Recommend a good "budget" medium format?

Another vote for Mamiya RB67. They can be had for relatively little money, and they are a great camera, especially for the studio.

A wildcard: Kiev 60, very inexpensive (but probably not as inexpensive as they were a few years ago), and sometimes they are good cameras. Handles somewhat like a humongous all-manual 35mm SLR. Some good glass is available at relatively low prices.

While you go saving for a medium format camera, consider buying a humble Lubitel. You will be impressed from what it delivers.

Pentax 645, Pentax67, Mamiya RB67, Mamiya C220/C330 all are professional and relialable cameras, offered at reasoable price now. Many KIEV60 have problems that are expensive to fix; Lubitel isn't a professional camera. I bought a quite new Mamiya C220 with 80mm lens for 150 euros, so IMHO it's a nonsense to buy a toy-camera or an unreliable KIEV60.
What camera to chose? It depends mainly on what are your preferences or style: indoor/outdoor, tripod/handled ecc.; anyway all professional camera are built to be durable and to meet the requirements of heavy user.

Regular Rod said:

A fully operational AGFA Record III and use the rest of the money on a lens hood, yellow filter, spotmeter and more film...

RR

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+1

great camera, and a lot of left over money
to spend making photographs.
im not saying the other cameras mentioned aren't
great or maybe superior ( whatever that means, since
someone can make a camera out of soup can and make beautiful photographs )

zanxion72 said:

While you go saving for a medium format camera, consider buying a humble Lubitel. You will be impressed from what it delivers.

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Or not impressed at all, which was my case with the Lubitel 166B. I tried calibrating the lens more than once, yet it did not give sharp results (compared to other 6x6 cameras, not compared to 35mm).

And thanks to the lomo crowd those cameras are overpriced in the secondhand market. I'd avoid.

A better, much better, alternative is the Super Ricohflex which is also a tiny TLR. But this one with better lenses.

Rodinalforever said:

IMHO it's a nonsense to buy a toy-camera or an unreliable KIEV60.

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I couldn't agree more. Every Kiev I have ever owned was trash and gave me constant trouble. And the Lubitel.....it's a joke in my opinion...poor quality lens....