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I no longer have a decent camera. All I've got left is the 2MP on my iPhone 3G and Nintendo DSi :S.I was thinking about getting a camera, but then realized I could upgrade my phone, and I was looking at the Samsung focus which is 5MP. My old camera is listed as 8MP. Should the focus take pictures of small models up close as well as my old camera? I assume there's a lot more to it than just the MP, but I was hoping someone here with more photographic knowlege than I might be able to answer it speaking generally.

MP (megapixels) are used to measure the dimensions of the images a camera takes, not the quality. The more megapixels, the bigger the image. This means that a 6MP may take better quality images than a 12MP camera, but as the 12MP image is larger you can get a higher resolution image at smaller dimensions.

For photographing small things like 28mm models, you really need a camera with a good Macro function. Macro photography allows you to retain sharp detail when focusing on pictures at close range, at the very minimum a good macro camera should be able to capture images at a 1:1 ratio (so the object in the photo is the same size as the object in real life).

You can spend an absolute fortune on a good macro lens and camera body,but for a cheap option I've heard the Canon Powershot A3100 has quite a good macro function. After googling about i found this review of the camera which has some examples of photos taken with the macro function. Not sure if it's a recent model, but I'm sure there will be a replacement version in the current line.

Thank you for the reply, good info there, but do you know if the samsung focus (phone) would take pics of models well enough? I'm hoping to not have to get a camera and just upgrade my phone. I'll lookin into the one you suggested otherwise though, thanks

Another thing to remember is the key to good photography is the lighting. For best results, you need diffused white lighting from multiple sources. Imagine a clockface, with your subject in the centre (facing 12:00) and the lights pointing inwards. I've had good results with lights at 10:00, 2:00. and using a more focussed beam of light (like a torch) at different positions around the clock to cast shadows in the required direction.

Diffusing light isn't as hard as it sounds, it basically involves placing a translucent material between the light and the subject which softens the light and 'spreads' it evenly over the subject.


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No idea about the Samsung camera phone I'm afraid, although I imagine it'll be pretty crappy. The imaging sensors they use in camera phones are generally not up the job of macro photography, and even the iPhone 4 camera (which is one of the best on the market) has a low quality imaging sensor compared to a dedicated camera.