The digital camera you are describing will cost about $700 for the body (Canon Digital Rebel 300D) and about $200 for a close focus or macro lens.
A 35mm film camera will cost about $220 for the body (Canon Rebel T2) and about $200 for a close focus or macro lens.
You had a couple of references to flash.
While good lighting is essential to table top photography, flash is not a good choice.
Here is a link that tells you how to build a table top studio:
http://www.shortcourses.com/studio/tabletop/studio.htm
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I need to buy a new digital camera that will allow me to take good, clear, sharp, high resolution photographs of miniature doll faces. I need details to show up clearly. I need them to look like photographs of models; showing every detail of these small facial features. The dolls are barbie size and bigger 16 inch.. Basically, I need to be able to zoom in and get a sparkling clear 800x600 high resolution digital photo from something that is about an inch in real life..
I need recommendations on what to buy, please. I have no idea what to get because it seems like most of these digital cameras are created for tourists and not for taking the kind of pictures I need. The only others are for professional photographers who can afford to spend $1000+ on a camera.. Well, I am not either.
I really don't want to spend over $300 if I don't have to. I am Not going to spend more than $500. I do not have that kind of money for something I only need for one thing and will hardly otherwise use. I already have a digital camera and I never use it, but it doesn't work well enough to take the pictures I need.
Also, I do not want a camera with a fixed-focal-length or retractable zoom lens. Those seem like more of the same badly made type of camera which I already have which always takes bad pictures, which cost $400 new. Unless I use the flash and cover it with tissue paper, all my photos come out blurry. It's ridiculous for a camera that cost so much.. This time, I want a lens that I can manually adjust and focus to get a good picture. Also, an adjustible flash or something. I basically want something like the good old fashioned 35mm where everything is adjustible (I hate automatic everything.. it works like $@&%), and you can get new lenses for if you want (especially ones that magnify objects), shutter speed can be chosen, etc.. except one that outputs digital.
So please help. I need to find something soon.

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