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Appraiser Cameras
- Thread starter Randall Garrett
- Start date
- Status
incognito
Senior Member
- Joined
- Jul 14, 2005
- Professional Status
- Certified General Appraiser
- State
- Florida
TC:
I think it was deemed obsolete because it "only" was 5.1 MP. The newer
V705 (which was virtually identical but was 7.1 MP) took it's place, but is also discontinued. I believe that the public demanded a higher mega pixel setting. I don't know why, because a 10 MP photo takes up HUGE amount of storage. The funny thing is that I do not believe the public really realizes how useful a true wide angle camera is, especially for shooting groups of people indoors at parties or Christmas get togethers, and generally demands megapixels over truly useful wide angles.
I have worn out several. One of 2 things happen. The mechanically operated lens cover fails (but never sooner than at least 10,000 exposures) or the rear LCD fails. However, each can be repaired for $50, but I usually just buy a new one on EBay.
Wm (Bill):
One thing I forgot to mention is that the V570 has a "preview mode" where you can push the shutter button half way down and it freezes the light setting on the LCD. If you are shooting a tough lighting situation, you can push the button half way down, and the lighting setting the camera has selected is frozen, and you get a very good representation on the LCD of what the photo will look like.
Say, for instance, you are shooting a back lit subject. You select the center spot mode and aim the camera. Push the button half down, than look at the screen. If your intended subject is too dark, you can try pointing to a darker part of the house (which will let in more light). If it is too overexposed, you can point the camera on a lighter portion of the house. Once you have the proper light setting, hold the button half way down, then focus the camera where you prefer (ie center the house in the screen) and shoot. Perfect exposure every time in any conditions.
I do a lot of ocean front condominiums, and I like to take a photo of the ocean view from the inside of the living room, through the glass doors or windows. This is a nearly impossible situation, and difficult even for trained photographers (I am not). Our eyes are capable of properly seeing both the ocean and the dark living room well, but a camera is not. However, with this feature, you focus on the ocean from inside of the living room, let the camera get a light setting on the ocean (not on the living room), and you get a real nice photo showing the blue ocean, with the living room obviously underexposed, but visible.
I think it was deemed obsolete because it "only" was 5.1 MP. The newer
V705 (which was virtually identical but was 7.1 MP) took it's place, but is also discontinued. I believe that the public demanded a higher mega pixel setting. I don't know why, because a 10 MP photo takes up HUGE amount of storage. The funny thing is that I do not believe the public really realizes how useful a true wide angle camera is, especially for shooting groups of people indoors at parties or Christmas get togethers, and generally demands megapixels over truly useful wide angles.
I have worn out several. One of 2 things happen. The mechanically operated lens cover fails (but never sooner than at least 10,000 exposures) or the rear LCD fails. However, each can be repaired for $50, but I usually just buy a new one on EBay.
Wm (Bill):
One thing I forgot to mention is that the V570 has a "preview mode" where you can push the shutter button half way down and it freezes the light setting on the LCD. If you are shooting a tough lighting situation, you can push the button half way down, and the lighting setting the camera has selected is frozen, and you get a very good representation on the LCD of what the photo will look like.
Say, for instance, you are shooting a back lit subject. You select the center spot mode and aim the camera. Push the button half down, than look at the screen. If your intended subject is too dark, you can try pointing to a darker part of the house (which will let in more light). If it is too overexposed, you can point the camera on a lighter portion of the house. Once you have the proper light setting, hold the button half way down, then focus the camera where you prefer (ie center the house in the screen) and shoot. Perfect exposure every time in any conditions.
I do a lot of ocean front condominiums, and I like to take a photo of the ocean view from the inside of the living room, through the glass doors or windows. This is a nearly impossible situation, and difficult even for trained photographers (I am not). Our eyes are capable of properly seeing both the ocean and the dark living room well, but a camera is not. However, with this feature, you focus on the ocean from inside of the living room, let the camera get a light setting on the ocean (not on the living room), and you get a real nice photo showing the blue ocean, with the living room obviously underexposed, but visible.
Mejappz
Elite Member
- Joined
- Dec 16, 2005
- Professional Status
- Certified Residential Appraiser
- State
- Florida
I also had a Kodak wide angle but it also broke. Not sure why they stopped making it. Since then I have moved on to this camera http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001QFZMCO/?tag=realestatappraat I find that it is actually better then the old Kodak. Hope this helps.
EDWARD BERRY
Senior Member
- Joined
- Jan 15, 2002
- Professional Status
- Certified General Appraiser
- State
- Arkansas
Wm-thanks For Your Post-i Never Thought Of Cropping, But Need It Occasionally.
Just Put My Third Memory Card Into My 570-3050 Shots.
Three Years Old, Original Battreees (arkansas Expression).
Just Put My Third Memory Card Into My 570-3050 Shots.
Three Years Old, Original Battreees (arkansas Expression).
Vermonter
Elite Member
- Joined
- Mar 21, 2007
- Professional Status
- Certified Residential Appraiser
- State
- Vermont
Ok camera gurus, anybody recommend a camera for all around appraisal work AND the ability to take quality pics of documents?
I haven't been able to take document pics on the last two cameras I've had and find it can be more and more useful lately. Pics are almost always illegible and if it's dark (like HUD plates) the flash washes most of it out.
I haven't been able to take document pics on the last two cameras I've had and find it can be more and more useful lately. Pics are almost always illegible and if it's dark (like HUD plates) the flash washes most of it out.
EDWARD BERRY
Senior Member
- Joined
- Jan 15, 2002
- Professional Status
- Certified General Appraiser
- State
- Arkansas
TRY RUBBING THE PLATE WITH SOAP. IF THE CAMERA FLASHES, COVER THE FLASH WITH A HANDKERCHIEF.
THE KODAK V570 WILL DO A FAIR(READABLE) JOB ON DOCS.
Vermonter
Elite Member
- Joined
- Mar 21, 2007
- Professional Status
- Certified Residential Appraiser
- State
- Vermont
Just picked up the Panasonic DMC-ZS3K 25mm Leica wide angle. $259.99 at costco with a coupon. Using it on my first assignment tomorrow. Just playing around with it I'm impressed. You can actually stand in the room you are trying to take a picture of.
If the battery lasts longer than one inspection and all the pictures I take make it back to the office, it will be a tremendous upgrade.
Review to follow....
If the battery lasts longer than one inspection and all the pictures I take make it back to the office, it will be a tremendous upgrade.
Review to follow....
Metamorphic
Senior Member
- Joined
- Mar 15, 2008
- Professional Status
- Certified Residential Appraiser
- State
- California
That's what I'm shooting now. Its a great camera, and not just for inspections. Play around till you find the "Vivid" setting. It tones up the colors a bit so that it balances out what you loose when you print on regular paper. It makes houses with a lot of wood look fabulous.
Its also a great camera for shooting the rest of your life as well.
I took this one last week.
Vermonter
Elite Member
- Joined
- Mar 21, 2007
- Professional Status
- Certified Residential Appraiser
- State
- Vermont
Major upgrade from my last POS. Pics are awesome even on the low MPIX setting. Exposure is perfect in attics, basements, bright rooms, even with the sun in your face. Battery life is excellent, charged it the day I got it and used it on 3 inspections and some personal shots and it hasn't moved off of full battery. Even took legible document pics (at $1 a copy at the town offices this is going to be a big expense saver).
Haven't really played with the bells and whistles too much, but very happy so far. Need to get a neck lanyard (cuz I will drop and destroy it) and a spare battery, but I highly recommended this one.
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