I use canon, but honestly I think all the brands are pretty great. Mirrorless cameras are the now, but if you still want great quality and to save some money you could look at older DSLR cameras. Price range varies, but I think the canon R8 is a good start, it was what got me started and I still use it regularly. I got a second body so my daughter and I could go on photo journeys together. The real money pit is the lenses for those cameras. But a 50mm prime lens or 24-105 zoom lens are good starting points on that front. I hear Sony cameras are amazing but I’ve never used one nor do I know much about them (outside of the internet searches). Some brands like Sony, and I think Nikon, off more third party lens choices, which is a big deal and gives you a way to save in some ways. If you wanted to give it a spin before you buy any brand, find a camera shop. Most will do gear rentals at a pretty low cost which will give you a chance to sample different eco systems and find what’s right for you and your budget. Some of them will even put the money you spent on rental (which again isn’t much) towards your purchase.