Okay, so here's my basic situation:

I have a friend that I will mentor and teach photography to. I am not overly familiar with all of the DSLR cameras on the market. (I jumped from a Nikon FE to a D5300.) I think the 5300 would be overwhelming for her b/c it's just too much information. Her basic skill set is comprised of pointing and shooting a cellphone. My daughter bought a Canon EOS T5, which I really like. I think it is a great starter. However, my friend seems to be leaning towards Nikon (God bless her!). I would like some input on what cameras you might think would be great starting cameras for a person who has no experience either with SLR or composition. She's got a lot to learn, so I think too many options might be discouraging. For her, money is not too plentiful, so an older model is completely within reason. It doesn't have to be the latest and greatest, just a good, solid camera. Please, give your input and WHY you think that camera is a good choice. Responses need not be long... Thanks, in advance.

Okay, so here's my basic situation:

I have a friend that I will mentor and teach photography to. I am not overly familiar with all of the DSLR cameras on the market. (I jumped from a Nikon FE to a D5300.) I think the 5300 would be overwhelming for her b/c it's just too much information. Her basic skill set is comprised of pointing and shooting a cellphone. My daughter bought a Canon EOS T5, which I really like. I think it is a great starter. However, my friend seems to be leaning towards Nikon (God bless her!). I would like some input on what cameras you might think would be great starting cameras for a person who has no experience either with SLR or composition. She's got a lot to learn, so I think too many options might be discouraging. For her, money is not too plentiful, so an older model is completely within reason. It doesn't have to be the latest and greatest, just a good, solid camera. Please, give your input and WHY you think that camera is a good choice. Responses need not be long... Thanks, in advance.

A key phrase here is that you feel she might be too intimidated with a DSLR to start with due to its complicated nature. If she has little or no experience beyond using a cell phone camera, then perhaps a less complicated and less expensive camera might be in order. I realize that all the DSLR fans want to promote their style of camera because it works for them, but the DSLR isn't for everybody. There is nothing wrong with starting out simple, with a camera that can be used in full automatic while working on things like composition and perhaps arriving at a preferred type of photography, then easing into the more manual aspects of photography. Then when and if she decides photography is for her and she is ready to move up from, say, a compact camera to a larger sensor camera that is more high end, she'll have a much better feel for what suits her. If she has small hands and not a lot of strength, perhaps a mirrorless camera would be a good way to go. Most are no less complicated to use than a DSLR, but they are lighter and less bulky.

Your info says you are in south central Idaho. Twin Falls perhaps? A good move would be to take your friend to an Idaho camera store and let her look at and handle several cameras and see what appeals to her. Also, those folks are, for the most part, pretty knowledgeable. The man at the Idaho Camera store in Boise Towne Square Mall was very helpful to me when I bought a Nikon D90 several years ago.

Getting into photography is going to require a commitment of money and time for the learning process. Remember that you need lots of things to complete your SYSTEM.

Digital Camera and Lenses
Computer
Decent Monitor and Monitor Calibration Kit
Printer (optional if you use labs or don’t print)
Post-Processing Software
Back-up hard drives
SD, CF, or other memory card media
Tripod
Flash and Bracket
Carrying cases
Studio equipment if you want to get into that sort of work

… And, to tie it all together, you need PHOTOGRAPHIC EDUCATION. You can self-educate, or you can take a community college course, or you can take a university course in photography, or some combination of those. The education part is probably more important than WHAT GEAR you choose, because education (and practice and experience) determines the performance you can extract from the gear.

The more gear you can TRY before you BUY, the better. Borrowing gear, visiting camera stores, and renting equipment help narrow your choices and ensure you make the right ones. Reading reviews and watching YouTube reviews helps, too.

Bought a D3300 for my daughter who wanted a "real camera." She is now the queen of photography in her circle of 30-somethings and their iPhones. They are available for about $300-350 as Nikon refurbs from Cameta. It is a great camera for a beginner because she can use it as a P&S, move to Program mode and get more options, then go all the way to Manual, Aperture or Shutter. The camera has built in help screens in case she can't remember which button does what--something most of us forget for the obscure ones.

Read Ken Rockwell's review. http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d3300.htm

When one of my daughters expressed interest in graduating from her point and shoot, I lent her a Canon 70D along with a couple lenses, a speedlight, tripod and a couple really good books plus the 70D's manual. For Christmas I got her some Scott Kelby books and Brian Peterson's latest book on exposure. She loves the books. Since she is a little strapped for cash for frivolous expenditures, what with a 4 year old and a 4 month old, last week I helped her buy a refurbished 80D from Canon. She absolutely loves the camera and is learning as much about it as quickly as she can.

When she first began her camera quest, I let her try out my Nikon D7200 and D500 and my Canon 70D and 6D. After some basic instructions, she played with all 4 cameras for a couple hours. That night she went home with the 70D. She said she chose that one because to her it was easier to use than the Nikon's and she liked how it felt in her hands.

A key phrase here is that you feel she might be too intimidated with a DSLR to start with due to its complicated nature. If she has little or no experience beyond using a cell phone camera, then perhaps a less complicated and less expensive camera might be in order. I realize that all the DSLR fans want to promote their style of camera because it works for them, but the DSLR isn't for everybody. There is nothing wrong with starting out simple, with a camera that can be used in full automatic while working on things like composition and perhaps arriving at a preferred type of photography, then easing into the more manual aspects of photography. Then when and if she decides photography is for her and she is ready to move up from, say, a compact camera to a larger sensor camera that is more high end, she'll have a much better feel for what suits her. If she has small hands and not a lot of strength, perhaps a mirrorless camera would be a good way to go. Most are no less complicated to use than a DSLR, but they are lighter and less bulky.

Your info says you are in south central Idaho. Twin Falls perhaps? A good move would be to take your friend to an Idaho camera store and let her look at and handle several cameras and see what appeals to her. Also, those folks are, for the most part, pretty knowledgeable. The man at the Idaho Camera store in Boise Towne Square Mall was very helpful to me when I bought a Nikon D90 several years ago.