Thinking about really expanding into that photography hobby of yours? Laura over at OCModShop has posted her first article, which goes into the differences between amateur cameras and professional gear. Maybe you could pick up a pro-grade camera for amateur prices, if you know what you're looking for.

"The strictest distinction between an amateur and a professional camera is the lens type. SLR (single lens reflex) cameras have the ability to swap lenses. Point and shoot cameras have a fixed lens that cannot be removed. All point and shoot cameras are amateur cameras. However, not all SLRs are professional cameras."