Wow, no replies.
Your major players are Canon and Nikon. Then there's Minolta, Pentax, and a couple others. The Canon and Nikon are probably a little more expensive, but you are getting more options, more upgradability, etc. Here are a couple things to consider...
What are the chances he might actually like photography, and want to "get into it" a little? If so, think future, and I'd highly reccomend Canon/Nikon. Canon/Nikon's 35mm lenses will go onto their Digital SLRs, as well.
Check eBay. However, make sure you compare prices with online vendors. I see stuff sell on eBay all the time, for more than what you could buy it new elsewhere. A great price source is bhphotovideo.com.
My first camera was a Canon eLan7. I still have it, but it hasn't come out to play since I went digital (Canon 20D). Sometimes I miss it, because there's something.. softer, more artsy, about real film versus digital. Anyway, I think that camera can be had with lens for just a couple hundred dollars used, and it has bells and whistles your son won't need.
I just checked bhphotovideo.com, and I'd recommend the Rebel series from Canon. The Rebel K2 with 28-90 (versatile enough) lens is only $190 new. It comes with the exact same lens my eLan7 came with, and I used it until I got the 20D with nicer lenses.
Yep... check eBay for Rebels, that's my suggestion.
And if you couldn't tell, I'm a Canon guy, but only because that's what I had first. Canon and Nikon are both equally capable and top-of-the-line cameras.
