When I was buying my 8x10 I was also looking for an "affordable" camera, not wanting to break the bank on a format I was just starting in, and knowing that I would be using it for portraits on wet plate as well as film. I settled on an old Burke and James Commercial View 8x10 and it has been everything I have needed. While not expensive, it is by no means cheap, but rather a well made workhorse that has lasted decades with no issues. It is not the easiest camera to use, it does not have geared rise/fall and fine focusing can be a bit tricky and time consuming at times, and it doesn't have the range of movements that more expensive cameras have, no is it as light, but it is more than adequate for my work and my needs, and I have had no problem with even the heaviest lenses I own, with the limiting factor in that regard being the lens board size (not exactly small at 6x6) rather than ability to hold the weight.
On another note, someone mentioned Stenopieka, and while I have not used their cameras, I am impressed with the cost and quality of their 8x10 plate holder, so it may be worth looking into.
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