Will do - if I continue to use it! Thanks,
Michael

Thanks for comments on ISO/ASA - quite a coincidence that pushing both film and digital have similar deterioration results!

Thanks also for added comments re ebay. Sure, I've certainly found it a negative experience for cheaper items - though it can be managed. I remember seeing HP flogging off new computers that technically couldn't be described as new, for 99p and almost always achieving 3 figures for them. (Don't recognise BIN though - but agreed re final bids).

My own flash is an old but serviceable Chinon bounce unit (backed up with my father's aged Sunpak/Mecablitz slave units) - so they'll all be worthless anyway.

So I have an action plan now: photograph items, research completed items on ebay, advertise here first, then on ebay. Then research what digital I need and probably seek it on ebay too.

Wow - great value brains trust this! Thanks all,
Michael

A small addendum seeing as I'm in the company of so many experts! With my small digital camera, I've been overcoming the erratic nature of the shutter speed that turns up, by wracking up the ASA option to 800 or 1600. I've hesitated over this, as to me it means added grain and is a practice to be minimised for general photography. But I have to say I'm not aware of any picture deterioration. Am I right here - it doesn't make any difference what the so-called ASA rating is when you're shooting digital? All it's doing is shifting the position on a sort of shutter speed spectrum?

Thanks both - it does look rather like a clash of cultures trying to match the two worlds together. I've clearly got some mulling to do - and may just quietly accept my age and that I'm not taking serious pix any more (I used to do a lot of theatre photography and related portraits, and occasionally professional AV work too). It might just make sense to keep things simple!
Best wishes all

Actually I might be missing a big trick here - so please forgive my lack of expertise on these things. I've taken a lot with a cheap digital Canon over the last 2 years and now know all too well what it lacks: I want a digital camera that lets me prioritise shutter speed, lets me tone down automatic flash to 50% or 25%, and has an effing viewfinder! I'm guessing about £250 but haven't researched yet for lack of cash.
Query - if I just sell on my SP500 body but keep the lenses (Kris mentioned 85mm as being desirable - I always get a really high-level thrill when using my f1.8 auto-Takumar!) - then might there be a Pentax digital body that gives me the 3 things I'm lacking at the moment - and an adaptor to take the lenses as Mike-P says?
This might even give me more for less!!

Thanks everyone, all this has been tremendously helpful. I'm now going to take notes - and sure, I'll post the items up on this site as well. I should turn all your comments green really, but I don't actually see why it's helpful to do this - weird mechanism!
Cheers
Michael

Thanks Guys, obviously I need to have another go researching on ebay. Originally I found most of my stuff wasn't quoted! John, you say "As lenses can be used on current DSLRs" - am I right in thinking that's the later bayonet fittings, not the earlier screwthreads?
Cheers
MichaelB

Anyone know of a reliable way of pricing S/H Pentax and related gear for ebay or wherever? I think my film shooting days have come to an end and I seem happy enough now to use a low-cost digital beast. No point in letting the great film gear just rot - but are prices tending to zero or upward with collectible status? Is there a Glass's Guide anywhere even? Any suggestions very welcome.