I’d go for a Nikon D80 or D70. It’s quite possible to buy it in that price range. It’s a pro camera (digital) with interchangeable lenses. So your husband can try out different settings and buy himself a macro lens. Or you might get a nice deal for the body (just the camera) with a macro lens in a store that specializes in camera’s.
Macro lenses are the lenses that are used to photograph tiny objects, like the ladybug on a leaf or a drop of water in close-up.
I work professionally with the Nikon cams, we have several starting at the D70 up to D300. But the D80 is a very nice model that has all the options one might need. I can understand that all the types out there can be very confusing. So instead of listening to a slick sales talk I suggest to just try them out.
The slightly cheaper camera’s like Canon, have great options too But won’t offer that many or none interchangeable lenses. And spending a little extra buys you a camera that will work for any need and on a more personal note; We use them in the most unthinkable situations. And they survived for years to come…