rocketing. Sony do good stuff. Don't bother with anything less that 2.8 MP...

Go and find a good camera shop and look at what they've got second hand. Talk to the people there, most of them will be into photography and should be able to help.
If you can get what you want second hand, then you should be able to afford a few accesories as well - maybe another lens or two.

As for recomendations, I can't really say (both my SLR cameras have been semi-auto - teaches you how the camera is doing things if you've got to do it yourself ), just make sure of things like the shutter not sticking, winders/rewinds work, lenses focus properly and don't rattle around and lose focus if you move it.

I recently bought a Minolta Vectis S-1 ready for my imminent trip to East Africa, and I'm rather pleased with it. It's very small and light for an SLR, making it ideal for taking on holiday. It uses APS film which is very convenient, though some people say you lose image quality over 35mm - I can't really see much difference, though. I bought the body with a 22-80 zoom for just over £200, with a 80-240 zoom (for all those wildlife shots) costing another £200.

Further to Phil's comment about accessories, buy a UV filter to protect each lens you get. It's a lot cheaper to replace a scratched filter than a scratched lens.

This is good advice.
One that an off-guide friend said: "It is possible to take a good photo with a cheap lens on a good camera body but never with a good lens on a bad camera body".
Of course, cameras, like computers, can cause serious cash shortages if you suddenly get a case of accessory addiction

Which is why I don't buy new cameras or leading edge computer equipment

My cameras are an Olympus OM-1n, bought when I was 18 (that's 22 years ago!!! Oh my God!), and which has given me sterling service ever since, together with an OM-2 for when I'm feeling lazy and don't want to have to take a meter reading (God, I sound like someone who insists that the only way to listen to music is on vinyl with a proper valve amp, don't I?).

I agree with the advice about 2nd hand stuff. Most of it's really good kit and you can get Nikon/Canon/Olympus for a fraction of the price of new.

"It is possible to take a good photo with a cheap lens on a good camera body but never with a good lens on a bad camera body"

I think that should be the other way round. The body is really just a box that keeps the light out; the key elements (excluding the photographer) are the lens and the film.

Since you're coming via Honkers do you want me to check prices?

Its not a good sign that I got the "phrase that pays" back to front. Anyhow - I will definitely be buying a camera either (a) from a good second hand shop here or (b) brand new in Honkers...so, yes, a guide price (no pun intended) would be useful.

In the end I bought a Cannon EOS with the standard getup...and free tripod.
The results are looking promising - and I've just sent my first film to these fotango people so maybe you'll all be able to see the new toy in action

So what is the standard getup you got with it? One or two lenses. Did you go for second hand or new?

One lens... 30/50/90 sound right?
Brand new stg.£240 in Hong Kong....
Also got a big tripod thrown in free but that was too heavy to hoik up and down the Great Wall, Moon Hill etc. so bought a liitle tiny bendy tripod thing which is brilliant...and a shaded filter to prevent the pictures being brutally overexposed in Southern China direct sunlight.
This latter part is now surplus to requirements given that I am back in Dublin

Fair enough. Seems like a reasonable deal you got. The big heavy tripod should be reasonable for Dublin though - stops it blowing over in the wind!
A screw in UV filter (1A) would be good to keep the outer lens clear of scratches and stuff.

Recently going out of Gatwick I bought a Canon EOS 500 with 80mm lens plus a 300mm lens plus a tripod plus a carrying case etc etc for under £300 at a well known Camera/Electric shop beginning with D as a 'special deal', no VAT etc. It may not be the bees knees, but somewhere above the ankles and pretty good value I thought.

I got the mini tripod and the filter for about £5 in Yangshou (http://www.h2g2.com/A450776) I'd imagine they're not the genuine article but both work fine.
The qyestion is - can I afford yet another expensive hobby

Well take loads of photos with it before going getting more toys and see what your limits are with what you've got.