All mechanical cameras are going up in price, some like the Pentax K1000 are sought after and overpriced. Bodies that were under the radar are not catching up. For a MF all mechanical body look for Konica T, T3, T4, standard primes are not too expensive and very sharp, Konica did not make a bad lens. Fast glass does cost. Konica made a few pretty good zooms in the day as did Vivitar and Soligar. On the inexpensive side are the entry and mid level AF bodies. Not small, rugged, going for very little money without a lens is the Nikon N90, prices as low as $20, buy 2 or 3. Lens range from kit lens 3rd party kit lens to very high end fast glass, the N90 will work well with up to D lens. G lens will work in crippled mode, like P or A mode. Same with Minolta, Pentax, and Canon, pick a body, buy 2 or 3, get a couple of mid level lens. Find a few bodies you think you would like then research those bodies. Avoid Miranda, Petri, Kowa and Topcon leaf shutter 35mm, Topcon RE mount are fine but lens are scare and repairs are almost impossible.