WTB Cheap Med Format

I'm a little scared to go into this medium but i REALLY want to give it a go.
As such i am looking for a cheap starter kit, but i'm not 100% sure what i am looking for! something like a Bronica? I would love a 'blad but i fear that is out of my range.
Can anyone help me out?

Look for the Yashica Mat. Is a 6x6 square format. Go for any Yashica models higher than the D. It has better lens. Is a Twin Lens Reflex camera. One lens for composing and viewing. The other is for taking the actual shot. They are OLD, more than 70 years old. A CLAed unit would cause you around $150 to $200. Most of them on Ebay are beatup or partially working. They can be had for around $80. They may issues considering the age of these cameras (maybe wrong shutter speeds, scratched up lenses, or partially broken). I bought mine for under $80. It took me a while to learn how to refurb it myself (taking it apart completely and to clean and lube the inners and to refoam the light seal). I later enhanced it by painting the film chamber with some flat, anti reflective paint, and adding a better ground glass for focusing.

You can shop for the Mamiya 645 lineup. A bare system would still cost you around $300. Checkout Keh.com too. Unless you are buying a TLR camera, most medium format system would require the body, the film back, the waist level finder, and at least one lens. Most of them don't have a lighter meter. The Mamiya 645 system has an integrated film back with the body.

I have seen a lot of people recommending KEH but i'm in the UK so would be a lot for shipping (if they even ship here.)
Thanks for the recomendation but i'm not a fan of the TLR style and would much prefer a SLR like the Mamiya 645, Bronica SR, Hasselblad 500C etc.

Would something like THIS be any good?

urbanfreestyle wrote in post #17724262
I have seen a lot of people recommending KEH but i'm in the UK so would be a lot for shipping (if they even ship here.)
Thanks for the recomendation but i'm not a fan of the TLR style and would much prefer a SLR like the Mamiya 645, Bronica SR, Hasselblad 500C etc.

Would something like THIS be any good?

Yeah, is fine. You can't go wrong with either the Mamiya, Pentax, or Bronica...Only the Bronica has a square format model, the SQ. Mamiya and Pentax SLR medium format system only support 6x4.5. If you can pay a bit more, you can get the Fuji GW rangfinder medium format with a fixed lens. It comes in 6x7 and 6x9..if you prefer a larger format. Stay away from the Mamiya RB or RZ67. They are big, huge, and heavy. Pentax also made a 6x7 system but again, it is huge and heavy too and more expensive.

I guess as i will be scanning the images in i could crop to square in post.
I guess i need to decide which 'system' i want to invest in.

Do i save up and get a Hasselblad 500C (buy the Body, then the back, then the lens etc (i know it will be a lot more expensive)
or opt for the Mamiya 645 Super / WLF

Or a Kiev 88

So many choices!?

In an ideal world i would love the 'blad but that's just because i have heard so much about them and they are the 'name brand' for MF for the un-initiated.