I'm looking for a TLR

[JRJacobs]

Under $100 -

Look for a Ricoh Diacord - probably the best TLR you can get in that price range.

 

[mudman]

I got lucky myself - I found a Rolleiflex for $40 at a junkshop. I then spent another $85 on a CLA, but its been a great camera ever since.

 

[srmcnamara]

that's a great deal!

I ended up buying a Super Ricohflex for 25 bucks. It's cheap enough that I won't feel awful if it doesn't work properly and I won't feel too bad if I don't end up using it. Should be fun though.

 

[Matthew Rusbarsky]

I'll third the suggestion on the thrift store/garage sale route. I've gotten to the point where I never pay more than $20 for a nice camera, and a cool simple camera should be less than five. In the past year or so, my $20 and under cameras include a Graflex 22, Voigtlander Bessamatic, and a Nikon S. On my $5 and under list, Argus c3, Argus AF, Argus Super 75, and few Hawkeye Flashes. It's been a great learning experience. Cameras that I really wanted I lost interest in after holding them in my hand or running a single roll of film through (Moskva 5, Argus c3 and 75). Cameras that were never on my radar screen go with me everywhere (Bessamatic, Hawkeye Flash).

 

[Dave Pritchard]

Yashica-B, Yashica-C, Yashica-D. No batteries. No light meter to break. Great lenses. Easy to focus. Less money than a YashicaMat.

 

[Rick A]

Yashica-B, Yashica-C, Yashica-D. No batteries. No light meter to break. Great lenses. Easy to focus. Less money than a YashicaMat.

I absolutly agree with Yashica's of that ilk. I have an earlier model D(my second one) that I love to shoot. You have to go a long way to beat them for the price. However the OP doesnt want to spend over a hundred bucks, and that will limit him unless he finds a Godsend. My second fave is my Kodak Duaflex II. Theres more to this model than outwardly apparent, and very capable for producing quality negs.
Rick

 

[JRJacobs]

I have owned over the years: Yashica D, YashicaMat 124G, YashicaMat EM, Rolleicord Vb, Rolleicord IV, Ikoflex Favorit, Minolta Autocord L, Minolta Autocord CDS III, Ricoh Diacord, Ricohmatic 225, Rolleiflex 2.8e, Rolleiflex 3.5e, Rolleiflex 3.5f.

I have found that unless you are getting the Planar/Xenotar Rolleis, the Ricoh and Minolta are by far the best cameras. The Ricoh and Autocord lenses are far sharper and have more bite than any of the Yashinons, and also sharper than the Xenar's found in the Rolleicords. The Diacord/Ricohmatic/Autocord cameras also have the flat film plane, and have a nicely baffled (esp. the Ricohs) film chamber. They are also far better built than the Yashica cameras, and have a hotshoe.

I have seen Diacords go for as little as $30 on the auction site - I find them to be a much better camera than the equivalent Yashicas (which are overpriced as even Rolleicords go cheaper), and are about the best bargain to be found in a TLR. And the lever focus and controls are much more ergonomic.