Smartphones have widened the possibilities for low-cost close-range image acquisition for three-dimensional (3D) modelling. They allow the rapid acquisition of large amounts of data for a wide range of applications. However, the accuracy of the models and the automation possibilities depend on the image acquisition conditions and application requirements. In this study, the accuracy and reliability of the derived photogrammetric 3D models are evaluated on a spherical set-up for close-range applications (c.30 cm). Different numbers of images, network configurations, targets, devices and camera calibration methodologies are tested and evaluated. Results show that for this close-range application high accuracy (0Á2 mm) and reliability can be achieved. The number of images did not significantly affect the accuracy but was vital for tie-point detection and image orientation. The use of artificial targets was found to be the key factor in increasing the final accuracy. In contrast, the image calibration strategy and the characteristics of the imaging device did not have a great impact on the results.Smartphone video (more specifically slow-motion video) is a useful tool for acquiring large numbers of images, suitable even for fast moving objects. These images can be used for the creation of 3D models of moving objects (Barbero-Garc ıa et al., 2017). With an image acquisition speed of 240 frames per second (fps) of many smartphones (still far below the ultra-high-speed cameras that reach up to 2000 fps), the computational cost is the main limitation given the number of images to be used for 3D modelling.Despite their advantages, smartphone cameras present high internal instability that hampers their correct calibration. This problem is common to all non-metric digital cameras (Fraser, 2013), but is especially exacerbated when working with smartphones. The radiometric accuracy of smartphone cameras is lower than that of single-lens reflex (SLR) cameras but, despite their limitations, studies have concluded that these cameras can be used for photogrammetric tasks with a required accuracy of 1:10 000 (Akca and Gruen, 2009).The development of useful tools, which could allow non-expert users to obtain accurate 3D models for different purposes, requires a high degree of automation (Remondino et al., 2014). However, most of the available automatic low-cost solutions provide low repeatability and reliability (Remondino et al., 2012). The development of fully automatic and reliable solutions for specific applications requires an extensive knowledge of the factors affecting the quality of the 3D models created using smartphones or other similar imaging devices, such as tablets. The most important factors include the determination of the ideal geometric network, the selection of the best video frames and their optimal number, as well as the accuracy requirements for camera calibration. These parameters can vary greatly depending on the characteristics and limitations of the image acquisition process for a specific application (suc...