Tips on how to use a Samsung w8500

Barrie007 wrote:

I have a Samsung w8500

The cell phone I take it?

and have had it for some time and have not really made full use of it and wondered if I am on the correct site to get some tips to get some better photos from it.

We tend to be more focused on Samsung dedicated cameras and even more focused on just the interchangeable lens ones in terms of what dominates the discussion, but I believe what you're asking is indeed within the scope of the forum.  At least I think so.

I have also lost the instructions and so one of the things I am wanting to know is how I can take some really close up photos of items like coins and get the best results. Can anyone help me with this as I would really like to go into this now I have retired and have more time on my hands to do something that I have not had the time to do before.. many thanks Barrie007

I don't think you can unfortunately.   I'll try to explain.  Each lens has a magnification ratio that represents what ratio of life size is projected onto the sensor.  A 1:2 macro lens projects at 1/2 life size onto the sensor.  A lens that is "truly" a macro lens usually gets to at least a 1:1 ratio, or life size.  Some go yet further, there is a Laowa lens that does 2:1 and a Canon lens that does 5:1.  Unfortunately for you, the lenses on cell phones usually have a very small ratio.  There are two main ways we use to cheat this and get better macro shots with regular lenses.  The first is to add distance between the lens and the camera (by using extension tubes) this lets you focus closer up, but you lose the ability to focus on far away things.  This isn't really an option for a cell phone lens as it is basically permanently attached.   The other way is to add another magnifying lens in front, this usually introduces new imperfections and aberrations that reduce the quality.  The quality for that phone cam isn't good to start with.   Also, you don't have any manual control over the focus that I know of.

All of that said, if that is really the tool you want to try and use for your photos, then what I would first suggest is to add a constant external light source and to use some sort of tripod for the phone.  Everything is against you with this phone, the sensor size, the resolution, the lens, everything.   So let's at least make the light on your side and not introduce any other issues from camera movement.   Good luck, you're going to need it.