What medium format camera should i get for a beginner.?

i was wondering what medium format camera i should get. I dont want a holga or anything like that. I like having a full frame shot without that look of the lens around the edges of the picture. My max i would spend is about 200$. i heard that seagull's are no good at all. is that true?

Yashica Mat-124 and Mamiya C220 or C330 are in your price range on eBay. All of these are great cameras to use and produce good quality images.
Here is another interesting find: http://cgi.ebay.com/RICOH-DIACORD-TLR-ME...

Lots of good medium format available, but in your price range you're best bet is probably a Yashica Mat 124 (or 124G). They are usually available in good condition at your price range (garage sales, Craig's List, eBay) Stay away from Seagull and Kiev--they're usable but often frustrating and fragile. I just checked eBay, and you may also be able to pick up a Mamiya C220 or C330 in your price range. They're TLR's with interchangeable lenses. I had an old C220 and it was a great camera.

I also think $200 is really cutting it too tight for MF. Perhaps you can find a good camera in that price range as some others have suggested, but I would sure have my doubts. MF is not a cheap road to take with photography. Even if you find a "cheap" camera, the price of film, processing, (or chemicals and time if you do it yourself), plus scanning if you want to go that route, really add up.

I love MF also. I use a manual 645 Mamiya, get film from B-H, and get processing and scans done at Chromatics in Nashville, Tn. If I want any large prints, I outsource that to either Chromatics, or Mpix, or Simply Canvas.

If you are a beginner as you say, I honestly think you need to take a long look at the total costs of MF film photography. I'm sure NOT trying to discourage you... I'm 100% for anyone not wanting to jump on the digital bandwagon crap.

... oh... by the way "pixelchiq".... there ARE other cameras in existence besides digital. Sheesh.

steve

Yashica made quite a few models and all of them are good. Look at the Yashica A, D, EM, Yashicamat 124, Yashicamat 124G. The seagull would be good enough, but it does not have the lenses that Yashica has.

I just bought a Yashicamat 124G and it is more fun than a barrel full of missionaries.

They are quite expensive--and I don't think you can get anything but a film holder (even that) for $200. I'm not talking about twin lens reflex.

Here is a search at B&H.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controll...

Yashica put out a very good medium format camera some years ago.I would look in pawn shops,and photo stores that sell used equipment.Mamiya is a bit more pricey but it has interchangeable lenses.

Honestly, I recommend the Canon Powershot S5 IS, even though it is more than $200. This is the camera I went with after reading myriad reviews (both from journalists and private citizens), and being advised by two professional photographers.

The S5 IS offers both automatic point-and-shoot photography and manual configuration. It has a wide range of aperture and shutter speeds. There is the ability to adjust the built-in flash, as well as provisions to 'grow' with the camera by adding lenses or more powerful flash accessories.

It's a heavy-ish camera at a little less than a pound, but the substantial mass of the camera, in my experience, helps a lot with image stability.