I currently own a S5800 fuji and am wanting to improve my camera knowledge/skills/photo's. i had a play with my friends 400D at the weekend and i was amazed, BUT as im only a begginer do i spend the 350-400 quid on a 400d or do i get a bridge camera (Fuji S6500 or S9600) see how it goes and save the money. At the moment im leaning towards the 400d but has anyone esle been in a similar situation or is in this situation?

OR are there any other Digital SLR's anyone would reccomend for myself?

You can get the 350d s/h or reconditioned on Ebay quite cheap and they are very similar. Personally I would not get a bridge camera, you will loose money on it pretty quickly and probably wish you had spent the extra.

You might not really want an SLR. They are big and take a bit of learning to use properly, but when you do they do allow a bit more flexibility.

I don't know anything about the camera you mentioned in OP, but before diving into spending on new gear, come join us on a meet. You may well decide you don't need to 'upgrade'.

If budget is an issue and you want a DSLR go for one of whatever the last generation was. They will still take photos.

Scour ebay etc for last generation bodies that people are selling after upgrading, some people always have to be on the latest generation of everything! :rolleyes:

Canon 350d or 400d (450d arriving imminently I believe)
Sony A100 (A200 / 300 / 350 all arrived recently)

Don't know on the Nikon front.

You rarely regret buying something better than you aimed for but usually regret buying something you soon outgrow. If you've got the money and have any interest in photography, go for the 400D.

Just been to Ron Harrisons on london Road and they have a 350D with 18-55 lens s/h for 250 which i didnt think was too bad and also a sony A100 with i think 18-70 lens for same. Personally i preffered the 350D.

I currently own a S5800 fuji and am wanting to improve my camera knowledge/skills/photo's. i had a play with my friends 400D at the weekend and i was amazed, BUT as im only a begginer do i spend the 350-400 quid on a 400d or do i get a bridge camera (Fuji S6500 or S9600) see how it goes and save the money. At the moment im leaning towards the 400d but has anyone esle been in a similar situation or is in this situation?

OR are there any other Digital SLR's anyone would reccomend for myself?

The camera you have is a bridge camera, it will do most things a DSLR will except you cannot change lens and you don't look through the lens.
All you will gain with the S9600 is more pixels a longer zoom and a hotshoe.
Unless you really have your heart set on a DSLR I'd stick with the S5800 until it starts to hold your photography back, by then you will know what you want your camera to do.
I upgraded from a S5000 to a sony A100 but I kept the Fuji and I still use it.
edit.. the photos of heron in my sig are S5000 the photos of heron 07 are A100