gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

Pick a price and get everyone the same make/model. Be sure they have the ability to use manual mode as well as the other common gizmos. A built in flash might be useful too. I doubt that you will find much under $200. Or, start with their camera phones. The newer ones can use apps that allow manual controls.

KindaSpikey Loc: English living in San Diego

Check out the Samsung wb350f, I have one to throw in my jeans pocket, or backpack when I don't want to lug all my gear around. Surprising amount of control, consistency decent pics, not too expensive and so far very reliable and rugged. I realize "Samsung" might not cut it with the camera snobs, (no offense, I was one myself), but I was pleasantly surprised.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Probably all used sites have a price filter. KEH.com can filter digital cameras $0 to $199 as a start-point for ideas.

n4jee Loc: New Bern, NC

GE Power Pro Series X500 16.0MP Digital Camera can be purchased for $20-60 on ebay. Has eyelevel finder as well as screen, enough pixels for decent sized prints and manual capabilities.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Used or refurbished will buy more value than getting a new camera. As for the type, a compact would be a good starter. All cameras allow some adjustments, so they don't have to start with a $3,000 DSLR.

R.G. Loc: Scotland

If you want manual controls you won't get that from cheap compact cameras. Second hand DSLRs is the way to go. There should be enough of them available to make sure everybody gets one. Paul's suggestion of older crop sensor DSLRs plus one or two kit lenses should be available within your price range.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

There are hundreds of options for you. Like this one, a Nikon D3400 with 18-55 and 70-300 lenses for $255.00.
There are thousands of combinations you can get off ebay for Canon and Sony too.
Just look for them and you will find them.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/255114292484?epid=228178387&hash=item3b65ff2d04:g:xWMAAOSw94lhHaBA

Najataagihe

Oh, Good Lord, folks!

PAY ATTENTION!


He is teaching home-schooled beginners, not trying to train photojournalists!

Limited budgets, folks.


Y'all are starting on the wrong end.

Get a beginner's camera.


A beginner needs to be concentrating on composition, not trying to figure out how to work an advanced camera.

Get them interested in the final product, not the process.


Even the exposure triangle should be left to later instruction, if only delayed a few weeks.

You start with all that technical crap and kids are going to turn off and run.


So, my recommendation (having quite some experience with home-school and private school teaching)?

Believe it or not: https://www.amazon.com/Seckton-Upgrade-Birthday-Portable-Card-Blue/dp/B087ZTH98B/ref=sr_1_4?crid=1DW81KFLUSQ7O&dchild=1&keywords=camera+for+kids&qid=1630683217&refinements=p_85%3A2470955011%2Cp_72%3A1248963011&rnid=1248961011&rps=1&s=toys-and-games&sprefix=camera+for+kids%2Caps%2C178&sr=1-4

$30.

You can buy enough of them to supply the whole class for next to nothing.

After you have:

1. Made the point that it is the photographer, not the equipment

2. Determined who is going to actually pursue this hobby

3. Determined who is ready to delve into the wonderful world of exposure control


THEN, you can worry about the manual-capable cameras.



Until you get to that point, you are:

1. Confusing your students with TMI

2. Wasting their parents' money, if the student does not want to pursue it further

3. Diverting their limited brainpower from learning how to make photographs to learning how to operate equipment


Most of us have been in this hobby so long, we have forgotten just how steep the learning curve is.

Without the enthusiasm we have developed over the years, I doubt anyone would devote any significant time to further study.


FIRST RULE OF TEACHING:

Teach to your student's actual level of development, not what you think it should be.


Crawl, Walk, Run.

You guys are not asking them to Run, but you, sure as Niffleheim is cold, are trying to get them to Walk before they have Crawled.


DON'T run them off.

Six weeks of cheapo cameras will weed out the uninterested without staining their parents' budget.

THEN, move to a more sophisticated SINGLE-LENS Point-and-Shoot that they will be able to use as a "carry-everywhere" camera, even after they progress (hopefully) to a full-blown "professional" rig.


To the OP: Good luck and Bless You for introducing the next generation to something they can enjoy when they are our age and older.

Hip Coyote

Can I suggest recommending features rather than brands....and let them figure that out? Or they consult with you when they decide to purchase? Such as ability to shoot manual, RAW, etc. Maybe limit to a few brands (having 5 different brands might be difficult to teach to), etc. I would think the canon 40, 50, 60, 70 d series or as others mentioned the lower end rebels might work well. The used market is vast for these cameras. Id avoid the M43 cameras (even though I am a user) because it introduces a whole new layer of instruction that might convolute things...need uniformity somewhat to instruct.

Also, there may be people out there have cameras they no longer used...for example I gave a canon 60d and a suite of lenses to my local high school...maybe put out a call to all school folks to see what they might have?

DavidPine Loc: Fredericksburg, TX

They should all have a phone which probably has a better image capability than something you can buy for $50-$200.

k2edm Loc: FN32AD

I will probably get shot for says this, but the cameras internal to most cell phones are pretty good & maybe they should be considered..

Photo Phil

Have you thought about a good used camera? You might be able to find a good used Canon 7D, although it might run about $300.00.
I've bought used from Roberts,Adorama,and B and H.
All reputable ,also hear good things about KEH.

PHRubin Loc: Nashville TN USA

I don't have a model to suggest, but whatever model should have the basic shooting modes of Auto, Tv, Av, and M for a learning aid. A viewfinder in addition to the screen is desirable, but a lot to ask at this price range.

bittermelon

Exactly what I was going to suggest. Every student already has them. Get some free apps such as ProShot.

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago