There are so many subjects and styles of photography so he might just be curious to learn and explore. It doesn't really have to be expensive getting started - lots of good quality used equipment around which photographically functions just as todays models. The sensors are somewhat better, and the framerate higher, but people did take good pictures a few years ago too!

And it is usually easy enough to sell used as well. I've sold many lenses as part of upgrading or getting something else - lenses seem to keep their value pretty good.
(The exception being flashlights as Canon changed their communication protocol or something a few years after I got mine. I'm still stuck with an entire set of various previous era flashlights which do an amazing job of collecting dust. I guess that is a risk - big changes to the system of system cameras).