Digital camera advice--please move/delete if inappropriate

In My Humble Opinion
1

My 14 year-old daughter needs a digital camera for class. It has to have “manual aperture and shutter speed functions”. I know what those things mean, pretty much, but can’t figure out how to search for a camera with those functions on Amazon or generally. Is there a general term that would encompass cameras like that, for searching purposes? Or what exactly to look for in product descriptions that would indicate those functions? It’s not as obvious as I’d’ve thought.

2

Any mirrorless camera would have that – look for a camera with a dial on top that has PASM – that’s Program, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, Manual.

So, either the camera sets both, or you set the aperture and the camera sets the shutter speed, or vice versa, or you set both aperture and shutter speed.

Lots of fixed lens cameras have that dial, too.

3

All DSLRs and mirrorless cameras will have manual modes, but they will cost you a bit and may not be appropriate for a 14-year old to use in class unless she has intentions to do more photography.

Some higher end Point and Shoot cameras have manual modes, but fewer and fewer. Some of them are quite expensive as well. How much are you willing to spend.

Here’s a link for P&S cameras with aperture priority mode, so these should all meet your needs.
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=digital+cameras&i=photo&rh=n%3A330405011%2Cp_n_feature_thirty-two_browse-bin%3A23634047011%2Cp_n_condition-type%3A2224371011&dc&ds=v1%3A4%2F7etUsp1crZfScfnfAUKK5ZBPfbxOQSN6HmPYF3ErE&crid=3E1JTD3RQ9Z1J&qid=1663090515&rnid=2224369011&sprefix=digital+cameras%2Caps%2C94&ref=sr_nr_p_n_condition-type_1

4

As others have said, you need “full manual” mode, and you need to go a step up from the cheapest camers to get a lens with variable aperture (variable shutter speed is much cheaper to implement). I’d say a used SLR is probably the best bet. B&H and Adorama are reputable, as is MPB that deals solely in used gear.

I would say go as cheap as possible if you’re sure it’s from a reputable source and functional, because to improve on what you are going to get out of a smartphone camera and to be worthwhile to carry a separate camera around you need to need to be spending >$1000. So this is really going to be purely a teaching tool. It looks like you can get a used SLR + lens in moderate condition for around $150.

Here’s what I found quickly, you can probably do slightly cheaper:

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/802579529-USE/nikon_25478_d5100_digital_slr_camera.html

5

Here are some possible used cameras from B&H:
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/802577152-USE/nikon_25472_d3100_digital_slr_camera.html
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/802579687-USE/canon_9126b003_eos_rebel_t5_dslr.html

Both are older models but would be fine for class. You can clearly spend more if you want, but I suspect she’ll be able to do the class assignments with these.

6

This

A quick review of B&H shows everything that isn’t a point and shoot, and even a couple of those, has manual mode. To confirm a specific camera, go to that model, then: specs>exposure control>exposure modes>Aperture Priority, Manual, Program, Shutter Priority.