Some observations on digital cameras:

We have used a couple of generations of Olympus point-and-shoot cameras (2 
megapixel, then 4 megapixel) with good results. Many point-and-shoot 
models provide extreme close-up ability, which is useful, and you get used 
to composing on the LCD screen.

A note about filenames and images: The software that comes with most 
cameras (and the PhotoShop command Automate>Contact Sheet II) allows for 
making a "contact sheet" of images, with filenames as captions. You can 
generally choose the number of rows and columns on a page, so you can end 
up with prints about the size of ordinary snapshots to put in accession 
files; just trim the images so the printed filename is still on the 
border.

This year we purchased an Olympus E500 single lens reflex digital camera. 
This is one of the downsized digital SLRs that is considerably less bulky 
than most, uses shorter focal length lenses along with a small sensor. We 
got the Olympus macro lens with this, and the "ring light" flash for macro 
photography. This really simplifies close-ups of smaller items, giving 
shadowless lighting and making it possible to photograph without using a 
tripod or copy stand. Other SLR systems also have ring light flash 
equipment available. None of it is cheap (around $400 for the ring flash 
alone), but it can simplify life if you have a lot of artifacts to 
photograph.





     **********************************************************************
      *                     Michael R. Sawdey, Ph.D.                     *
       *  Executive Director, The Schingoethe Center, Aurora University *
        *      University Professor of Interdisciplinary Studies       *
         *  Dunham Hall 002, 347 S. Gladstone, Aurora, IL 60506-4892  *
          *   630-844-5656   FAX: 630-844-8884   [log in to unmask]  *
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