My camera during these times was an auto-focus made by Premier that we bought sometime in mid 1980s for Rs. 600 ($12)
During these years I graduated to my first SLR. It was a Canon T70 with a normal 50mm lens. I think the aperture was 2.8 though I am not sure. My parents bough me this camera for Rs. 10,000 (approx $200)
After a hell of a lot of research (you would not believe how anal I was), I decided to buy a Canon EOS Elan II E with eye focus for US $700 including a camera bag and a 1 year membership to Canon Insight Club. This camera had a 28-105mm canon lens with autofocus and internal focussing. Incidentally this was the first camera I bough with my own money.
After Cornell, I realized the mobility issues associates with owning a big SLR. So currently I do not own or carry cameras around with me.