Best (cheapest) FILM camera for learning the basics

[w349]

I don't know enough about the second-hand market for film cameras, but I respectfully disagree that it's better to use a film camera to teach photography unless your student has specifically requested this. I think digital is a much better format for learning photography for several reasons:

• You can review each shot with your student immediately and offer advice on exposure and composition
• The EXIF data is recorded for each shot, so you don't have to write down the details
• You can change ISO settings between shots instead of having to change the film - this would be a good way to teach exposure
• Digital doesn't cost £4 per roll, plus developing costs. You need to give your student the freedom to take bad shots without worrying about the cost, because each bad shot is a learning opportunity. Also, high speed bursts during action or wildlife photography will become very expensive on film.
• It's time consuming to back up your negatives (i.e. scanning)
• Cheap film cameras might not offer the same range of focus points, focus tracking, exposure modes and other features that a cheap dSLR would provide.

Thanks for the input Andy, I agree that all of those are definite plus points of digital photography and a few of the many reasons I would never dream of going back to shooting film. Of course if budget were no issue, digital would be the way to go - but like I said, I have a pool of FD glass to use and this would be a relatively inexpensive way to get started. If the student in question (a family member) wants to provide their own digital camera, that would be fine by me - this is just an initial stepping stone that doesn't require much financial investment by me or her.