[Luke]

Hi John,

Great ! ! Thanks for the pointers. I use a Canon S-40, 4megapixel, but the macro function is very poor on this particular camera.

For very detailed photographs of small parts and Luger details I use a flatbed scanner and scan at 1200dpi. This results in very large files, but with cheap hard drives this is not a problem. Problem is: Odd shaped items which will not lie flat on the scanner cannot be photographed in this manner. Unit markings, for example, are impossible to scan.

I will definitely get the lights. You are surely correct in your statement that lighting is the most important issue.

From the pictures it appears that you have strapped some kind of diffuser over the lights. Can you tell me what that is? Thanks.

Regards,
Luke