I wrote this draft some time ago and then the other proofreaders have edited it. However, we never actually finished this piece as it got down the To Do stack. I think now it's time to finish it. Anyone who has something to add to this, please do so. After a while we will then put this into the library as a Community article.

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[h2]Introduction[/h2]
This guide gives advice on what features to look for when purchasing a digital camera - from the point of view of miniature photography. Naturally, you should always consider your other needs when selecting a camera as well, but the tips in this article will give you an idea of what sort of questions to ask.

Miniature photography is challenging for a camera so if you can find one that can take decent photographs, the camera is most probably a good one for family and holiday pictures too.

[h2]Macro[/h2]
The greatest challenge in miniature photography is getting the subject in focus and still large enough to fill the frame. A camera must have a good "Macro" function in order to do this.

The Macro function is the most important feature in miniature photography. It allows you to place the camera very close to the subject (up to a few centimetres depending on the camera model) and keep it sharply focused. Look for the minimum focal distance.

Some cameras has a "super macro" function that allows the camera to be placed as close as 2cm to the subject. These cameras are superb for our purposes.

[h2]Resolution and Mega Pixels[/h2]
Cameras are normally advertised according to their "megapixels", meaning how many millions of picture elements (pixels) the camera's optics and cell can handle. This directly affects the maximum resolution of the camera (the size of the finished image). More megapixels is generally a good thing, but if you intend to put your miniature pictures only to web and not print them, any decent modern camera has probably more than enough (about 1.5 mega pixels or more).

While it is good to use a high resolution for photographing to allow better control in correcting the picture in a computer, you will most probably end up reducing the picture size to show it reasonably sized in a web browser. For example, a Canon Powershot A70 with 3.2 mega pixels has a maximum resolution of 2048 x 1536 pixels. In comparison, to the One Ring gallery you can put a picture of 800 x 800 pixels.

[h2]Optical Zoom[/h2]
Optical Zoom is a feature that enables you to zoom closer to the subject, using the lens of the camera to magnify the picture. Some cameras also have digital zoom. Digital zoom does not really zoom, but instead merely enlarges the picture. This feature is not particularly useful since it reduces the clarity of the image. Needless to say, when selecting a camera, do not get fooled by digital zoom. Instead, go for optical zoom.

[h2]White Balance[/h2]
Different light sources have different amounts of colours in them. Your eye adjusts easily to these differences so that you do not for example notice the yellowness of the normal light bulb. Cameras have harder time in this regard, which is why you can often see pictures that are slightly coloured, for example a bit too yellow.

White balance correction tries to fix the colours to what they really are. It is a nice to have feature in a camera, but the effect can (at least somewhat) be corrected in an image manipulation program. Many cameras have automatic white balance (AWB), and some allow you to set the correction to for example cloudy day or light bulb. In some cameras you can set the balance manually, which should do the best job if done correctly (this is done by pointing the camera to a white object and telling the camera to set its white balance according to that object).

[h2]Delayed Shutter Release[/h2]
Miniatures do not look good when photographed with flash. Without flash the time to get enough light to the camera lens is longer, so it will gather it for a longer time. During this time the camera must remain steady or you will see a shaky picture. The easiest way to keep the camera steady for that time is to mount it on some stand (see tripod below) and use delayed triggering. In delayed triggering, you press the trigger, pull your hands away and let the camera do its job.

[h2]Tripod[/h2]
Tripod is an essential accessory for photographing miniatures, especially considering how cheap they are compared to cameras. You can get an adequate tripod for just a few pounds or euros. Tripod is needed to keep the camera steady for delayed triggering.

[h2]Memory cards and card readers[/h2]
These are nice additions to your photographing set, but not necessary. Miniatures are usually photographed a few at a time (compared to a full two weeks holiday pictures) so even a small memory card that comes with the camera is often adequate. For the same reason a card reader is not necessary (but comfortable): the few dozen pictures can be quickly transferred to computer even through a cable.

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-- Pasi