Is there any particular brand that is favored over the others? Price range I should be looking at? I'm spying the Nikon N75 or N80. Maybe the Canon Eos Elan or Rebel. I want to make sure that any lenses will fit both this camera and a future slr digital. Any help appreciated. TIA

I think she's learn more and faster with a DSLR like a 300d or D50.

If she really wants to take it though, the N80 has a spot meter which I think is a useful learning tool.

but undoubtedly is not allowed (too many photo profs stuck on old school tech).

She needs a class to expedite her learning of exposure and light ratios, terminology, technique, etc.

She could learn most of basic photography on her own, but a class will certainly speed the process up and offer her hands on experience, as well as someone to answer the tough concepts.

I have taught photography at university level and even the smartest students have trouble with some basic concepts.

Mike S

What I meant was, don't take *that* class.

You really think a K1000 is still the camera to use for that? I've always thought spot meters teach exposure a lot more quickly than a center weighted meter since there's less guessing about what it's seeing. She should at least get an FM2 so it's useful later.

a balanced enough exposuire for most subjects.

They certainly need to learn how to use a spot meter and having a camera with the feature certainly isn't a bad idea.

Cheers.

Mike S