So the Bambu labs A1 looks like the perfect starting point.
One problem, it uses proprietary firmware and software, I’m a big advocate for owning the things you buy, and not supporting companies that don’t allow you to do that as much as I reasonably can. So yea I can’t buy Bambu.
The Creality SparkX i7 seems nice, it looks like a straight up clone of the A1
https://store.creality.com/eu/products/sparkx-i7-3d-printer
I’ve heard a lot of people complain about Creality though, so unsure. I’m a bit stuck and getting decision fatigue.
My budget is ~500 Euro.
Help.
They’re not horrible, but they’re very basic. If you want bed leveling, filament sensing, or network connectivity, then you’re going to have to upgrade the basic machine, and you can. Top that off with figuring out what modeling to slicing pipeline you want to use and you end up touching every step of 3d printing for a very modest price. At which point, if you do want to drop some money on a printer with everything you want already in it, you know exactly what you’re looking for.
easy to install bed leveling on it, after you figure out you need it.
a bit superfluous for a first printer to learn on.
that’s a positive not a negative, especially considering OP wants to learn.
basic simplicity and reliability are actually big pluses. ender 3s are fine as a first printer for good quality prints at rock bottom price for what you get.