I'm wondering what kind of camera I could get a decent price?

My brother has a Nikon D5100. I'm moving to Oklahoma later this year and I would like to get a nice camera that can take pictures of lightning and among other things. I see D3100, D3200, D5200. I don't really get the differences. All I see is how much they all cost. Since I also don't know much about cameras I would like one that wouldn't be too complicated. I can follow instructions fine and I could probably figure it out, but I don't need one that can do all kinds of things when I just want something that can take nice, decent pictures without spending a **** ton of money.

For I'd recommend a bridge camera not a dslr. You didn't state a budget but I get it… The less the better.
There are lots of bridge cameras out there, Fuji has a nice line of them, in fact that's all they make are bridge cameras.

I don't recommend specific models of bridge cameras but here's a good place to do research.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/...video.com/

If you want to take photos of lightning, you need a lightning trigger. Some of these will only work with certain DSLRs (it depends on whether or not the remote shutter release is a cable or IR).

So pick out your lightning trigger first, then a DSLR that will work with it. One like this:

http://www.amazon.com/...0083WUJE4/

It works with a Nikon MC-DC2 compatible trigger, which should work with the cameras you specified above, but you will want to download the manual for the one you are interested to make sure it indeed works with the MC-DC2.

Do NOT buy a bridge camera as suggested above - they don't have any ability to work with a remote lightning trigger.

Maybe you already know it, but there are several ways to photography lightning. One is to use the lightning trigger, another is to aim your camera in the direction of previous strikes and open the shutter and wait, just like in this article.
http://www.weatherscapes.com/techniques.php?cat=lightning&page=lightning

You have chosen some good candidates for the job. You owe it to yourself to consider other makes of similar DSLR's like the Sony A3000 and SLT A57, Canon T3 and T3i and Pentax K-500 and K30.

There are incremental improvements between the Nikon D3100 and D3200, nothing radical.
http://snapsort.com/...ikon_D3100

Likewise with the D5200 other than the flip out screen, which is handy for overhead shots or waist level shots
http://snapsort.com/...ikon-D5200

I don't know what your relationship is with your brother, but showing up with the newer release of his camera may be a form of one-up-manship…
http://snapsort.com/...ikon-D5200

Unless you wanted to jump up two levels
http://snapsort.com/...ikon-D5300

The good thing about getting a DSLR is that if you spend some time and effort learning how to use it, you will have a lifetime of good photos.

The CANON Powershot G15 will do you wonders, Ms. Rachel----abesofmaine.com