I have my datetime stored as string:

"20120515 061115"


would be 

"May 15, 2012 at 6 hour 11 minutes 15 second"


How do I convert this to datetime?  Maybe using the "CDate" function?


Question: How do I chose a good camera for texture hunting?
Answer: While the camera and lens are obviously going to have an impact on your success, I have to think that a good solid grasp on lighting techniques is going to have more impact on shooting textures than the camera will.

Just about any current DSLR (or even high-end P&amp;S), ideally with a low-distortion prime lens, should give you plenty of technology to get started.  The full-frame suggestion is absolutely right for optimum results, and certainly gives the advantage of a ton of resolution that you can crop to size, but it's going to be fairly expensive.  If money is no object, go for the full-frame camera, but if you're on a budget, get a more modest camera and save some money for lighting equipment -- I think you'll produce better results with an entry-level DSLR and great lighting than you will with a full-frame camera and no lighting equipment.

If you're not familiar with the sort of impact lighting can have on your photos, check out strobist.com or some of the other communities that specialize in lighting techniques.  I think you'll start to see how lighting is going to make the highlights and shadows in your textures really pop.