Here are a few awesome cameras that folks should jump in on.
Minolta Hi-Matic E
I had one of these beauties for a while until it was stolen with a lot of other stuff a little under 2 months ago. Picked it up for
40 bucks and it's a freaking SWEET little camera. Basically the same lens as the Canonet, and the Cosina-built Minolta Hi-Matic 7Sii and Konica S3 auto, only it doesn't have real aperture blades - it uses a seiko shutter that acts as the blades itself (gives a pentagonal shape in the end - just like it's other aforementioned cosina-built compact RF friends.) It's full program mode all the time - so you don't have to worry about your exposure, but, you have very limited control over what the camera does with it (I found it liked to shoot at f2.8-f4 most of the time if it had the option. rarely stopped down to 2 or 1.7 unless it was very dark out and it was taking an exposure over 1/15th of a second.) You can use filters to achieve a shallower depth of field I'd imagine, but you might also just give yourself a slower shutter speed. It's not something I've ever experimented with.
The rangefinder window is pretty standard, and for me it was pretty clear (slight purplish tinge, but oh well). Small diamond in the middle, you know the jist. Move the focus ring, line up the image, and fire. No information at all given from this camera other than if your shit is in focus or not, but who cares. This camera is all about taking photos and not screwing with exposure settings. It is compact, easy to use, and you never have to worry about anything but focusing and composing. They are cheap, affordable options with great lenses on them. You definitely don't have to spend that much to get a solid little rangefinder.
Minolta SRT 102/202
Super classic full-manual exposure SLR. These SRT models can be had for super cheap, as they made like 10 million of them or something stupid. I have two of the SRT201 (one black and non-op, one chrome and perfect condish), but the models ending in 1 are not as nice because they do not give you your aperture within the viewfinder - just shutter speed. However, they can also be had for a bit cheaper. Mine cost me, i shit you not, 9 dollars from KEH.com two summers back. (I purchased it along with a 3 dollar Canon T50 and a lens cap in order to make my order go over 100$ so I could get free shipping during one of their free shipping over 100$ deals) That said, you'll be more likely to find them going around 30-50 depending on if there's a lens on the front, and which one it is.
These things are awesome. Super chunky and kinda heavy, but they work great, have a super bright viewfinder, are fully manual. Best of all, the lenses are fantastic and CHEAP!
I picked up a Minolta 'Celtic' 28mm f2.8 (basically like minolta's 'cheap' version of their rokkor-x series. It's sharp and built well, so I don't know how it's much cheaper, really) for something around 20$ (consider that compared to the equivalent from Nikon - the 28mm f2.8 AIS - would be like $140 alone). I have the 28, a 45 f2, a 50 f1.7, a 50 f2, a 58 f1.4, and a 135 f2.8 for this thing, and together, they would in total, cost somebody buying them used from the internet, probably under 100$.
here's a shot with the 28
here's a shot with the 135
Minolta gear is ultra plentiful and ultra cheap to get into. For the beginner looking for a really affordable way to get into shooting film and not be stuck with only 1 or 2 lenses, this is absolutely your best bet.
