All images I have been posting for almost a year, are using a digital camera which happens to have auto-focus and macro capabilities. It's a Mavica-7 (new model is Mavica-71 which is even better) You can find them for $599 on the web. The reason I went with a camera, was because I take hundreds of pictures some weekends, and the cost of a floppy disk, that holds 20 pictures, is WAY below film or processing. Of course it's good for chip pictures as well.

You don't need to go for this high line camera, just get anything that will take 640 x 480 resolution pictures, and has macro ability. Disagvantage of most other cameras, is that they use flash ram, which can be expensive, and when filled, you need more, or have to download pictures to a computer. Nice trick when I'm out on a three day weekend, camping at the race track?

Many bargains on older model digital cameras, and they have dual purpose. Otherwise, one of the hot items to "buy now" is a scanner. The competition and prices are about as good as they are going to get.