Collectors report that camera quality is secondary at small image formats; from about 5 megapixels a good compact camera suffices as well as an SLR (e.g. Canon EOS 400D with standard lens 17-55 mm). More important is a tripod, which allows high aperture values for depth of field without camera shake, as well as manual focus and a delayed shutter release, so that one is not reflected in the pen. The lighting should be indirect (daylight or energy-saving lamp on the ceiling), no flash, since this reflects and makes dust visible; table lamps produce a yellow cast, white paper in front of them a blue cast. As a base, structured white paper is suitable; for fixing the writing instruments, white tack.