Good Recording/Photography Professional Camera and a fair price?

A professional camera that can shoot videos and take photography at a fair understanding price?
Something like the OLYMPUS PEN or Nikon d3100, you know? At a fair price, because it's for this school club thing, we're making short films… Thanks guys.

I would pick the D3100. At $700 it is a bargain.

All the prices of current digital cameras are "fair" the differences in cost have all to do with how robust the camera is, the performance of the sensor and the features it contains.

The D3100 is one of the best entry level cameras at this moment and is one of the only entry level cameras that can auto-focus in the video mode.

Remember that when shooting video you will need a good sturdy tripod and fluid head.

For clarity, here are links to 'professional' video and dSLR camera's

http://catalog2.panasonic.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ModelList?storeId=11201&catalogId=13051&catGroupId=112002

http://www.nikonusa.com/...6/D3S.html

http://www.usa.canon.com/...s_mark_iii

You may want to not call All dSLR's 'professional'

Nikon entry level cameras are not as feature rich as other manufacturers offerings, and there are other drawbacks, Pentax leads the way with the most advanced set of features and the best sensor around with their Kr and K5 of any DSLR (not just entry level, and not just APS sized sensors).

Look at the Olympus E-PL1, cheaper than the E-P1, check out the Panasonic G series (not the G1 which doesn't have video).

That word "professional"… As soon as you throw that in you are talking some serious money. So moving back a step from that serious money, the Canon EOS 60D is a very good DSLR camera. It can record full HD video, but I've heard that they can overheat with prolonged use, but that's a minor issue.

The only real issue I have with the EOS 60D is the body. The previous model the 50D had a magnesium alloy body like the pro series cameras. The 60D they switched to a plastic body which everyone tells me is great impact resistant plastic but I still struggle with the word "plastic".

edit:

OK… So looking at the camera you are thinking of the D3100.It's a very good camera, and will take very nice photos and give you the full HD movie option. The reason I love Nikon (I no longer use Nikon kit) is that I could take a lens from my grandfathers kit in the 1950s and it will work just fine on my current Nikon DSLR.
It will work very well for you and you'll be able to push it to do some very specials things but it is an entry level DSLR and has some limitations. That said, I really love the controls on Nikon cameras, they are very intuitive. Things just seem to be where they should be.

Another suggestion, which is a step down from the Canon EOS 60D but a step up from the Nikon D3100 would be the Canon EOS 550D. It will also give you the full HD capacity but as a camera will give you more capacity to grow into it as a photographer.

I can't really say much about the Olympus, except it's a very beautiful looking camera. Looks very old school. I still have an old Olympus OM-1 from the early 1970s and even though I no longer use it, it remains one of my favourite cameras of all time. I haven't used it in more than 15 years but I bet if a put a roll of film in, it would be as good as the day I got it.