what is best camera for a young photographer, just starting?

My 17 year old daughter is very "into" photographer and seems to have an eye for it. I want to get her a digital camera for her 18th birthday. She is using mine right now. But I can't spend tons of money. Less than $400. What would be good? She enjoys taking outdoor shots the most - architectural as well as people. She is even taking from senior pictures for some of her friends. All outdoors. If possible, at this price range, a camera that we could add to down the line. This may not be possible.

The Sony H5 is your best all around choice. It isn't as advanced as the high end SLR models which your daughter will eventually have to upgrade to if she is very serious about photography but it is light years ahead of your standard point and click. It has all the functions you need to take controlled detailed shoots. Excellent 12x optical zoom and manual focus and exposure help the user create the exact image they are looking for, very pro. It is a bit more bulky then the average model but it makes up for that in power. This is an excellent machine that your daughter will not soon out grow. Check out the high user reviews as well to get more opinions.

Good Luck

Happy Birthday!