Nikon D3000
Use
SD card and battery are included.
Use this for your projects and for anything PS:1 related. There's a Pumping Station: One Flickr group, and blog posts love pictures.
No certification needed, but talking to people in the space who like photography might help you get more use out of it. The quickest, simplest way to use it: set the top dial to "P", set the switch on the lens to "A" and "On", and then point it at things and take pictures.
No movie mode. Stop-motion movie feature only.
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/nikond3000/
Lenses
A Nikon 18-55mm DX VR lens is available.
A Nikon 55-200m DX lens is also available. No VR, so you'll likely want a tripod if you're using it indoors with ambient lighting.
Quirks
The back glass is cracked from the camera's previous life. It does not affect functionality. Clear packing tape has been placed over the glass to mitigate risks of moisture infiltration.