Speaking of Nikon, the Nikon F2, a fantastic, fully mechanical[1] SLR, is widely available on the used market for <$500 and compatible with nearly every full-frame Nikon SLR lens ever made with an aperture ring[2].
My current personal favorite "vintage" camera is an F2 with non-metering prism, type H full-field microprism viewing screen, and 50mm f/1.2 lens (still a current[3] Nikon product!), mostly because it has the clearest, brightest, largest viewfinder image I've ever seen on a 35mm camera.
[1] Other than flashes and optional electronic metering prisms.
[2] The only exceptions I'm aware of are the PC-E tilt/shift lenses, which have "soft" physical aperture rings that still require electronics, and therefore power supplied via the lens mount, to actually stop down the lens.
Also, my claim only fully applies to non-metering F2 viewfinders; metering prisms protrude a bit from the front of the camera body and interfere with the mounting and/or operation of certain lenses (including, I believe, all PC lenses).
I had an F2AS for many years, excellent viewfinder indeed, 0.8x, the same as non-HP F3, but quite a beast to carry around. The ME Super had even bigger magnification but probably not a 100% coverage screen.
I only sold the F2 motor drive last year, and that was ridiculous too, ten AA batteries for the MB1 battery pack. Cannot believe I used to take that thing to parties for kicks 20-30 years ago.
My current personal favorite "vintage" camera is an F2 with non-metering prism, type H full-field microprism viewing screen, and 50mm f/1.2 lens (still a current[3] Nikon product!), mostly because it has the clearest, brightest, largest viewfinder image I've ever seen on a 35mm camera.
[1] Other than flashes and optional electronic metering prisms.
[2] The only exceptions I'm aware of are the PC-E tilt/shift lenses, which have "soft" physical aperture rings that still require electronics, and therefore power supplied via the lens mount, to actually stop down the lens.
Also, my claim only fully applies to non-metering F2 viewfinders; metering prisms protrude a bit from the front of the camera body and interfere with the mounting and/or operation of certain lenses (including, I believe, all PC lenses).
[3] https://www.nikonusa.com/en/Nikon-Products/Product/Camera-Le...