>>4482773my favorite post itt unironically
shop for a pre-2012 dslr with a good lens selection, preferably from nikon/canon so you can adapt the lens onto a nice newer camera if you like it (think nikon d750/d850 or canon 5div/5ds).
my ccd shitters have taught me how to work to get a good photo as opposed to just firing auto and letting the camera do the work. at the end of the day they're fun to use and i love swapping between my k1ii and something like a konica minolta 5d.
i suggest a nikon d200 or d600 or a canon 5d 6d or 7d (i like the single digit d models since theyre the pro models vs consumer...better build quality and nicer to use)
https://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/pho/d/manassas-canon-5d-mark-camera/7896150454.htmlhttps://newyork.craigslist.org/brk/ele/d/brooklyn-professional-grade-canon-6d/7884263025.htmlpersonally not a fan of pentax or sony for this price range you can get more money and a better camera for the same money (and a way better camera if you upgrade)...the sony dslrs/slts have awful build quality. would only recommend if you found something like a a350/a380/a390 for <$100 or a a68/a77 for <$300.
the pentaxes dont have a good lens ecosystem and you can get better equivalent nikon/canon for the same budget unless you find a <$300 k3 or k70 (not impossible, i sold my KF for $400)
bonus part of staying with old dslr blobs, you can pick up a cheap film body from the 80s-90s and use the same dslr lenses if you want to experiment with film. i carried a pentax zx30 and my k1 mark 2 on my trip to europe last year swapping lens between the 2...even though i looked ridiculous i got some beautiful film shots i can hang up on my fridge.
