I sprung for a stable of medium format (120 film) cameras some years back. eBay makes it easy to get decent quality cameras made over 50 years ago (many of the ones I bought came direct from Japan — surprise).
It was a modest investment in learning and money to take the next step and develop my own film. B&W at first (easy, forgiving) and then even color (sill easy but less forgiving).
I guess I was not interested in the darkroom + enlarger thing. I did that when I was young (elementary school, middle school) so I know what's involved. It could be fun but is less modest a move up in terms of cost (and space since you do indeed need a dark room — just processing the film was easy with just a changing bag).
Instead after processing the negatives, I go next to flatbed scanner and we're digital for the rest of the trip.
I imagine there are still camera clubs with darkrooms around for those who want to give printing a shot.
But, yeah, for most people a decent home setup is challenging. I had the equipment so when I got an apartment after graduating from school I gave temporarily setting things up in a bathroom a shot. I quickly gave up because I found it really frustrating after having had access to real darkrooms in school--and also realized I was sort of done with the hours in a dark room with chemicals thing.
It was a modest investment in learning and money to take the next step and develop my own film. B&W at first (easy, forgiving) and then even color (sill easy but less forgiving).
I guess I was not interested in the darkroom + enlarger thing. I did that when I was young (elementary school, middle school) so I know what's involved. It could be fun but is less modest a move up in terms of cost (and space since you do indeed need a dark room — just processing the film was easy with just a changing bag).
Instead after processing the negatives, I go next to flatbed scanner and we're digital for the rest of the trip.
* I put some sample photos up: https://imgur.com/a/8CFskwN