Appraiser Cameras

[Randall Garrett]

New cameras for Spring 2010

Now that PMA 2010 is over and I've gotten back, I will be updating the info for the most interesting cameras for appraiser/inspectors types. It'll probably take me a few days to clear my desk of regular business items and decompress a bit, so don't look for anything until maybe this weekend or next.

FWIW, generally, we're going to see more choices in the sub-28mm compact shooters and refreshes in the semi-rugged cameras. One or two new entries with a few distinguishing items.

[Edit] A quick skim of my notes shows some 27 new or updated designs, so I'll definitely be sticking to only the most interesting ones.

Prices are to be similar to last year, just better features. Of course, this means that the manufacturers & retailers will be motivated to clear out old inventories, so there will likely be a few deals just as the new models are hitting the shelves.

There were 3 - 5 stand-out devices and the ways they are trying to distinguish themselves from their competition means I'll have to change the format to show more features. Anticipating 3 or 4 additional "fields", possibly expanding the notes/comments, but I still want to keep it concise so the reader can drill down to what is germane to them. Any suggestions to the change in format and/or content will help me deliver more usable information. I do this as a service to the appraisal and inspection community, so help me help you... ;-)

-Randall Garrett-
..Apex Software..

/end/

 

[Mejappz]

Now that PMA 2010 is over and I've gotten back, I will be updating the info for the most interesting cameras for appraiser/inspectors types. It'll probably take me a few days to clear my desk of regular business items and decompress a bit, so don't look for anything until maybe this weekend or next.

FWIW, generally, we're going to see more choices in the sub-28mm compact shooters and refreshes in the semi-rugged cameras. One or two new entries with a few distinguishing items.

[Edit] A quick skim of my notes shows some 27 new or updated designs, so I'll definitely be sticking to only the most interesting ones.

Prices are to be similar to last year, just better features. Of course, this means that the manufacturers & retailers will be motivated to clear out old inventories, so there will likely be a few deals just as the new models are hitting the shelves.

There were 3 - 5 stand-out devices and the ways they are trying to distinguish themselves from their competition means I'll have to change the format to show more features. Anticipating 3 or 4 additional "fields", possibly expanding the notes/comments, but I still want to keep it concise so the reader can drill down to what is germane to them. Any suggestions to the change in format and/or content will help me deliver more usable information. I do this as a service to the appraisal and inspection community, so help me help you... ;-)

-Randall Garrett-
..Apex Software..

/end/

Come on Randall don't leave us hanging (LOL) Btw I purchased the Dell refurbished monitor that you recommended (22 inch) and I love it!! Thanks for your help.

 

[OSU Beavers]

Major upgrade from my last POS... Even took legible document pics (at $1 a copy at the town offices this is going to be a big expense saver). .

What was your last POS?

Remember to use the Macro setting (the little flower icon) when taking document pics.

 

[Randall Garrett]

Mejappz:

Sorry - did not mean to tease. I've been away from the office, in and out for a few months and the rigors of extended trips take a toll. Must be getting old, LOL. Anyway, it'll take me a few days to clear my desk of the stuff that builds up and with the wealth of info I have, I want to weed through it all and try to boil things down to just the pertinent models & info (hence, the "call for suggestions.") I've also been involved with some custom versions of Apex for certain clients over the past 12 - 18 months, so a high priority thing for me is to get into finding a way to migrate special new features from those builds into the regular versions of Apex, where applicable. My goal is to build in as much as I can into regular maintenance releases vs. doing a new version altogether (i.e. a "v5.x product) so that current customers will get them without having to buy a new version...

Anyway, as I mentioned before, right now I'm looking at about 27 possible additions to the list of cameras- a combination of some new or refreshed models from the same manufacturers, plus some from trusted/recognized manufacturers who did not previously offer something in the "truly interesting" categories. As before, I'm not even bothering to list cameras with "only" 28mm (equiv.) lenses. Those are (thankfully) so commonplace now, they don't even stand out in a crowd. I'm still making the "cut off" at 25mm (equiv.) for the wide angle FOV, but there are a host of 26mm & 27mm equiv. models out, too...

I think we all know why people in our field want 28mm equiv. as the minimum for wide angle, but our collective experience with the ol' Kodak v570/v705's 23mm lens showed us how nice it is to have that extra FOV available. We're seeing more and more models with 24mm and 25mm zooms now, so this is sort of becoming "the new 28mm" standard for our use...

Seriously, folks, if anyone has any suggestions for changes to the format I've used in the past, now is the time to let me know so I can put in the info you might use to help you narrow things down based on what is most interesting to you. We all have our own hot buttons and what gets me excited might not be so interesting to someone else. I just want to deliver something that is useful to the widest audience, so please let me know.

Thanks!

-Randall Garrett-
..Apex Software..

PS - Glad the monitor thing helped out. The person I got those monitors for is pleased as punch, too, and I love passing on info on deals that I know have worked out in real life... Sometimes just "the specs" don't tell the whole story, so input from someone who has actually used something before, especially in a situation close to your own, can be better than just "the numbers"... ;-)

/end/

 

[Metamorphic]

Seriously, folks, if anyone has any suggestions for changes to the format I've used in the past, now is the time to let me know so I can put in the info you might use to help you narrow things down based on what is most interesting to you. We all have our own hot buttons and what gets me excited might not be so interesting to someone else. I just want to deliver something that is useful to the widest audience, so please let me know.

Thanks!

-Randall Garrett-
..Apex Software..


/end/

I think you might want to focus more on the specific features that really make the camera "sing" for appraisal work; macro for document photos, flash cycle time, battery life, wide angle, boot time, and focus/shutter lag.

 

[Howard Weeks]

I was in the market for a little better camera than the Sony that I had used for several years. Randall Garrett seemed to like the Panasonics overall. I bought a Panasonic Lumix DMC ZS3 and couldn't be happier with it. Thanks Randall!

 

[CANative]

I like the self-image I get with my Sony A-2 and it's long lense slung over my shoulder. No wimpy mini-cameras for me. lol

 

[Vermonter]

What was your last POS?

Remember to use the Macro setting (the little flower icon) when taking document pics.

Kodak Easyshare Z712IS and nothing helped when taking doc pics.

BTW, been using the Panasonic DMC ZS3 for 2 weeks (7 assignments and some personal stuff) and still have a full battery.

 

[Metamorphic]

BTW, been using the Panasonic DMC ZS3 for 2 weeks (7 assignments and some personal stuff) and still have a full battery.

That's awesome. I have the ZS1 and I dont get anywhere near that battery life. Maybe 4 assignments per charge. Of course I take a ton of pictures.

 

[MS Rebel]

I like the self-image I get with my Sony A-2 and it's long lense slung over my shoulder. No wimpy mini-cameras for me. lol

Don't need the self image thing - but I do like a bigger camera. I do not like small cameras. Which one allows wide angle shots?

My Mavica is near death and I am freaking out. I need a camera this week. I like BIG cameras ... well not too big. About the size of the Sony Mavica.