So quiet in here...

I am considering getting hold of a turntable so I can get my small
(looks like about 100 items) collection of vinyl into lossless format
and then to CD. Any tips/traps/advice please? I'm not after super
quality reproduction from what are going to be well-played records
stored (vertically) in my loft for 40+ years. 'Proper hi-fi' quality
will probably be better than my old ears these days, subjective I know.

I'm pretty sure I have a Shure M75 cartridge and almost new stylus from
the 1970s...somewhere in that loft.

I've been looking on Ebay at things like Pioneer PL-518, Technics
SL-3200 and other direct drive tts. Would be reluctant to pay much more
than £50-£100 for what may turn out to be an aborted project if the
disks aren't playable. Am I wasting my time or what?

For PC line input via sound card know I need RIAA eq + preamp. I have
enough construction skills to build this, given circuit details. Or
perhaps CPC or RS do a ready made module?

Alternatively, I do have an external 24 bit res. audio capture unit
(Edirol UA-25) that has dynamic microphone inputs. I wonder if this
would work together with RIAA eq in software? MC cartridges and dynamic
mics have roughly similar output levels....don't they?

A bit rusty in this stuff...been a long time.

Comments appreciated.