Looking for a reasonably priced fair quality camera?

I wish to start dabbling in the art of photography, because it pertains to the future career I'm looking to engage in. The camera does not need to shoot video if it doesn't have the ability. I wish to see a reasonable price tag and some decency that could last me some years of use. Simpler controls would probably be better, since I'm only learning, unless you suggest otherwise. Any experienced photographers out there who could begin pointing me in the right direction would be greatly appreciated.

Fully adjustable cameras are simple enough. You can find some good ones that cost less than $480 like the Nikon D3200.

All the major camera makers make entry level digital SLR cameras to help keep the costs down for beginners. What you may not know is that at the top end of the camera scale, were you find professional quality lenses ($6,000 or more), there's NO difference in how the operate (except that there are less auto features on the pro cameras - no Face Recognition, Beach, Black and White Copy, Close Up, Dusk/Dawn, Fireworks Show, Food, Landscape, Museum, Night Landscape, Night Portrait, Panorama Assist, Party/Indoor, Pet Portrait, Portrait, Scene Auto Selector, Snow, Sports or Sunset presets. Those can really only add to the confusion of using a fully adjustable camera. I think of them as "feel good" features which can only lengthen the time it will take you to learn how to use a fully adjustable camera.

It is best just to learn how to use the cameras lightmeter and shoot in either the manual mode, aperture priority mode or the shutter priority mode.

You just need to learn how to balance the ISO, shutter speed and lens aperture using the lightmeter in the camera

I have included a link to help you with that.

NIKON D3300, great camera for beginners that won't break the bank

Okay. I'd go for the Nikon D3100 or the Nikon D5100. I've never used the D3100, but I know several people who are really casual beginners and absolutely adore the camera. I started with point and shoot cameras myself, going from the Coolpix S3000 to the Coolpix P500, before graduating to the D5100 and D7000. I absolutely loved the D5100. Actually, even though the D7000 is slightly better quality, I still go back to my D5100. It is by far my favorite camera. I'll attach a pic I took with the D5100 so you can see what it is capable of. It's pretty good quality for its price, but it's not exactly cheap, so going for the D3100 might be a better idea price-wise. Hope this helps.

Here's a pic I took with the D5100: http://nightrose0087.deviantart.com/art/Fall-Cat-332753793