Digital cameras forum: photographing archival documents--query

What do you plan to do with the documents? Are these simply for your own reference--essentially in place of scans/photocopies? If so, you can get away with some pretty simple photo hardware. For instance, I own a D60 but also it's little Point-n-Shoot brother the P60. The little P60 has a "copy" setting which shifts the image to b&w. So I tired that and found, pleasantly, that you get a very readle copy of a 8.5 x 11 page. And you can stand over the page on a normal work table since the camera will close focus enough. As it turns out, you don't need that setting. You can copy in color in the macro mode, too. The images that I get from shooting an 8x10 color photo are about as good as an inexpensive flatbed scanner at 300dpi. There is some barrel distortion in the lens, but if this is just for your own reference, it is more than fine. BUT you do need a lot of light. A window-side table would be great.

The dSLR D60 takes great photos, but I have not tried copy work with it. It will do much better in low light, that's for sure. I'm just not sure how close the 18-55 kit lens will focus. You may need to invest in a macro lens in this case. I suggest, as with all cameras, to try it out in the store. Try copying some advertisement flyers in the store, etc. I don't know the capabilities of the other camera as to copy work.

In either case, the cameras will allow you to compensate for the color of your light source: daylight, shade, flourescent or incandescent.

The P60 can be had for $200 on sale. The D60 kit for $600 on sale.