[limestonecowboy]

Does she have a PC/Laptop to view the photos on? Does she have an ipad/Tablet? You have to think how she will view the shots and whether she will do anything with them. If she will simply view them on an ipad or tablet and perhaps e-mail to friends or post on facebook then a bridge camera with decent wifi and a suitable app on the tablet will do. There are a few KS2's with lenses on ebay for less than $500 (based on UK ebay/prices at least) so that might be the next level up if a bridge camera isn't enough and she fancies posting to Flickr or similar.

[steve_k]

How about something along the line of the Panasonic dc fz80k. It’s well within your budget and no need to buy lenses also shoots RAW.

Panasonic Lumix DC-FZ80 Digital Camera DC-FZ80K B&H Photo Video

[aslyfox]

weight and size

would she want some thing she can just put in a purse or shirt/jacket

these and the questions asked by others need to be determined to get her something she will use

and later she can move on to another type

[ddharriman]

My advice - Lumix ZS50 (LUMIX 30X Travel Zoom Camera with Eye Viewfinder - DMC-ZS50 - Panasonic US)
12 million pixels, 24x720 zoom, raw shooting, small, choice to use back screen or electronic viewfinder, etc...
Model from 2015, can be had in Europe (same model but named TZ70) for less then 200 euros so I suppose one can get it for similar interesting prices, even second hand.

[zippythezip]

I am going to put out the idea of an Olympus EM10 mark2, which with 14-42 and 40-150 can be got now very cheap. Pairs nice with a smart phone and a lot of fun.

[Roadboat24]

I'm a die hard Pentax fan. That said. When my mother wanted a "DSLR" to take pictures of the birds that showed up on her bird feeders I got her a superzoom like the Canon powershot SX420 IS. After her death, my daughter still uses it to this day. I think they are pretty good cameras and are good for people that want a "DSLR" but don't know about DSLR's.

[wrench.doozer]

+1 to the pana fz80 or similar. I have the k70 and drag it around like its attached to me. But, I miss my fz30 for ease of use and flexability (not for the stinky sensor) with much less mass than the k70. I've thought of getting my father a dslr, but despite having gone to RIT for graphic arts & using a graphlex and a yashica tlr, he only uses crap point & shoots now.
Get what you think she would use the most.

[ASheffield]

Thank you for all of the suggestions so far! As September approaches, I will begin looking into what I can find within my budget. I've been putting a lot of thought into a bridge camera since this would be her first camera beyond her phone and a point-and-shoot. She's mostly been sharing her photos on Instagram and putting them into photo books for family and friends. She really likes just going out and looking for photo opportunities. Now that she's retired, photography has given her something to do.

[Rondec]

If she is interested in an SLR, than a K-S1 (used) with an 18-135 would be a nice starting place. I imagine you could squeeze that into your budget.

[jhaji]

Get her a K-S1 if this is going to be her first DSLR. The kit 18-55 zoom along with the DA 50/1.8 should get her started.