Finally, an MF forum on clubsnap. Thanks to Darren.
For those starting out MF with a budget I'll recommend buying a used or new Seagull TLR at between $180-$290. Can also try getting a old but working Yashica(MAT, 635, D), MinoltaCord, Rollei, Mamiya C330, etc, from any of the 2nd hand shops in Peninsula area. These cameras can give you real good picture quality which you can use seriously. Forget holga, lubitel, diana all such cameras as they are more of a novelty because they don't really produce good pictures. I am speaking from experience cos I used to own a Diana in the mid seventies.
The Seagull ain't a great camera, but if you get a good one, it can be a seriously good camera. In the sixties and seventies, the pros, ie photo studios, actually use them for field work, eg, taking PAP kindergarten graduation portraits which they charge good money selling to parents.
MF need not be expensive to maintain or run. I get a roll of Provia 100F from Ruby for $4.70. Then I get it processed by RGB for $4.80. For less than $10 I have 15 shots of beautiful slides staring at me with their grainless images and intense colour.
B/W is even cheaper. Film is only $4.00 (according to Streetshooter, but I use expired ones, lagi cheap) and processing b/w film is only about 50 cents per roll for the chemicals.
Both colour slides and b/w you can scan them and convert them to view on your PC, post on the net, send out for digital printing, etc. If you want seriously big prints, then use the slides and the negatives directly for truly eyeball popping enlargements.
But MF has it's drawbacks too. But my post is getting too long so I'll stop here.