Cheap yet good dslrs Nikon/Canon for students?

Can you recommend to me cheap yet excellent dslr cameras when it comes to image quality, etc. My father's budget is just around $300-350 and I think that it's better to buy a 2nd hand dslr camera for my photography subject and for myself rather than to buy a bridge camera since everyone says that nothing can beat dslr's when it comes to sharp beautiful images. I'm a student and I'll be taking up Photography subject soon. So please I need help, thanks!

Added (1). Yes, I know that dslrs starts at $500. But I'm willing to buy a "second hand dslr camera". 2nd hand cameras in our city ranges from $300-500. I've asked some of the alumni and professors in our university about that and they said that it is very much better if you have a dslr, since we'll have Digital Photography.

Added (2). I'll not just buy a 2nd hand dslr just for the sake of my Photography subject. I also want it for myself and for my birthday.

You should be able to find a good used Nikon D40 or Canon 350D that is within your small budget.

You can find them on craigslist in a city near you.

If you are taking a class in photography, you may want to check with your instructor and see if you need an actual 35 mm SLR or a dSLR before you spend a dime.

Canon 1000d?

I agree with David. For that money all you'll find is a used camera. New start at $500.

DSLR's start at $500 brand new. They are mostly crippled in one way or another but nevertheless come with all the basic controls needed to create a photograph. The range of controls may not be that much but are sufficient. For learning with guidance, these entry-level models are the best. If you intend to keep the camera for as long as you can, you would be better off with a more expensive model.

If you can find a secondhand Nikon D3100, go for it. It has all the features you would expect from a DSLR and even goes the extra mile by throwing Full HD video recording. It has a 14.2MP CMOS sensor, and while it offers full manual controls on just about all of its functions, it also has a Guide Mode that encourages novices to explore all of the D3100's features. There are even some help screens for a lot of the functions. It's been out on the market since 2010 so you can expect to see some used units being sold wherever you're from.