Leica is 200% quality built germn engineering and is the best (in my opinion) with CRYSTAL CLEAR pictures and cannot be beaten....it's the ferrari for those that drive lesser cars....ie A nice to have but is costly!!
Alternatively go for this bad boy, it's my own holy grail...one day!! :bowdown:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Leica-M9-18-5-2-5--inch/dp/B002NX13LC/ref=sr_1_4?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1370124133&sr=1-4&keywords=leica+camera
£500 you're looking at entry level dslr's, I started on the d3000 and upgraded to a bigger model when I got better at it. Big price jump when you go up from the D5000 range. D7000 and up you are going to the higher end market